Lunch was delicious sandwiches, broccoli salad and party pies and then we went for a walking tour around Docklands. Had a chat with Julien O'Shea, Jeremy from @streetsaliveyarra, a Transport lecturer from Melbourne Uni.
Peter Parker gave a talk on Reviving bus reform about the 2023 bus reform plan that didn't get implemented (because it didn't get in to the 2024 state budget) and the huge potential benefits to doing bus reform.
Bus reform also has a marketing problem. Politicians have past experiences of not getting much political benefit from doing bus reform.
This makes a lot of sense because buses aren't very visual so it's hard to see when something has changed or when it changed.
New freeways, tram routes or train lines give a lot of opportunities to promote and do photoshoots and result in clear physical changes so even if you don't use them you can see they are being built.
Buses don't get that.
A great presentation by @philip about modal filters.
Most modal filters all over Melbourne were built before the 1993 council amalgamations. Many in response to freeway expansion.
Modal filters definitely have a marketing problem. My mum knows what a modal filter is, what it does, and why it's great but didn't know what what 'modal' was supposed to mean.
Someone suggested 'Rat Trap' as a trap for rat runners.
A few people suggested that focusing on rat running instead of benefits to walking and cycling might help get modal filters in.
Someone suggested that people that are rat running often don't feel like they're rat running.
So a better definition of rat running or some marketing around rat running might help get people to get the idea.
Good discussion on train replacement buses, pain points and how to fix things at Transport Camp Melbourne.
I've written many times before on this topic, most recently here: https://philipmallis.com/2024/09/02/ptv-disruption-information-and-extreme-weather/
Presentation on Bikespot, its methodology and results
Discussion now on how to improve buses in Melbourne
Jesse
Philip Mallis ๐บ๐ฆ