Melbourne Stoked On 24 Hr Public Transport As Sydney Fumes About Lockouts

By

Cam Tyeson

Published

As it turns out, a lot of you have a lot of very strong feelings about the duelling issues of Getting Pissed and Public Transport.

In fact, the general consensus coming from yesterday’s revelation that Melbourne would be introducing weekend 24-hour public transport on a 12 month trial this coming January is one of overwhelming positivity – so much so that it’s seemingly been enough to dwarf and erase any potential political ill will or backlash over the $34million blowout on budgetary estimates for the project by the Andrews State Government.
What’s more, it’s caused people in Sydney to view and compare their situation to that of Melbourne’s – with one city actively preventing people from freely going about their nights thanks to increasingly restrictive Venue Lockout laws, whilst the other is providing safe, affordable methods of transport home for people who do go out on a weekend.
The 24 hour public transport is especially beneficial to people who live outside of the $20 cab/Uber radius of the Melbourne CBD, and even more so to the established inner-suburban entertainment hubs like Brunswick, Fitzroy, and St Kilda.
Meanwhile in Sydney, what was the vibrant, alternative night district in Newtown is voluntarily imposing its own lockout laws, after the State-enforced lockout zone only managed to achieve the effect of pushing violence into other areas of town – kind of like using a cloth to clean up motor oil. And Newtown is not the only place where this effect is being observed.
Just to illustrate the difference between the sentiments of people of Sydney and Melbourne at the moment, there are a pair of Change.org petitions currently running.
The first from concerned citizens of Sydney, pleading with NSW Premier Mike Baird to overturn the lockout laws and return a sense of freedom of movement and normalcy to Sydney’s now-struggling nightlife – which also puts pressure on the transport industry, with a sudden 3am traffic rush and taxi squeeze now a fixture of weekend life.
The second from sarcastic citizens of Melbourne, who would very much like speakers installed on all trams that play Funky Slap Bass music whilst travelling in the CBD Free Tram Zone, and Darth Vader‘s Imperial March from Star Wars whilst travelling outside of it.
The news of the trial in Melbourne immediately began trending locally amongst savvy citizens of the web.

First up were the people leaping with excitement about the news – representing largely the bulk of the response.

And, of course, the political voices taking credit for the move, such as Victorian Minister Jacinta Allan.

“A world-class city deserves 24-hour public transport. It’s good for our economy, for shift workers and for people who want to get home safe after a night out.”


“People who live in the outer suburbs and regional areas shouldn’t have to miss out on Melbourne’s vibrant night life. This trial is about giving them a safe and affordable way to get home.”

Or the fledgling Australian Sex Party.

‘Course there were those who, rightly, pointed out that all-night public transport on weekends would have unintended consequences, particularly for residents who live near train lines or stations, and along tram routes or near stops.

Meanwhile there were those that were suddenly pining for their old home town…

…and those who had made the move south and now have no regrets.

But amongst Sydneysiders, the reaction was one of universal frustration at the opposite trajectories of Australia’s two biggest cities.

In the eyes of legislators, imposing lockout laws on citizens might be in the best interests of public safety. But the bottom line here is that people will always vote with their feet.

And the people have spoken: Melbourne is taking a grand step towards rivalling the modernity and liveability of the world’s best global cities; Sydney, meanwhile, slips towards being a funless, draconian, over-Governed shitstain of a town where you can’t even burp without Johnny Law shoving his overly inquisitive nose in your business.
Photo: Josh Eveson via Getty Images.

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