Transperth has advised that is Mandurah service will be disrupted over at least four weekends starting on January 15, 2010.  From a cycling perspective this will only affect those who like to train and ride on the southern train route.  The full Transperth announcement can be found here, but the key parts are reproduced below.

Transperth train services between Mandurah and Rockingham will be cancelled from approximately 7.30pm on Friday until last service on Sunday for the following weekends:

    * Friday 15 January – Sunday 17 January
    * Friday 22 January – Sunday 24 January
    * Friday 29 January – Sunday 31 January
    * Friday 5 February – Sunday 7 February.

This is to facilitate tunnel construction as part of the Mandurah Entrance Road project.

The last full-line Mandurah Line services will be:

    * to Mandurah departing Perth at 6.45pm
    * to Perth departing Mandurah at 7.05pm.

Weekday train services during the months of January and February will not be affected by these works.

Weekend train services between Perth and Rockingham will operate as normal during these periods.

Bicycles

Bicycles are not permitted on Transperth buses, including train replacement services.

Transperth suggests that, where possible, cyclists ride between stations. For cycling information and maps, please visit the Bikewest website at www.dpi.wa.gov.au/cycling. [/quote]

Please Note

There is a possibility that these weekend disruptions may extend to Friday 12 February – Sunday 14 February. Passengers are encouraged to check the Transperth website for updates or to register for TravelEasy to receive service information straight to your inbox.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Tags: Mandurah,Rockingham,Service disruptions,Transperth
Categories: Bicycling, Commuting and Recreational
1 Comment »

Regretfully I felt the need to once again report a Transperth bus driver. I have learnt to endeavour to record as much detail as possible and will now report all incidents to Transperth via their online reporting form and to the WA Police via their online reporting form.

I filed the following report on April 2, 2009.

I was heading west on Grantham Street on my bicycle just west of Crosby Street at 7:25 AM when the driver of TP1110 came up right behind me and commenced to blow his horn. This was threatening and intimating behaviour which put me at risk. The driver was delayed for no more than 35 seconds as we progressed through a narrow section due to the island. In fact within three minutes I passed the driver as they stopped for a time stopped (?) on The Boulevard. The driver then passed me again further along The Boulevard some five minutes after the initial incident.

I have received two responses. The one from the Western Australian Police Department does nothing at all to reassure me that the Western Australian Police are serious at road safety net alone cyclist safety. Their default response is as follows:

Thank you for your Traffic Complaint Report received on 02/04/09. The information you provided will be forwarded to the Western Australia Police Traffic Intelligence Services.

Your Report will be investigated and if further assistance is required you may be contacted by Police. In addition the information you provided will be used to target offenders and/or ‘hot spots’.

The response I have received from Wayne Harvey, Operations Supervisor Karrinyup Depot, Transperth is more promising.  Wayne’s response follows:

I am responding to your recent complaint regarding an incident between your self and a bus from our company.

I do believe that this has happened to you before.

PATH Transit does not condone unprofessional driving at any time and accordingly I have taken appropriate steps to draw the attention of our staff to the contents of your complaint.

Right to safe passage on the roads is not restricted to any class of vehicle and consideration for all road users is an issue that we emphasise to our staff both during training and throughout their career.
Unfortunately, the combination of a relatively slow bicycle and a bus frequently stopping at bus stops can result in bus and bicycle overtaking each other several times in a short stretch of road.

The driver concerned will be checked by an independent assessor. The results of that report will determine what action the company will take with regard to the driver.

As you stated in your complaint, the Police have been notified so I will wait for a call from them.

I have informed the driver that the Police have been notified and may request a meeting at some time.

In light Wayne Harvey’s response I encourage all cyclists to take the trouble to report any incidents.  It may well make a difference.  Transperth’s online reporting form can be found here.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Tags: Road Safety,Safety for Cyclists,Transperth
Categories: Bicycling, Commuting and Recreational
1 Comment »

As it seems that the Transperth Feedback Form does not like me (two computers, two different operating systems, two different browsers and it will not submit) I have decided to post my “letter” here, describing my latest experience with a Transperth driver. If you have had a bad experience do let us know.

Dear Transperth

This morning, August 27, 2008, I was riding my bicycle eastbound on Lemnos Street, Daglish, when I approached the exit point for the recreation centre/works depot.  As I approached the intersection a Transperth bus (TP1350) being driven at the time by a female driver commenced to pull out from my left to execute a right hand turn into Lemnos Street.  This occurred at 7:00 AM.  This happened when I was within 5 to 10 metres of the bus.  Thankfully I was climbing the hill at the time so was not travelling at more than 20 km/h. This allowed me time to take evasive action, including coming to a complete stop within 1/2 a metre of the middle of the bus.  That is right,as I stopped in the bike lane, the middle of the bus went pass me.  This gives a clear indication of the closeness of the incident.

The driver failed to acknowledge me, failed to stop and failed to determine all was okay.

I consider the actions of this driver careless at best and I don’t appreciate having myself put at risk in this manner.

Regretfully this is not the first instance of careless driving by Transperth drivers and as advised previously, this matter will raised with the Police in addition to this formal compliant.

Please take immediate steps to reinforce to your drivers that cyclists are legal road users, that they are people, sons, daughters, mothers and dads and have a right to safe passage.  They should be not threatened or endangered in this manner.

Regards
…..

Popularity: 2% [?]

Tags: Road Rage,Safety for Cyclists,Transperth
Categories: Bicycling
3 Comments »