Hello and Happy New Year to all of you Eye of the Fish followers.
Allow me to introduce myself, I am minimus, the loutish underling to the great Maximus. Â All’s been quiet from the big fish for awhile now, and with the recent reports of sharks in the waters, I am growing concerned. Â Keep an eye out for him and let me know if you do see him, wont you?
Now… I’m not much of a fancy talking fish, so this first post is going to be a bit of a short one.
I consider myself to be a big proponent of public transport, and have been a huge proponent of getting light rail in Wellington. Â Oh, I had lists and lists of all the benefits, and having lived in various cities with fantastic transport systems, I dreamt of the day they would be implemented in my new hometown. Â There wasn’t a single anti-public transport talking point that I wasn’t already prepared for.
Until now.
This week I encountered an argument against light rail, subways and all versions of fixed rail public transport, that cannot be countered. Â It is insurmountable and opinion changing.
I give up. Â I do not want light rail. Â I never want to ride public transport ever again.
Do you know of what I speak?
The 9th Annual No Pants Subway Ride. Â And it’s gone global.
DO NOT WANT! Â DO NOT WANT!
(WARNING: Â IT GETS WORSE FROM HERE)
Started 9 years ago in New York, by a New York-based comedy troupe called Improv Everywhere, this movement has spread to cities across the globe with fixed rail transport systems.
Washington, DC to San Francisco
and in case you thought this was just some strange North American thing..
and even our western neighbours:
Apparently 50 cities in 24 countries around the globe got in on the action. Â Now I’m no prude. Â After all, fish aren’t big fans of pants to begin with, but I’ve never seen a better argument against public transport.
This is just not a good idea.
Nor is this
and neither is.
Looks like some people need to review the old togs/undies advertisement.
If this is the future with light rail – count me OUT.
They didn’t go on light rail in the Melbourne one.
Great post ! And a nice way to start the year, with some tongue in cheek humour (no, not those cheeks) – although I’m not sure I agree with you.
Surely, in the home of the short Stubbies, a No Pants day would go down well here in NZ, whether we have a Subway or not. In fact, we even have some branches of Subway here – I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if the fish went there sans pants. It could even be sponsored by Mr Bun, if Subway doesn’t want to. Or a shop selling budgies, or marbles, or whatever Mr GreenPants up there is smuggling through the barriers….
Maximus! glad to see you aren’t the victim of one of those sharks.
I suppose you’re right, this would be like just every other day here.
In the US most places of business have placards at the door that say “No Shoes, No Shirt, No service.”
Here it could be “No shoes, No pants, no problem”
I always said that paying that million dollars to Improv Everywhere would be money well spent. Now all I need are some glass doors in my car so that everyone can see me in my undies, seeing as I wouldn’t be caught on public transport.
[…] 2011: I’ve changed my mind about light rail Flooding-In […]
DomPost letter today re Buses on the Golden Mile
OPINION: I am a regular bus user and enjoy the bus service, but I also enjoy walking along the Golden Mile.
The Golden Mile needs to be first and foremost pedestrian friendly; pedestrians are losing the battle for dominancy to buses.
Making the road for buses only is designed to create an efficient bus service, which translates to fast-moving buses at a place where we want pedestrians to dominate.
The best part of Lambton Quay traffic wise is between Stewart Dawsons corner and Hunter St. There, cars, buses and pedestrians share the road.
Immediately north or south on the east side there are dedicated bus lanes, and crossing the road and walking along the footpath is not a pleasant experience.
Only 200 metres away and parallel to the entire Golden Mile, we have the six-lane Jervois Quay, where cars have priority over pedestrians, and this is where the bus lanes belong.
For now let the cars mingle with the buses in the Golden Mile, including Manners St. It will slow down the traffic, bring business and make the road safer.
Develop the dedicated bus lanes in Jervois Quay or else our Golden Mile will be the Golden Bus Chain and pedestrians will go elsewhere.
EYAL AHARONI
Evans Bay