MONDAY
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cr Cohn: 10am It’s a nice cool day to start off our car-free week.
I’ve got an easy start to the week with all of my commitments today in central Albury – I’ll be walking (and keeping an eye on my step count!).
10:23pm Lessons from day one:
- Lots of central Albury streets are missing footpaths.
- It’s hard to walk all day without a change of clothes/shower/hairbrush.
- I was lucky that it was a relatively cool day and also not raining.
- Even without having to travel further out than central Albury, not being able to drive added up to hours of travel time over the course of the day. Poor public transport = productivity loss!
Cr Thurley: Walked the dogs to the Logan Road off-leash area and home – six kilometres.
At 2pm rode into council (quite cool).
Some meeting preparation and then bus tour of proposed subdivision at Thurgoona.
Community Forum and rode home at 8:45pm.
Takes me 20 minutes going in and about 25 coming home.
Realised how dark bike paths are in places – possibly not a safe place to be alone.
TUESDAY
Cr Cohn: A lot of people were keen to share their personal public transport stories with me.
So many issues were raised – from cost, to frequency of services, to routes available.
A common issue was the lack of evening and weekend services.
I heard from a CSU student who frequently finishes class after the last bus service for the day!
Taxis are the only transport option available to many people in the evening and on weekends, which is hardly affordable on a regular basis.
A casual worker told me that he has been refusing shifts that finish late because he can’t get home afterwards.
Having a 10-20 minute walk to the nearest bus stop is impossible for people with mobility issues, too.
10:26am: Waiting for a 908 bus to take me up to CSU Thurgoona – presumably a well-travelled route from central Albury?
10:35am: My bus was on time - but there’s no one else on it.
Maybe because it’s going to get me to CSU an hour before I need to be there (there aren’t any running closer to my schedule).
10:39am: The trip from home (central Albury) to Thurgoona takes nearly an hour by public transport instead of a 14-minute drive - good thing I packed a healthy snack for survival!
Seriously though people who are unable to drive must spend a LOT of their day on transport.
Cr Thurley: Walked the dogs and then meeting at council and then at Age Concern in Townsend Street.
Could possibly have used a bus for this one as both my appointments were in the city.
I guess it’s a bit like the car.
My bike’s in the garage and so I can just go when I want and not have to worry about timetables.
WEDNESDAY
Cr Cohn: I had to ride my bike to work at the hospital in the midday sun today - while there is an (inconvenient) bus option during the day on weekdays, my shift finishes at 10pm.
I didn’t fancy waiting eight hours for a bus or walking home at that hour by myself so two wheels it is!
10:56pm: I survived the trip home after a long day at the hospital.
Kudos to anyone who does this regularly - it was both exhausting and harrowing.
Got stuck more than once because my bike doesn’t trigger the change in traffic lights.
Posting this on Facebook prompted a great conversation about challenges facing commuter cyclists in Albury – apparently the traffic light issue is a very common one!
Some people are getting off their bikes to push the walk button, and others are MacGyvering their bikes with strong magnets to be able to trigger the sensors.
This is quite an inconvenience if we’re trying to encourage more people to commute regularly on their bikes.
Some cyclists feel unsafe sharing the road with cars and would like to see more dedicated bike lines and bike paths into the CBD.
Cr Thurley: Walk the dogs, take the car to Blacklocks for service at 8am.
My wife follows in the other car and then brings me home.
Nothing else to do that day so I spent the time at home reading and gardening.
THURSDAY
Cr Cohn: 1pm Finally had to do a shop.
Getting groceries up the hill in 32 degree heat was hard work.
Even waiting for a bus in this weather would be too much to get fresh milk home!
I can’t believe how exhausting it was to do a shop – this was only for a household of two and I’m fairly physically fit.
Imagine shopping for a large family!
I had a great conversation with a woman with a chronic illness and limited mobility who described her difficulty shopping in Albury since there aren’t enough places for her to sit and rest.
I also heard from people who have to take taxis to do the shopping (Imagine the cost of doing that every week!).
Cr Thurley: Walked the dogs and then cycle to town for media photos and meeting in council building.
Very hot riding home with warm northerly wind.
Reflections on the week:
- Buses are infrequent and if one has appointments in two or more locations it is a logistical nightmare.
- Bike has the convenience angle just like a car.
It’s there when you want it.
- Workplaces such as Albury Council have facilities to shower and freshen up and change into business clothes.
- It was good for my fitness (I am almost 70 by the way) and the cycle network in Albury is pretty good.