WHAT'S ON
Every Tuesday
- 5.30 to about 7pm, informal meeting in lounge of the Great Southern Hotel, George St opposite Rawson Pl.
Monday 2nd May
- 5.30pm, monthly meeting at the NSW Environment Centre, 399 Pitt St (between Goulburn and Bathurst Sts).
Tuesday 3rd May
Address by Harry Camkin, Director of the Traffic Authority, to the Institute of Engineers, on "The Role of the Traffic Authority" Enquiries ring 929 8544.
Seminars in transport at Macquarie University
These are free and no registration is required. All are on Wednesdays in building C5A-301
4th May
- "The Second Sydney Airport Study"
1st June
-"Formulating an urban passenger transport policy - a re-appraisal of some elements"
8th June
-"Traffic and Transport Management" (Harry Camkin)
15th June
- "Development of a Roads Program" (Deputy Chief CBR)
22nd June
- "Transport Integration"
For full information ring 88 9604 or 47 1506. More seminars will be held during the second half of the year.
For transport to Macquarie Uni; PTC routes 288-290 from Wynyard via St Leonards; Hunters Hill Bus Co Route 85 from Ryde Eastwood (rather erratic); Deanes Coaches from North Shore stations (very erratic)
May 24/25 in Melbourne
- Australian Transport Research Forum. Registration necessary - fee $60. Papers include -"Bicycle facilities for Aust. capital cities - a rudimentary analysis." "The pedestrian network in the Adelaide core area." "Australia's energy option in the transport sector." For information ring (03)601761.
Sunday 29th May
- Bicycle rally at 10am at the Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park, and ride to Nielsen Park (Vaucluse). Ring the Bicycle Institute of NSW, 660 4454.
GRANVILLE
Our submission to the Granville Judicial Inquiry centred on the need for recognition of the broader problem of PTC management (ie mismanagement) and the excessive bias towards roads of Federal transport investment. It was favourably received and was sent on to the PTC.
NATIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT WEEK
will be in August. If you have any bright ideas for promoting public transport please bring them to the meetings of 2nd or 3rd May. Don Morison - Convenor: 95 5731 Geoff Dawson - Secretary: 512185 Kevin Eadie - Management Committee: 290 4687W, 81 4268H
COMMUTER COUNCIL
The Commuter Council has reverted to monthly meetings. Most of the small agenda items have been dealt with and the council should now be able to tackle the bigger issues. A new sub-committee on ferries includes our delegate Sheila Swain.
PLEA FOR COPY
We want to make this newsletter interesting. If you have anything worth publishing send it in. This means original compos, items of interest culled from other publications, and graphics.
WHO SAID THIS?
"To design roads for peak period traffic volumes is impractical... There is ample evidence that the economic, social and environmental costs to the community of basing the entire urban transport system on the car, greatly outweigh the convenience offered to the individual car owner." Don Aitken, W.A Commissioner for Main Roads, 14/1/77
FREEWAYS
The pain and distress expressed by Mr Nixon, Federal Transport Minister, at the State Government's February decision to scrap inner city radial expressways, is surprising. To do so was their clear policy for at least a year; we feel that he should have got used to the idea by now.
The NRMA canvassed the opinions of 13 suburban mayors in areas affected by the expressway decision. About half felt that the expressways should proceed as planned.
Three points:
FERRIES
We endorse the caution expressed in the SMH editorial of 15/4 over the State government's plans for the Manly Ferries. The plans, though admirable in themselves, should be subject to the most stringent cost benefit study. It may well be that the money involved could be better spent on a concerted plan of improvement to public transport in the socially deprived western suburbs, which would include a substantial upgrading of the western railway line. There is a danger that the PTC should place too much emphasis on acquisition of rolling stock and not enough on the many other factors that contribute to the total quality of service. Relatively small sums sensibly administered in various areas would probably achieve more than heavy investment in new vessels and vehicles.