Melbourne "Traffic"!

[Pickles2]

Got the train to ULR today to pick up our 90, Gracie, after a regular service. Arranged to pick her up just after lunch to avoid bad/ peak hour traffic etc,...Yeah Right.
Virtually as soon as we drove out of ULR we were grid locked, eventually got on to Dandenong Rd,...gridlocked, so did a turn into Grange Rd, to Nepean Highway, which was better, but still very long lines of traffic, delays at the lights etc.
I used to be on the road, at all hours of the day before I retired, and boy, how much worse is the traffic now.
Any delays I used to experience were in the peak hours say 6-9.30am & 4-6.30pm,...other than which, there weren't many delays, and the traffic flowed pretty well....but not now!!
I really would not like being on the road continually these days.
Pickles.

[disco gazza]

Yeah its like that in Sydney now, only worse on the weekends with all the kids being taken to sport/shopping,visiting etc.:soapbox:

I'll be glad when I retire in 2 years to get out of the city and down the coast.

Then I'll only have the holiday periods to contend with.[bighmmm]

cheers

[SBD4]

Sydney (and Melbourne) are shocking. As you say Pickles, it wasn't so long ago that you could depend on being able to get somewhere at a certain time of day within a known time frame. Adjusting for peak hour just meant adding half an hour etc. Not any more, it's chaos pretty much all the time and here's why:

3218.0 - Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2015-16 (http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/3218.0Media%20Release12015-16)

When I heard this a couple of weeks ago I was astounded at how quickly the last million were added to Sydneys population.

Populations are just growing too fast to allow infrastructure to keep up.

[AK83]

.... eventually got on to Dandenong Rd,...gridlocked, so did a turn into Grange Rd, to Nepean Highway, which was better, but ....

Almost certain to have been a major accident on the Monash.
Daily occurrence coz people don't know how to drive(mainly merge) and there's always one idiot that NEEDs to do 120k/h when the flow is more like 90-ish.

if the Monash wasn't closed due to an accident, then the Westgate was in opposition.

It's either one or the other!

Fun to be had all when all hell breaks loose and the moon makes everyone looney and they're all closed due to multiples every 500 meters or so! :p

Strangest one I've ever seen, and buggered if I know how they all did it, but on the Ring Rd(west) heading north where the two lanes open up to five lanes, there was a 6 car pile up just after the 5 lanes began.
How on earth those 6 cars piled into each other going from 2 lanes out to 5 is beyond my ability to imagine such a scenario!

[bemm52]

Yeah its like that in Sydney now, only worse on the weekends with all the kids being taken to sport/shopping,visiting etc.:soapbox:

I'll be glad when I retire in 2 years to get out of the city and down the coast.

Then I'll only have the holiday periods to contend with.[bighmmm]

cheers

Yes we did the head south sea change for retirement from Sydney and although we live in paradise holidays times do get busy.

Upside is once Easters over we've basically got the place to our selves and the 45 other permanent residents[smilebigeye]

Cheers Paul

[loanrangie]

It is a long weekend so rds usually are grid locked as everyone rushes to escape, nothing new really.

[Pickles2]

to escape, nothing new really.
Not in my book, I reckon it's terrible,...and getting worse,..and with all of the building, hi rise etc going on, it's gonna get a lot worse,...quickly.
Pickles.

[Pickles2]

Sydney (and Melbourne) are shocking. As you say Pickles, it wasn't so long ago that you could depend on being able to get somewhere at a certain time of day within a known time frame. Adjusting for peak hour just meant adding half an hour etc. Not any more, it's chaos pretty much all the time and here's why:

3218.0 - Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2015-16 (http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/3218.0Media%20Release12015-16)

When I heard this a couple of weeks ago I was astounded at how quickly the last million were added to Sydneys population.

Populations are just growing too fast to allow infrastructure to keep up.
Exactly,...that's the way I see it.....and I agree with you, increased population concentration is a major aspect,...infrastructure is not keeping pace.
Pickles.

[Vern]

Move away

[Mick_Marsh]

It's the additional price you pay for wanting to live in expensive Melbourne.

[carlschmid2002]

I had to drive from Ringwood to Kensington to pick up an oil filter for the Moto Guzzi, as Peter Stevens Ringwood didn't have any, this afternoon. What a nightmare, GPS said 30 mins each way, it ended taking about 2 1/2 hours. I know I won't be retiring near any city.

[stealth]

I've worked in the CBD of Melbourne for the last 27 years and seen first hand the growth there. Get used to to the gridlock. There is nothing our governments (of any persuasion) can do that will catch up with the rapid population expansion. They are too busy tearing up laneways to eradicate unauthorised street art than building proper roads.

I'm heading off to Amphitheatre for Easter.

One day day I might stay there.

Happy Easter everyone

[Davehoos]

My trips to Melbourne found a lack public transport at times I needed it as a visitor. The Taxi drivers I spoke to tell me that they get cranky with the traffic system till they visit Sydney.


https://bitre.gov.au/publications/2009/files/wp_075.pdf

government report on transport for 2030. Traffic increases for QLD
very interesting that they predict less than a double of by 2030 and at best increases of 1% per year in this area.

[vnx205]

As someone who doesn't drive a lot in the big smoke, there is an extra thing that I find I am having to make sure I pay attention to.

While it has always been a good idea to look further ahead than just the vehicle immediately in front (assuming you can see past it), it is becoming more important than ever.

I have recently found it quite common to be faced with a green light, but unable to continue forward because I wouldn't be able to clear the intersection. So I need to be aware of whether the vehicle in front is likely to be able to get through and leave enough room so that I won't be queuing across the intersection.

I'm sure city dwellers have honed that skill over the years but I find it being more of a problem almost every time I venture back into the city.

[DieselDan]

Not sure many of the city dwellers have honed that particular skill, not the ones that i see anyway!
I often get stuck at the Burnley St exit of the Burnley tunnel because the intersection is blocked by people queueing from the other direction.
The other really bad one i always come across is outside Werribee Mercy hospital as people coming off the fwy want to turn right over the train line and even if the road they're turning into is stopped, they want to get across before the lights change and end up blocking all the traffic trying to get out of Werribee onto the fwy to Melbourne! Does my head in!

[disco gazza]

Being a truckie who regularly pulls 26 pallet trailers around Sydney, it can be a bit of a wait coming back along any of the major roads in the afternoon peak to cross some intersections.

Mean while the cars and small trucks pick up the room as you patiently wait for enough room to get across the intersection with the cars behind you beeping and carrying on.:soapbox:

Oh the joys of living in the big smoke. [bigwhistle]

[Mick_Marsh]

Don't know what you lot are whinging about.
I have worse problems. Sometimes I have to slow down to 100kmph or even go as slow as 90km/h because bloody big roos jump out in front of me from the bushes on the side of the road.
Missed a big one last night by 10ft.

[DiscoMick]

We came out of Sydney early afternoon yesterday heading north and there were long delays to get on the freeway. Then there were more long delays at Hexham. So we stopped for a break at the pie shop. 😎
After that the Pacific was moving well thanks to all the roadworks. The Urunga bypass is great!
I must say, after living in Bangkok, it wasn't so bad.

[gusthedog]

God I love living in the bush. Sometimes I turn on 774 just so I can hear the traffic reports and laugh at people stuck in traffic in smelbourne. 😂

[AndyG]

God I love living in the bush. Sometimes I turn on 774 just so I can hear the traffic reports and laugh at people stuck in traffic in smelbourne. 😂
Going home on Thur, Easter eve, there was a vehicle in front the whole way [emoji19] ten minutes to cover seven km [emoji14]

[JDNSW]

When going in to town (Dubbo), I have learnt it is bad policy to arrive between 0845 and 0905, as you will hit peak hour, and occasionally have to wait more than ten seconds to enter Erskine St at the Fitzroy St roundabout............

Sometimes I wonder why I moved away from Melbourne - but not often, and not for long!

[V8Ian]

121944

[trog]

I think it is the same in any other metropolitan area in the world. Decentralisation is only part of the solution. People have to get out of the mindset of primarily using private transport , increase in subways ( underground rail ) extend surface public transport to service new area into existing services etc. Maybe more use of bicycles and walking for shorter trips ?

[V8Ian]

I think it is the same in any other metropolitan area in the world. Decentralisation is only part of the solution. People have to get out of the mindset of primarily using private transport , increase in subways ( underground rail ) extend surface public transport to service new area into existing services etc. Maybe more use of bicycles and walking for shorter trips ?
Wash your mouth out, next you'll be proposing that we all walk to work.

On a more serious note, public transport doesn't go where I need to.

[incisor]

On a more serious note, public transport doesn't go where I need to.

yep, you got it in one....

[trog]

And that is what needs to be addressed . Do we as a society just roll over and accept this or take some proactive measures ?

[V8Ian]

And that is what needs to be addressed . Do we as a society just roll over and accept this or take some proactive measures ?
My commute to work takes an hour by car, late night/early morning, without stopping at every hole in the hedges.

[trog]

So what solutions are there ? Granted not one will work for all but as a professional driver you need the system to flow smoothly and on time to get the job done .

[Mick_Marsh]

I must say, Melbourne already has a great public transport system. The tram system is, well, brilliant.

As this thread was about "Melbourne Traffic", the main problem with Melbourne traffic is, well, the traffic. You see, all roads lead to Melbourne. In order to get anywhere in Melbourne, you need to go via Melbourne. We need an "Ëast-West" link. Yes, the Citylink tunnel is an east-west link but it just links two roads that lead to Melbourne and they get congested with traffic that stops at the Melbourne off ramp. It's a normal thing, in Melbourne, to be stopped in the right lane on a three lane freeway waiting for the car in front to move to the choked off ramp on the left.

On the public transport system, many years ago, the Melbourne train system had two loop lines through the eastern burbs. An inner loop and an outer loop They were closed down many years ago. You can trace out their route on the Melways. I reckon, today, they would be very popular and well utilised if they were reinstated.

[austastar]

Hi,
Some bright spark suggested that a Devonport to Albury ferry would solve the 'Melbourne' problem.

Cheers

[DiscoMick]

Melbourne people could solve their traffic problems by taking a one-way trip north on the Hume and Pacific highways. 😀

[ramblingboy42]

we've got enough mexicans here already, wanting to change time zones and to do things the way they do it in Vic.....which is why they are grumbling anyway

[NavyDiver]

Melbourne people could solve their traffic problems by taking a one-way trip north on the Hume and Pacific highways. 😀
"Pacific highway." Best traffic jam for me period. 20 minute drive took 3 hours to miss a plane. Next time I was on it 150km of sub 20kph was memorable as well. I think low range might often be enough for the Pacific highway :)

[trog]

No need to worry about hidden speed cameras then . I read somewhere a few rears back P arramatta rd was actually quicker to travel in the coach and horses days.

[V8Ian]

No need to worry about hidden speed cameras then . I read somewhere a few rears back P arramatta rd was actually quicker to travel in the coach and horses days.
They were different hold-ups back then. :rocket:

[DiscoMick]

"Pacific highway." Best traffic jam for me period. 20 minute drive took 3 hours to miss a plane. Next time I was on it 150km of sub 20kph was memorable as well. I think low range might often be enough for the Pacific highway :)
I've just driven Sydney - Brisbane and the improvements to the Pacific highway are remarkable. When the Ballina-Woolgoolga and Macksville-Kempsey upgrades now underway are finished it will be an easy drive. They do need a better connection in the Hexham area though.