Michael Bell
@xtrackka.bsky.social
Transport and optimism
Posting from Parkdale | Bunurong
and Goldfields | Dja Dja Wurrung lands
Posting from Parkdale | Bunurong
and Goldfields | Dja Dja Wurrung lands
Pinned
Michael Bell
@xtrackka.bsky.social
· Jan 1
1/1/26 musing:
When someone says “roads are for cars!” I say no, roads are not for cars.
Roads are the means by which people and goods can move between property and locations.
Cars just happen to be the mode society currently prioritises for facilitating that movement.
When someone says “roads are for cars!” I say no, roads are not for cars.
Roads are the means by which people and goods can move between property and locations.
Cars just happen to be the mode society currently prioritises for facilitating that movement.
Time to revive a classic
February 11, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Time to revive a classic
Political commentators frothing uncontrollably at the opportunity to dissect tonight’s latest news about a political party that died years ago.
The rest of Australia: what time is Jakara skiing for Olympic Gold tonight?
The rest of Australia: what time is Jakara skiing for Olympic Gold tonight?
February 11, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Political commentators frothing uncontrollably at the opportunity to dissect tonight’s latest news about a political party that died years ago.
The rest of Australia: what time is Jakara skiing for Olympic Gold tonight?
The rest of Australia: what time is Jakara skiing for Olympic Gold tonight?
Week 2 of the new Metro Tunnel operating, and there’s still a billion people travelling outbound on Frankston Line trains and getting off at Caulfield to transfer to the Dandenong Line. Why? Surely they’re not all coming from Parliament Station? 🚊🔍👀
February 11, 2026 at 6:43 AM
Week 2 of the new Metro Tunnel operating, and there’s still a billion people travelling outbound on Frankston Line trains and getting off at Caulfield to transfer to the Dandenong Line. Why? Surely they’re not all coming from Parliament Station? 🚊🔍👀
Reposted by Michael Bell
I made a map of 3.4 million Bluesky users - see if you can find yourself!
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
Bluesky Map
Interactive map of 3.4 million Bluesky users, visualised by their follower pattern.
bluesky-map.theo.io
February 8, 2026 at 10:59 PM
I made a map of 3.4 million Bluesky users - see if you can find yourself!
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
Jeepers! For a club that made Foundation Memberships so easy to say yes to, they sure have over-complicated the subsequent membership sign up process. #TassieDevils
February 9, 2026 at 8:22 AM
Jeepers! For a club that made Foundation Memberships so easy to say yes to, they sure have over-complicated the subsequent membership sign up process. #TassieDevils
Kudelka. We’ve lost a good one. 😢
February 9, 2026 at 6:13 AM
Kudelka. We’ve lost a good one. 😢
With today’s RBA cash interest rate rise, at least we can rest easy knowing the banks won’t pass on the increase to borrowers for a few weeks, just like when they delay passing on rate reductions, right? …right?
February 3, 2026 at 8:08 AM
With today’s RBA cash interest rate rise, at least we can rest easy knowing the banks won’t pass on the increase to borrowers for a few weeks, just like when they delay passing on rate reductions, right? …right?
What happens when a major community sports facility is built miles from the nearest quality public transport? No option but to drive there.
But the family club has organised a shuttle bus, so that's good right? It's not a shuttle from the nearest station, it's a bus to a nearby car parking paddock.🤦♂️
But the family club has organised a shuttle bus, so that's good right? It's not a shuttle from the nearest station, it's a bus to a nearby car parking paddock.🤦♂️
February 3, 2026 at 6:27 AM
What happens when a major community sports facility is built miles from the nearest quality public transport? No option but to drive there.
But the family club has organised a shuttle bus, so that's good right? It's not a shuttle from the nearest station, it's a bus to a nearby car parking paddock.🤦♂️
But the family club has organised a shuttle bus, so that's good right? It's not a shuttle from the nearest station, it's a bus to a nearby car parking paddock.🤦♂️
Day 1 of the new Metro Tunnel timetable, and there’s a power failure at Malvern… all Blue Line trains terminating at Hawksburn. The dreaded words: “Replacement buses have been ordered to take passengers to Caulfield”.
Pity it’s not showing on any of the journey planners or network status boards.
Pity it’s not showing on any of the journey planners or network status boards.
February 1, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Day 1 of the new Metro Tunnel timetable, and there’s a power failure at Malvern… all Blue Line trains terminating at Hawksburn. The dreaded words: “Replacement buses have been ordered to take passengers to Caulfield”.
Pity it’s not showing on any of the journey planners or network status boards.
Pity it’s not showing on any of the journey planners or network status boards.
New timetable is active on the Frankston (Green) Line, with just one consistent destination every day: Flinders Street via City Loop anticlockwise.
But the passenger displays are confused by the order in which services arrive… the 5:20pm service most definitely arrived before the 5:30pm service.
But the passenger displays are confused by the order in which services arrive… the 5:20pm service most definitely arrived before the 5:30pm service.
February 1, 2026 at 6:26 AM
New timetable is active on the Frankston (Green) Line, with just one consistent destination every day: Flinders Street via City Loop anticlockwise.
But the passenger displays are confused by the order in which services arrive… the 5:20pm service most definitely arrived before the 5:30pm service.
But the passenger displays are confused by the order in which services arrive… the 5:20pm service most definitely arrived before the 5:30pm service.
With the 'big switch' timetable and new Metro Tunnel in full operation, it's worth reviewing your old travel habits.
For example: travelling from Parkdale to Flinders Street on a weekend, it's now quicker to swap to the Blue Line at Malvern, and exit Town Hall Station near Young & Jacksons.
For example: travelling from Parkdale to Flinders Street on a weekend, it's now quicker to swap to the Blue Line at Malvern, and exit Town Hall Station near Young & Jacksons.
February 1, 2026 at 4:24 AM
With the 'big switch' timetable and new Metro Tunnel in full operation, it's worth reviewing your old travel habits.
For example: travelling from Parkdale to Flinders Street on a weekend, it's now quicker to swap to the Blue Line at Malvern, and exit Town Hall Station near Young & Jacksons.
For example: travelling from Parkdale to Flinders Street on a weekend, it's now quicker to swap to the Blue Line at Malvern, and exit Town Hall Station near Young & Jacksons.
Maintenance staff attended #ParkdaleStation yesterday to implement a fix for the stairs that don’t drain. The fix? Drainage holes drilled through the bottom of the riser.
Laughable. Those holes will be blocked by dirt and mouldy growth within months. #ParkdaleLXR
Laughable. Those holes will be blocked by dirt and mouldy growth within months. #ParkdaleLXR
January 29, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Maintenance staff attended #ParkdaleStation yesterday to implement a fix for the stairs that don’t drain. The fix? Drainage holes drilled through the bottom of the riser.
Laughable. Those holes will be blocked by dirt and mouldy growth within months. #ParkdaleLXR
Laughable. Those holes will be blocked by dirt and mouldy growth within months. #ParkdaleLXR
I kinda like the derogatory new state slogan doing the rounds, it’s catchy and it’s true:
“Victoria - State of Disrepair”
“Victoria - State of Disrepair”
Victoria has a public asset maintenance problem. Everywhere you go there’s roadside rubbish, overgrown medians, vandalised signs, graffitied walls, potholes, unrepaired armco barriers and wire-rope barriers.
If you subscribe to the ‘broken window’ philosophy, it’s no wonder there’s a crime problem.
If you subscribe to the ‘broken window’ philosophy, it’s no wonder there’s a crime problem.
January 29, 2026 at 8:49 PM
I kinda like the derogatory new state slogan doing the rounds, it’s catchy and it’s true:
“Victoria - State of Disrepair”
“Victoria - State of Disrepair”
You don’t have to look very far to see pile-ons of vile, angry, threatening, hatred-filled posts and replies targeting First Nations Australians, especially at this time of year. There’s even a couple of notorious political parties leading the attacks. 1/2
January 27, 2026 at 11:45 AM
You don’t have to look very far to see pile-ons of vile, angry, threatening, hatred-filled posts and replies targeting First Nations Australians, especially at this time of year. There’s even a couple of notorious political parties leading the attacks. 1/2
“Artist impression, subject to change.
Vegetation shownlat 10 years maturity.”
Hard to see how #ParkdaleStation is ever going to look like the 10-year renders if no plants have survived the first year in these planters.
Vegetation shownlat 10 years maturity.”
Hard to see how #ParkdaleStation is ever going to look like the 10-year renders if no plants have survived the first year in these planters.
January 19, 2026 at 8:33 AM
“Artist impression, subject to change.
Vegetation shownlat 10 years maturity.”
Hard to see how #ParkdaleStation is ever going to look like the 10-year renders if no plants have survived the first year in these planters.
Vegetation shownlat 10 years maturity.”
Hard to see how #ParkdaleStation is ever going to look like the 10-year renders if no plants have survived the first year in these planters.
#Bluesky iOS app just did something annoying that it hasn’t done before… I opened a linked story in a post, and when I came back, Bluesky auto-refreshed and threw me unceremoniously to the top of my feed.
Why #BSKY? The ability to control my place in the feed was one of the joys of this place.
Why #BSKY? The ability to control my place in the feed was one of the joys of this place.
January 15, 2026 at 9:08 PM
The AWW debacle broke on this platform, and the most immediate and factual updates from people close to the events appeared here first.
Bluesky finally feels timely and relevant.
Bluesky finally feels timely and relevant.
January 13, 2026 at 4:06 AM
The AWW debacle broke on this platform, and the most immediate and factual updates from people close to the events appeared here first.
Bluesky finally feels timely and relevant.
Bluesky finally feels timely and relevant.
Trying to create a VicTraffic account so you can keep track of road closures during to fires on routes you regularly travel?
Can’t, because #TransportVictoria doesn’t have sufficient API capacity on AWS. Embarrassing.
Can’t, because #TransportVictoria doesn’t have sufficient API capacity on AWS. Embarrassing.
January 11, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Trying to create a VicTraffic account so you can keep track of road closures during to fires on routes you regularly travel?
Can’t, because #TransportVictoria doesn’t have sufficient API capacity on AWS. Embarrassing.
Can’t, because #TransportVictoria doesn’t have sufficient API capacity on AWS. Embarrassing.
INModeration
Yes. Maybe.
Slightly diminish a band:
The Foo Negotiators
The Foo Negotiators
January 10, 2026 at 10:42 AM
INModeration
Sweeeeet cool change just arrived in Parkdale. Wind has swung from NW to SW. Temp dropped from 42 to 34 and falling!
January 9, 2026 at 6:10 AM
Sweeeeet cool change just arrived in Parkdale. Wind has swung from NW to SW. Temp dropped from 42 to 34 and falling!
1/1/26 musing:
When someone says “roads are for cars!” I say no, roads are not for cars.
Roads are the means by which people and goods can move between property and locations.
Cars just happen to be the mode society currently prioritises for facilitating that movement.
When someone says “roads are for cars!” I say no, roads are not for cars.
Roads are the means by which people and goods can move between property and locations.
Cars just happen to be the mode society currently prioritises for facilitating that movement.
January 1, 2026 at 1:14 AM
1/1/26 musing:
When someone says “roads are for cars!” I say no, roads are not for cars.
Roads are the means by which people and goods can move between property and locations.
Cars just happen to be the mode society currently prioritises for facilitating that movement.
When someone says “roads are for cars!” I say no, roads are not for cars.
Roads are the means by which people and goods can move between property and locations.
Cars just happen to be the mode society currently prioritises for facilitating that movement.
The trust destroying act of #Wired cataloging the biggest data breaches of 2025, but failing to report its own December breach
www.wired.com/story/worst-...
www.wired.com/story/worst-...
The Worst Hacks of 2025
From university breaches to cyberattacks that shut down whole supply chains, these were the worst cybersecurity incidents of the year.
www.wired.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:19 PM
The trust destroying act of #Wired cataloging the biggest data breaches of 2025, but failing to report its own December breach
www.wired.com/story/worst-...
www.wired.com/story/worst-...
Disregard for the historic coloured tile subway ramps at #RichmondStation continues with more advertising wrap. Metro Trains Melbourne - current franchise owner - seems to have given up on caring for Richmond Station, and instead is chasing revenue from whoever is prepared to pay. #MetroTrains
December 23, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Disregard for the historic coloured tile subway ramps at #RichmondStation continues with more advertising wrap. Metro Trains Melbourne - current franchise owner - seems to have given up on caring for Richmond Station, and instead is chasing revenue from whoever is prepared to pay. #MetroTrains
#RichmondStation is falling down. Temporary structural props have been installed over the mid-platform subway, on all platforms. Interestingly, this is where the mid-platform PIDs used to hang.
December 22, 2025 at 9:50 PM
#RichmondStation is falling down. Temporary structural props have been installed over the mid-platform subway, on all platforms. Interestingly, this is where the mid-platform PIDs used to hang.
In-train PIDs not working. Train is atypically empty… 2 days ‘till Christmas.
At Moorabbin, driver announces “this is a limited express service, running express to Caulfield”, then proceeds to stop all stations to Ormond. Skips Glenhuntly, then stops Caulfield and Malvern.
#MetroTrainsMelbourne
At Moorabbin, driver announces “this is a limited express service, running express to Caulfield”, then proceeds to stop all stations to Ormond. Skips Glenhuntly, then stops Caulfield and Malvern.
#MetroTrainsMelbourne
December 22, 2025 at 9:34 PM
In-train PIDs not working. Train is atypically empty… 2 days ‘till Christmas.
At Moorabbin, driver announces “this is a limited express service, running express to Caulfield”, then proceeds to stop all stations to Ormond. Skips Glenhuntly, then stops Caulfield and Malvern.
#MetroTrainsMelbourne
At Moorabbin, driver announces “this is a limited express service, running express to Caulfield”, then proceeds to stop all stations to Ormond. Skips Glenhuntly, then stops Caulfield and Malvern.
#MetroTrainsMelbourne