Melbourne Airport to South Yarra transport with young kids

[rechoboam]

I agree, especially with child seat age kids, unless they have just fallen asleep!

Precisely. During one of these detours the child needed an urgent toilet break on the freeway which turned a bad detour into a day trip pretty much.

 

[AdMEL]

..... (although it seems no one has ever mentioned to the Mexicans that most people move to the right to turn right, rather then their habit of moving to the left to turn right ).

Very funny! As a mexican, it makes perfect sense for a couple of reasons:

1. Trams don't get delayed

2. In theory, less accidents due to people turning right in front of oncoming traffic (in practice, this may not be the case, as far too many people don't understand [or choose to ignore] the principal of waiting until the light on the road you are turning into turns green!)

I'm interested to hear Avis have the transponder in all their vehicles. I took my local "go Via" beeper to use (they are supposed to have interstate agreements) and when asked if I needed "tolls" by Europcar, I just said no, I've brought my own. It hasn't been issue with accounts and I don't appear to have been billed at all by Europcar. I'd be concerned that doing that with Avis would see you being billed twice for the one toll! By bringing my own, I get charged for nothing more and nothing less than what I use.

Actually, all Avis and Budget cars have an e-tag, as they are owned by the same company and this company has an agreement with the NSW RTA to provide the service.

In the scenario you described where you brought your own e-tag, you would be billed for the tolls twice in an Avis or Budget car, and as far as I am aware, you would be stuck with it. There is another thread on this in this forum (I'm not good with the search function, so can't find it at the moment).

Hertz has recently introduced a similar service, however theirs does not use e-tags in each car, rather it relies on video matching the number plate, so you pay slightly more (75c per match, which could amount to quite a bit), but you can opt out and use your own e-tag or purchase a day pass.

 

[markis10]

Very funny! As a mexican, it makes perfect sense for a couple of reasons:

1. Trams don't get delayed

2. In theory, less accidents due to people turning right in front of oncoming traffic (in practice, this may not be the case, as far too many people don't understand [or choose to ignore] the principal of waiting until the light on the road you are turning into turns green!)

Hook turns are also part of the QLD driving rules, just not for cars

 

[AdMEL]

Hook turns are also part of the QLD driving rules, just not for cars

That's new! They weren't when I lived in Brisbane 15 years ago!

swanning_it, since you're from the Gold Coast, why are you having a swipe at us mexicans if your home state has a similar rule?

 

[markis10]

That's new! They weren't when I lived in Brisbane 15 years ago!

swanning_it, since you're from the Gold Coast, why are you having a swipe at us mexicans if your home state has a similar rule?

Came in 2009:

TRANSPORT OPERATIONS (ROAD USE MANAGEMENT?ROAD RULES) REGULATION 2009 - SECT 34 34 Making a hook turn at a hook turn only sign

[h=3]TRANSPORT OPERATIONS (ROAD USE MANAGEMENT—ROAD RULES) REGULATION 2009 - SECT 34[/h] 34 Making a hook turn at a hook turn only sign (1) A driver turning right at an intersection with traffic lights and a hook turn only sign must turn right by making a hook turn in accordance with this section.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

Its mainly for bike riders and there are hook turn spots in the BNE CBD:


[h=3]TRANSPORT OPERATIONS (ROAD USE MANAGEMENT ROAD RULES) REGULATION 2009 - SECT 35[/h] 35 Optional hook turn by a bicycle rider (1) The rider of a bicycle turning right at an intersection, without a hook turn only sign or a no hook turn by bicycles sign, may turn right at the intersection by making

(a) a right turn under division 2; or​

(b) a hook turn under this section.​

(2) The rider must make a hook turn under this section in accordance with subsection (3).
Maximum penalty 20 penalty units.

 

[oz_mark]

Hook turns are also part of the QLD driving rules, just not for cars

Hook turns by cyclists are part of the Australian Road Rules, so will be applicable in any state that has implemented that rule.

 

[AdMEL]

Came in 2009:

TRANSPORT OPERATIONS (ROAD USE MANAGEMENT?ROAD RULES) REGULATION 2009 - SECT 34 34 Making a hook turn at a hook turn only sign

TRANSPORT OPERATIONS (ROAD USE MANAGEMENT—ROAD RULES) REGULATION 2009 - SECT 34

34 Making a hook turn at a hook turn only sign (1) A driver turning right at an intersection with traffic lights and a hook turn only sign must turn right by making a hook turn in accordance with this section.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

Its mainly for bike riders and there are hook turn spots in the BNE CBD:


TRANSPORT OPERATIONS (ROAD USE MANAGEMENT ROAD RULES) REGULATION 2009 - SECT 35

35 Optional hook turn by a bicycle rider (1) The rider of a bicycle turning right at an intersection, without a hook turn only sign or a no hook turn by bicycles sign, may turn right at the intersection by making

(a) a right turn under division 2; or​

(b) a hook turn under this section.​

(2) The rider must make a hook turn under this section in accordance with subsection (3).
Maximum penalty 20 penalty units.

Thanks for the heads up! I'll be in Brisbane next month - won't be a problem for me!

Good to see our mexican logical rule is spreading!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

That's new! They weren't when I lived in Brisbane 15 years ago!

swanning_it, since you're from the Gold Coast, why are you having a swipe at us mexicans if your home state has a similar rule?

Because I had a bet with myself as to how long it would take someone to bite . For the record, it took considerably longer than I expected, so I lost on both counts ..........Admel, you didn't read my post properly.....I did say I find driving in Melbourne to be quite easy and I came very close to saying the Mexicans are considerate drivers (unlike coughroaches who do more aiming than driving.........oh, oh I'll get myself in strife here I can see :mrgreen.

 

[AdMEL]

Because I had a bet with myself as to how long it would take someone to bite . For the record, it took considerably longer than I expected, so I lost on both counts ..........Admel, you didn't read my post properly.....I did say I find driving in Melbourne to be quite easy and I came very close to saying the Mexicans are considerate drivers (unlike coughroaches who do more aiming than driving.........oh, oh I'll get myself in strife here I can see :mrgreen.

Ok, you got me!

I'm guessing you're not a Qld native, given your pot-kettle-black comments!! Other than that, I'm leaving it alone!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I'm guessing you're not a Qld native,

I think I'm one of the few on the Gold Coast who IS a Qld native :shock:.......but I did do a stint in Melbourne when I was 17, out seeing the world and I found I only needed to go as far as Melbourne and I could see all cultures in one city block , and being 17 with a Qld license, I was a younger driver than the local lads and mostly learnt to drive in Melbourne. My recent trip enabled me to reminisce and the apartment I stayed in at Docklands was right where I used to work.......at the old docks, 30+ years ago. I've got a few good stories from those days too, I can tell you , in fact during my recent trip, if I wasn't with my family, I would have ended up going to the pub with a cabbie as we both remembered the old docks days. That was a great catch up....funny part was, my cabbie (who was an "old" new Australian) was complaining about the Indian/Pakistani, "new" new Australians............but I think I've highjacked this thread quite enough, but to suffice to say, I have some very fond Melbourne memories (and I must say, I'm not entirely happy with all the changes, some of Melbournes famous heart and soul seems to have been lost a little)..........