Editor's Blog - May 2019

Documentary of transport for the disabled

I have been selected to produce a documentary on “Disability Transport: Now and into the future”.

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) runs a program called the National Features and Documentary Series(NFDS) open to all producers based at community radio stations around the continent.

The purpose is to support with advice and training the production of half hour radio documentaries.  NFDS has been mentoring producers to create half-hour stories since 2013.

I have interviewed a number of people with visual disabilities in the past.

I want to concentrate on new solutions and how we will use new technology to enhance their experiences.

I hope to be able to recognise the AITPM as one of the major sources for this work.  If you have any ideas on this issue or know any reports or contacts please send me an email (david@drivenmedia.com.au).

Other Radio News

A colleague and I are now producing short, 45 second segments, that go out to 100 radio stations for one to be played each day of the week.

While some are specifically on new car developments, I am also trying to seed thoughts and ideas about transport planning and management.

We are starting to load them (and our half hour Overdrive Program about motoring and transport) up on a web site at https://www.anyauto.com.au/category/overdrive-podcasts/.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Car Pooling – Data Science and/or Social Science 

Car hailing services Uber and Waze are taking slightly different directions in addressing carpooling.

Uber is running a system that is part way toward a call-up bus where you might have to walk a short distance to a location, whereas Waze has recognised that the big factor is whom you travel with.

This is being portrayed as an approach of either “Data science or social science”.  I think that we need to combine the two.  Data science has a huge role to play as long as you are measuring the right thing.

Student travel awards – not just for their benefit but ours 

I was recently introduced to Joel Docker who was given an ITE travel award to go to NZ and present a paper he had prepared as an undergraduate at Monash University.  The award is sponsored by AITPM platinum sponsor Austraffic.

Joel’s paper looked at the overarching principles and difference between the Dutch cycling infrastructure guidelines and the Austroads guides. The Dutch have five main requirements when planning cycling infrastructure: 

·     Safety

·     Cohesion

·     Directness

·     Comfort

·     Attractiveness

By comparison, the Cycling Aspects of Austroads Guides have a focus on safety, geometric design and road space, with little consideration for the user experience.

Joel was particularly fortunate that his co-author on this paper was Dr Marilyn Johnson, a Senior Research Fellow with Monash’s Institute of Transport Studies and the Research and Policy Manager at the Amy Gillett Foundation. I have spoken to Marilyn in the past as she is very impressive with her thoroughness and practical research on bike safety.

I recorded a chat with Joel which covered these and other issues reflecting the thoughts and ideas of a young person progressing in our profession. This can be heard at https://soundcloud.com/drivenmedia/joel-docker-world-wide-learning-opportunity-awardee-focus-on-bicycles-in-cities

Joel has since joined VicRoads as part of their Graduate Program.

Downer delivers Australia’s first fully recycled road

In an Australian-first, the City of Adelaide has partnered with Downer to construct Australia’s first road made completely from recycled material.

The recycled road is made up of reclaimed asphalt pavement from local streets and recycled vegetable oil.

The 100 percent recycled road saves up to 65 percent CO2 emissions when compared to standard asphalt made with new materials.

The recycled asphalt is about 25 percent stronger than standard asphalt, which means it will be able to better resist deformation.

Using space is a critical issue in cities

According to Transport for London, cars take up 19% of street space but account for just 11% of journey distance. By comparison, buses take up only 11% of street space, but account for 57% of journey kilometres.

Translations of transport modellers 

People in major cities are suffering badly from local pollution.

London implemented a congestion charge for entering its city centre back in 2003.  But now the pricing is more stringent for the more polluting vehicles.

There is now an extra daily charge to drive into the ultra-low emission zone in a vehicle that does not meet the latest emission standard for petrol or diesel vehicles.

The congestion charge for every vehicle is the equivalent to 20 Australian dollars 

If you have a car or a small van that doesn’t meet the standards it’s an extra $23.00 but if you are a higher polluting large truck or bus it is an extra $180 per day.