NATIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT WEEK
1 Oct. AM
at Roselands shopping centre: PTC display featuring the town of Tamworth.
1 Oct. PM
world's first (?) wedding using a Mercedes bus. See below
1-3 Oct.
Cootamundra Rail Centenary. Vintage train leaves Sydney 6 am Sat returning 7.45pm Mon.
1-3 Oct.
Model railway exhibition lower Town Hall, Sydney.
2 Oct.
Century bike ride Green Valley-Camden. Ph Russell Moore 6078686.
3 Oct.
(Labour Day) SPT monthly meeting, Environment Centre 399 Pitt St, 5.30pm.
4 Oct. and every Tuesday:
informal meeting at the Great Southern Hotel bistro lounge, 5.30pm.
5 Oct.
Commuter Derby - see below.
6 Oct.
"Ride to Work Day" - Bicycle Institute of NSW (Warren Solomon 695070. Followed by rally Sydney Square 5pm.
9 Oct.
BINSW picnic, Lachlan Reserve (Centennial Pk), noon.
GETTING AWAY TO A GOOD START
Save Public Transport members Monica Petry, 24 and Andrew Phelan, 23 will be setting the mood for National Public Transport Week when they marry at St Joseph's College Chapel on Saturday, 1st October. One of the PTC's new Mercedes buses has been chartered to take the wedding couple and guests from the chapel to the reception (boarding the bus in the driveway off Ryde Rd, Hunter's Hill about 2.45pm). Last year Monica and another of our members, Kim Broderick, posed as a honeymoon couple in the "family suite" of the Indian-Pacific for a Save Public Transport publicity photo. But this time it will be the real thing when Monica and Andrew cross the threshold of the Mercedes. Congratulations to both of you. For further details contact Monica Petry, 699 8716 or 41 5706 (H), 747 6622 (W).
WANTED -nice people to join the rat race
There's still time to join the Commuter Derby on Wednesday 5th Oct. We want more bus, train, ferry and taxi users, cyclists, pedestrians and even car-drivers to participate. The starting points will now be at Mosman, Artarmon, Ashfield and Clovelly. Any members and media representatives who want to take part should return the enclosed participation form as soon as possible or ring Don Morison on 95 5731.
There will be a presentation of certificates to participants in Martin Place (probably between Pitt and Castlereagh Sts) at about 8.40am.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 5th NOVEMBER.
Fees due before then. See p2. SAVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 1977. P.O. BOX K606 HAYMARKET 2000.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of the Save Public Transport Committee will be on MONDAY 7th NOVEMBER, at 5.30pm, at NSW ENVIRONMENT CENTRE, 399 Pitt St. Sydney.
Nominations are hereby called for the positions of Convenor, Secretary, Treasurer, Research Officer and Publicity Officer, and four additional members of the Management Committee, to serve until 31st Oct, 1978. Nominations may be submitted in writing to the Secretary before or at the AGM, and may be submitted by the nominee (ie no nominator or seconder required). All financial members for 1978 are eligible to vote and nominate for positions at the AGM. (Membership renewal form is included in this issue.)
NOTICE OF MOTIONS TO ALTER THE CONSTITUTION
must be received by Fri 21.10.77. We already have a motion to change the name of the organisation to "Action for Public Transport". Any other suggestions welcome.
WHAT'S ON
4th Sunday of every month
- NSW Environment Protection Alliance meets 10.30am 399 Pitt St.
monthly meeting of Bicycle Institute,
399 Pitt St. Dates from Warren Solomon 69 5070.
May 78,
Fourth Australian Transport Research Forum in Perth. Treasurer Mike Conroy has been involved with discussions on equity in transport with the State Government's Urban Transport Study Group.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
We surveyed all candidates for Leichhardt, Ashfield, Drummoyne, Mosman and Willoughby. A third responded. Over 90% of these were in favour of reducing the speed limit in residential streets and changing the legal status of some roads and footpaths to cycleways. Most also agreed with pedestrianisation of shopping centres, restricting through traffic in residential streets, public transport alternatives to freeways, and citizen participation on local transport committees. We can bring these things about only with continual pressure, which will require your help.
SMOKING
Some of our members have joined the Non-Smokers Rights Movement ($5 membership to PO Box 265 Broadway) and are producing a Community Radio program. We will be represented on a NSRM to Transport Minister Peter Cox in the near future.
NATIONAL ENERGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Recent proceedings of this Federal Government body are ominous. It tabled an interim report in Parliament on 21.9, which recommends improved transport management among other things, but does not mention public transport, gives low priority to a blanket road speed limit, and makes no mention of the principle of cheaper car ownership and more expensive car running - three areas of action which would have obvious benefits in conserving energy and encouraging reduced car use. Yet the committee is looking sympathetically at a relaxation of exhaust emission standards for the sake of fuel economy. Such priorities seem to reflect political expediency and roads lobby pressure more than the long term good.
MELB
Melbourne's first dial-a-bus service begins next month for a six-month trial. Radio controlled buses will collect passengers from their homes and take them to any destination within a short radius. A similar trial failed in Adelaide last year. Elsewhere it has been found that this type of service, rather than reducing use of other modes, mobilizes a new group of people, such as housewives and semi-invalids, who previously stayed at home.
Melbourne is to receive its first set of traffic signals specifically designed for later introduction of bus priority.
Perth has placed in service its first articulated bus, and Canberra has ordered ten more, which will bring its fleet to twelve. The PTC has called tenders for 40 new country rail carriages - the first new loco-hauled carriages for 24 years. Also 550 new buses. We will make recommendations on the design of the buses, particularly with regard to the ventilation.