Naththan
@nathanpittman.bsky.social
PhD candidate, writing about the art of government of transport planning: maps as manifestations of power, models as inseparable from plans, questions of what planning is as questions of what it should be, and good planners as bad planners.
Pinned
Naththan
@nathanpittman.bsky.social
· May 24
The Victorian government should make public transport free*
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*by free, I mean “free from being obstructed by car traffic” and not “fare free”
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*by free, I mean “free from being obstructed by car traffic” and not “fare free”
Nearly got cleaned up by an SUV with personalised plates “B3STIE” when getting off a tram on Racecourse Rd.
The idiot driver looked completely confused, stopped briefly to let me past, and then started driving past the open tram again.
The idiot driver looked completely confused, stopped briefly to let me past, and then started driving past the open tram again.
November 6, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Nearly got cleaned up by an SUV with personalised plates “B3STIE” when getting off a tram on Racecourse Rd.
The idiot driver looked completely confused, stopped briefly to let me past, and then started driving past the open tram again.
The idiot driver looked completely confused, stopped briefly to let me past, and then started driving past the open tram again.
This is the so-called free market at work. The invisible hand is just some capitalist goon demanding money off taxpayers and claiming it’s some amazing naturalist logic that shouldn’t be interfered with.
BREAKING: OpenAI is requesting US government support to help guarantee financing for the massive investments in AI chips and data centers it needs for expansion, per Bloomberg.
November 6, 2025 at 7:18 AM
This is the so-called free market at work. The invisible hand is just some capitalist goon demanding money off taxpayers and claiming it’s some amazing naturalist logic that shouldn’t be interfered with.
Parking is the one, true equaliser contemporary society. Even absurdly wealthy doctors and architects will start behaving like absolute lunatics - brandishing weapons, pet death threats, frothing at the mouth - over their "entitlement" to a parking space.
November 5, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Parking is the one, true equaliser contemporary society. Even absurdly wealthy doctors and architects will start behaving like absolute lunatics - brandishing weapons, pet death threats, frothing at the mouth - over their "entitlement" to a parking space.
Not to defend the stupid robot car, but so-called “intelligent” human drivers get up to this kind of nonsense all the time.
A Waymo stops in the middle of an intersection in San Francisco, preventing a trolley —public transit—from moving. Its software reports that the intersection is blocked.
The Waymo is what’s blocking it.
The city comes to a standstill thanks to this idiocy.
www.youtube.com/shorts/8ltYK...
The Waymo is what’s blocking it.
The city comes to a standstill thanks to this idiocy.
www.youtube.com/shorts/8ltYK...
Welcome to San Francisco! #waymo #selfdrive #techgadgets
YouTube video by Mia McCarthy
www.youtube.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Not to defend the stupid robot car, but so-called “intelligent” human drivers get up to this kind of nonsense all the time.
Also extremely friggin loud and disruptive for the thousands of people who live nearby.
This article ($) reckons up to 300 helicopter flights into Flemington for the entire #Melbourne Cup week. Up to 6 passengers per helicopter, so that's less than the capacity of two trains - a tiny fraction of total patrons. And more than a hundred times the fare. www.theage.com.au/bu... #AirTaxis
Melbourne Cup VIP helicopter airlift set to begin
One after another, they arrive, with their VIP passengers on board, before taking off again.
www.theage.com.au
November 1, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Also extremely friggin loud and disruptive for the thousands of people who live nearby.
Better buses for the west? Nah.
Shitty AI chatbots? Absolutely!
Shitty AI chatbots? Absolutely!
The Transport Victoria website has been updated and now includes an "AI Chatbot" of questionable utility.
Can't answer very basic questions and doesn't seem to add much value to the website. I would rather they focus their effort on fixing the many errors and […]
[Original post on aus.social]
Can't answer very basic questions and doesn't seem to add much value to the website. I would rather they focus their effort on fixing the many errors and […]
[Original post on aus.social]
October 31, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Better buses for the west? Nah.
Shitty AI chatbots? Absolutely!
Shitty AI chatbots? Absolutely!
I give it approximately three days of operations before one of these robotaxis, carrying literally nobody, seizes up in front of a tram crammed with 150 people, because self-drive still struggles with basic shit like turning corners.
If you want to install a protected bike lane, every Thomas, Richard, and Harold who runs a CBD cafe needs to be consulted for five months.
Meanwhile, when techbros want to trash our city's streets by flooding them with empty taxis, then it's "please, go ahead, that's progress!"
Meanwhile, when techbros want to trash our city's streets by flooding them with empty taxis, then it's "please, go ahead, that's progress!"
Exclusive: Waymo has begun talking to Australian regulators about trialing its self-driving cars down under.
This comes as the Google-linked "robotaxi" company tapped local lobbyists to represent it as Australia develops its autonomous vehicle road rules.
www.crikey.com.au/20...
This comes as the Google-linked "robotaxi" company tapped local lobbyists to represent it as Australia develops its autonomous vehicle road rules.
www.crikey.com.au/20...
October 28, 2025 at 1:12 AM
I give it approximately three days of operations before one of these robotaxis, carrying literally nobody, seizes up in front of a tram crammed with 150 people, because self-drive still struggles with basic shit like turning corners.
If you want to install a protected bike lane, every Thomas, Richard, and Harold who runs a CBD cafe needs to be consulted for five months.
Meanwhile, when techbros want to trash our city's streets by flooding them with empty taxis, then it's "please, go ahead, that's progress!"
Meanwhile, when techbros want to trash our city's streets by flooding them with empty taxis, then it's "please, go ahead, that's progress!"
Exclusive: Waymo has begun talking to Australian regulators about trialing its self-driving cars down under.
This comes as the Google-linked "robotaxi" company tapped local lobbyists to represent it as Australia develops its autonomous vehicle road rules.
www.crikey.com.au/20...
This comes as the Google-linked "robotaxi" company tapped local lobbyists to represent it as Australia develops its autonomous vehicle road rules.
www.crikey.com.au/20...
October 28, 2025 at 1:08 AM
If you want to install a protected bike lane, every Thomas, Richard, and Harold who runs a CBD cafe needs to be consulted for five months.
Meanwhile, when techbros want to trash our city's streets by flooding them with empty taxis, then it's "please, go ahead, that's progress!"
Meanwhile, when techbros want to trash our city's streets by flooding them with empty taxis, then it's "please, go ahead, that's progress!"
Maybe if these CBD buildings were wearing brighter clothes and not gawking at their phones, they wouldn’t have been crashed into by a car.
A woman is critically injured when two cars smash into an office building in Perth's central business district, causing traffic havoc during peak hour on Monday morning.
Cars smash into Perth office building, woman critically injured
A woman is critically injured when two cars smash into an office building in Perth's central business district, causing traffic havoc during peak hour on Monday morning.
www.abc.net.au
October 27, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Maybe if these CBD buildings were wearing brighter clothes and not gawking at their phones, they wouldn’t have been crashed into by a car.
The little train that couldn’t.
Something had to give for that home run. A price had to be paid to the civic gods.
www.thestar.com/news/gta/egl...
www.thestar.com/news/gta/egl...
Eglinton Crosstown LRT testing stopped — source says two trains collided
The Eglinton Crosstown LRT had begun its final round of testing on Oct. 7, but two trains collided in the Mount Dennis train yard on Thursday, leading to a pause in the test, according to a source.
www.thestar.com
October 21, 2025 at 9:21 PM
The little train that couldn’t.
CSL and Optus (and others) pay millions to executives *because* they manage to avoid company tax, not despite.
October 21, 2025 at 9:18 PM
CSL and Optus (and others) pay millions to executives *because* they manage to avoid company tax, not despite.
Fantastic example of how mega infrastructure planning gaslights communities: "Sarah Tartakover ... said she felt betrayed because she had wanted to trust that fewer trucks on local streets would mean cleaner air. 'Instead, it could be worse for me because pollution will be condensed'".
‘Like a bathroom exhaust fan’: West Gate Tunnel air stacks leave locals exposed to noxious fumes
Residents of suburbs around the West Gate Tunnel will breathe in truck pollution as twin ventilation stacks feature sleek design but no filters.
www.theage.com.au
October 21, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Fantastic example of how mega infrastructure planning gaslights communities: "Sarah Tartakover ... said she felt betrayed because she had wanted to trust that fewer trucks on local streets would mean cleaner air. 'Instead, it could be worse for me because pollution will be condensed'".
Meanwhile, in Melbourne…
October 19, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Meanwhile, in Melbourne…
Ah yep. Made the mistake of trying to use public transport on a Sunday morning without checking the timetable.
October 18, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Ah yep. Made the mistake of trying to use public transport on a Sunday morning without checking the timetable.
This is exactly what the Village of London needs: thousands more cars driving around empty.
Interesting that autonomous car rideshare company Waymo says they will enter the UK market next year. They're starting off gently with a trial in the test village of (checks notes).....London.
waymo.com/blog/2025/10...
waymo.com/blog/2025/10...
Hello London! Your Waymo ride is arriving
Waymo is expanding to London, with plans to offer rides starting in 2026
waymo.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:28 PM
This is exactly what the Village of London needs: thousands more cars driving around empty.
David Pocock, rubgy guy turned politician, has been kicked out of a club comprised of politicians and people who pay for access to politicians in order to influence them for being too political.
Former Wallabies star David Pocock booted from parliamentary sports club
Exclusive: Senator accused of bringing social club into disrepute after raising concerns about its association with betting lobby
www.theguardian.com
October 10, 2025 at 2:23 AM
David Pocock, rubgy guy turned politician, has been kicked out of a club comprised of politicians and people who pay for access to politicians in order to influence them for being too political.
I would add to this otherwise good list that connections between services need to be centred in service and infrastructure planning - no more station renovations or platform stops that make transferring between services harder.
Blog: I came up with a long list of things to improve around the #PublicTransport network - some big, some not so big.
Read the list here: danielbowen.com/2025...
Read the list here: danielbowen.com/2025...
October 9, 2025 at 9:02 PM
I would add to this otherwise good list that connections between services need to be centred in service and infrastructure planning - no more station renovations or platform stops that make transferring between services harder.
it's one standard gauge platform, michael, how much could it cost?
It’s a $4 billion rail ‘superhub’. But these passengers will watch it pass from the train window
The Sunshine station decision has left commuters from the north-east without easy access to the Metro Tunnel and future airport rail link.
www.theage.com.au
October 9, 2025 at 4:35 AM
it's one standard gauge platform, michael, how much could it cost?
Counter-proposal: Tear down/fill in the CityLink and stop planning new mega-roads that enable more and more and more and more and more and more traffic to be vomited onto local streets.
West Gate Tunnel to open in December as premier calls for free toll roads this summer
After the project was plagued with delays and disputes, Jacinta Allan has asked for travel on the toll road and others to be free this summer to make up for years of construction pain.
www.theage.com.au
October 9, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Counter-proposal: Tear down/fill in the CityLink and stop planning new mega-roads that enable more and more and more and more and more and more traffic to be vomited onto local streets.
Free PT on the weekends during Soft Launch Summer as a “thank you” for years of disruption.
That’s nice, provided you don’t need to be anywhere on time on a Sunday morning.
That’s nice, provided you don’t need to be anywhere on time on a Sunday morning.
October 7, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Free PT on the weekends during Soft Launch Summer as a “thank you” for years of disruption.
That’s nice, provided you don’t need to be anywhere on time on a Sunday morning.
That’s nice, provided you don’t need to be anywhere on time on a Sunday morning.
🚇 Metro Tunnel will be "soft" opening in December (from The Age)
🚇 On weekdays, trains every 20 mins between 10am and 3pm from Westall and West Footscray
🚇 On weekends, trains every 20 mins from 10am to 7pm, and extend to East Pakenham every 40 mins and Sunbury every 60 mins
🚇 On weekdays, trains every 20 mins between 10am and 3pm from Westall and West Footscray
🚇 On weekends, trains every 20 mins from 10am to 7pm, and extend to East Pakenham every 40 mins and Sunbury every 60 mins
October 7, 2025 at 12:22 AM
🚇 Metro Tunnel will be "soft" opening in December (from The Age)
🚇 On weekdays, trains every 20 mins between 10am and 3pm from Westall and West Footscray
🚇 On weekends, trains every 20 mins from 10am to 7pm, and extend to East Pakenham every 40 mins and Sunbury every 60 mins
🚇 On weekdays, trains every 20 mins between 10am and 3pm from Westall and West Footscray
🚇 On weekends, trains every 20 mins from 10am to 7pm, and extend to East Pakenham every 40 mins and Sunbury every 60 mins
Looking forward to the common law version of robodebt.
Artificial intelligence is coming for the law. Are we ready for robots to become judge and jury?
Lawyers are already using AI. Will judges be next?
Artificial intelligence is coming for the law. Are we ready for robots to become judge and jury?
www.abc.net.au
October 5, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Looking forward to the common law version of robodebt.
Tram driver over PA: “Attention passengers. A reminder that vaping is not allowed on trams. It’s easy to act like a human being”.
October 3, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Tram driver over PA: “Attention passengers. A reminder that vaping is not allowed on trams. It’s easy to act like a human being”.
These downgrades to Victoria St are peak Melbourne.
We're moving the Peel St stop to Queen St, which reduces connectivity between the 57 and 58 tram, AND, the replacement stop at Queen St is only 140m away from the existing Victoria/Elizabeth stop.
We're moving the Peel St stop to Queen St, which reduces connectivity between the 57 and 58 tram, AND, the replacement stop at Queen St is only 140m away from the existing Victoria/Elizabeth stop.
October 2, 2025 at 4:48 AM
These downgrades to Victoria St are peak Melbourne.
We're moving the Peel St stop to Queen St, which reduces connectivity between the 57 and 58 tram, AND, the replacement stop at Queen St is only 140m away from the existing Victoria/Elizabeth stop.
We're moving the Peel St stop to Queen St, which reduces connectivity between the 57 and 58 tram, AND, the replacement stop at Queen St is only 140m away from the existing Victoria/Elizabeth stop.
Yarra Trams once again proving itself incapable of providing a consistent and reliable service.
Why subsidise this private company when it can’t even deliver the product it’s meant to?
And why isn’t this more of a political issue?
Why subsidise this private company when it can’t even deliver the product it’s meant to?
And why isn’t this more of a political issue?
October 1, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Yarra Trams once again proving itself incapable of providing a consistent and reliable service.
Why subsidise this private company when it can’t even deliver the product it’s meant to?
And why isn’t this more of a political issue?
Why subsidise this private company when it can’t even deliver the product it’s meant to?
And why isn’t this more of a political issue?