pass the liniment

What’s going on here? I wonder if the organisers of the Commonwealth Games – which start in just over a week – and the State Government  have been sniffing the rubbing liniment.

The Government has started  newspaper and radio ads  virtually warning Melbourne motorists of an upcoming Apocalypse on wheels. And it is some of their suggested ways to beat traffic jams that have me shaking my head.

What they don’t realise is that during their precious Games millions of Victorians will not be going to them. Millions of them will be trying to get to work, run a business, make a quid.

One of their great suggestions is to ask your employer if you can work from home. Yeah sure. A company with maybe fifty work stations unbolts them, unwires them and sends people home for more than a fortnight.

Another one: Ask your employer if you can work earlier or later – before 7a.m. or after 9.30 a.m. – to avoid travelling in peak times. Great for a company that opens its doors at 8.30.

Avoid the evening rush by staying in town. Forget the fact that many working couples with children have to get home to pick up the kids and cook them dinner. They suggest you stay in town and enjoy Festival Melbourne 2006. They don’t offer to pay babysitters’ fees.

Catch public transport, car pool, cycle walk or Park ‘n Ride during the Games. And let somebody else drop off and pickup the kids from school.

I maybe thick but why do we need so many lane closures, road closures, traffic diversions and No Stopping Zones?

Melbourne can handle 100,000 people at the MCG – right on the edge of the CBD – on Grand Final day and the city doesn’t go into lock-down.

Hinch’s Hunch: This has got cock-up written all over it. Time will tell but it seems like a massive traffic overkill to me.

At least in the newspaper ads  they say: “We appreciate your patience”. Methinks a lot of Melbourne motorists are going to run out of patience very quickly.

Friday, March 3, 2006

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2006