Comments on: On the bus – public transport to Fishermans Bend

By: Liam

Liam — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 03:37:34 +0000

What makes the whole area particularly brain dead is the need to cross a 60kph strode (Williamstown Road or Lorimar Street), unaided to reach most of the bus stops. This is not the way to serve 80 000 people, and exemplifies the contempt with which the Victorian transport department treats bus passengers.

By: Marcus Wong

Marcus Wong — Mon, 01 May 2023 08:24:48 +0000

In reply to M.

One of the official tram route proposals to Fishermans Bend used Plummer Street.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEHkdcbX2mU

The main advantage of the tram bridge over the Yarra would be more efficient utilisation of trams on the existing Collins Street routes to Docklands, rather than having to merge with route 109 trams on the existing tracks via South Melbourne and Spencer Street.

By: M

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 01:11:17 +0000

An easier fix than a bridge over the Yarra might also be a tram branch from the Route 109 Port line into Fisherman’s bend – possibly along Bridge St and Plummer St.

By: Photos from ten years ago: February 2011 - Waking up in Geelong

Photos from ten years ago: February 2011 - Waking up in Geelong — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 20:33:15 +0000

[…] The route was discontinued in 2014, replaced by route 235, 237, 234 and 236 services between Fishermans Bend and the CBD. […]

By: Marcus Wong

Marcus Wong — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 23:47:02 +0000

In reply to Ryan.

The late running on route 232 got a mention in The Age back in December:

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/late-every-second-trip-life-on-the-delayed-232-bus-20181204-p50k0l.html

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 03:04:12 +0000

In reply to Philip. Spot on Philip (esp. regarding cars on Collins St west of Spencer). I don’t catch any of those Port Melbourne services but I do occasionally catch the 232 to Altona North via this same path and usually experience 10-15mins to travel 2 blocks and attempt to turn left (Batmans Hill Drv?) – It has me at a loss as to why there even needs to be commuter cars in this stretch. The traffic control should also be setup at this intersection so that there is always space turning left from Collins St for any bus rather than cycles being blocked by cars travelling Southbound. Of course… most of that comes to naught around the corner when hitting the Westgate Fwy with absolutely no priority or bus lanes… but still, removing 15mins of the trip would be a start.

By: Marcus Wong

Marcus Wong — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 04:11:18 +0000

In reply to Philip. Thanks for mentioning your first hand experiences - sounds like a dedicated right turn lanes for buses at said intersections would massively speed up services.

By: Marcus Wong

Marcus Wong — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 04:05:37 +0000

In reply to Mike.

Good point – I’ve written about some good Melbourne examples here:

https://wongm.com/2016/11/seedy-railway-station-pedestrian-subways-melbourne/

As well as Hong Kong:

https://www.checkerboardhill.com/2018/11/changing-trains-at-east-tsim-sha-tsui/

And Russia:

https://www.eurogunzel.com/2017/12/interchange-stations-soviet-metro-systems/

By: Philip

Philip — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 02:26:01 +0000

I worked in the “existing industrial” part of Port Melbourne for six weeks last year, after my employer relocated there from a previously comparatively accessible location.
I found that the two main problems were Collins St congestion (which you mentioned) and the right turn from Wurundjeri Way onto Lorimer Street. That intersection is hideous and there is only a 10-second space in it for right turns onto Lorimer St. The result is queuing every morning, with the bus commonly having to wait through four cycles of the lights (8 minutes in total) to turn right. Add this to a five-minute delay in Collins St and the 7-minute journey to my stop near Hall St usually became 20 minutes. One day it took 40 minutes. It’s only a 30-minute walk.
The tram bridge would be a great way to improve access to that area, but interim measures should include removing car traffic from Collins St west of Spencer St. Why are cars even there? The road didn’t exist 15 years ago. The Batmans Hill Dr queue can fill up quickly with southbound traffic that has turned right from Collins St in Docklands.
In the short time I made this dreadful trip, my favourite source of frustration was the time a car was stopped illegally on Collins St outside the ATO, just before Batmans Hill Drive. It was too close to the tram stop for the bus to fit between the two. And it turned out to be a Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria car, containing two enforcers who just thought they’d stop right there behind all the taxis and do SFA for a few minutes.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 18:02:36 +0000

In reply to Marcus Wong. A new pedestrian subway doesn't have to be sewer-like. See Wynyard Walk in Sydney.