Think of the poor country folk tht are saddled not only with high unemployment
(reputed to be 20%+ in the Northern Rivers Area for /25s) but you get little
assistance to actually get to your WftD scheme! This is in an area with
virtually NO (as in NIL) public transport outside the main towns.
I have thought of a scheme (not totally my own idea as it was proposed for
Nowra(??) in the 1980's.) of a flexible bus system that would address some of
the Public transport inadequacies in these areas.
The system is based around interlinked flexible mini-bus systems, wireless
communications, GPS, and networking theory.
To start the system, a map of viable roads that are linked, & safe for Mini
buses needs to be established (eliminating cul-de-sacs & narrow roads for
instance.) Then a mini bus system, with on-board computers, wireless comms &
GPS is established. As we know where the buses are at any time, we can now
dynamically route the buses to pick up passengers close to their start & set
them down near their destination. Buses can also meet & exchange passengers
if necessary. (some buses will also be larger, to link systems together)
The passenger initiates the trip by ringing a central tel #, and advising
start, destination & requested pickup time. The computer will calculate the
route, and remap the appropriate bus to pick up the passenger, then the
operator will tell the passenger the time & location of pickup (usually next
street corner).
The real advantage of this system, is the number of buses can be flexibly
changed according to the number of passengers. It could even be possible to
run a 24x7 service. If the Mini-buses are wheel-chair accessible, the
disabled could have a door to door service. I would think trip cost would be
cheaper than Taxi, & more expensive than Bus. (I could see the local Taxi
companies actually running the service, in conjunction with the Bus
companies. This would defuse the objections of the Taxi companies!)
I think this proposal would be a great O/S software project, & should not be
difficult to get Govt funding to start it. Is anyone interested in running
with it?? (as I am not a programmer.....)
regards Doug Foskey
PS: I will be in Sydney at the Slug meeting next Friday if anyone wants to
discuss the proposal.
On Saturday 22 January 2005 3:22, you wrote:
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> > On Sat, 22 Jan 2005, Terry Collins wrote:
> > > Adelle Hartley wrote:
> >
> > When I was on the dole, I was teaching myself C++ and systems admin.
> > This was back in 1992-1993.
>
> Now called newstart.
>
> > When interviewing for these courses at the CES,
>
> CES is gone and it is now all privatised as Job Network provider.
> If you want a course, you have to earn "credits" @ about $3/hour by
> doing WFD activites, which are mostly the equivalent of painting rocks,
> etc.
>
> > If a cheme that involved Linux/OSS/programming &c had been there
> > when I was on the dole, my career would probably have been accelerated
> > even more than it was at the time, when no one had a clue about
> > computers, let alone *nix.
>
> Umm, they don't now either. Course available included Fork Lift, First
> Aid, Green Card, drivers licence, etc. Even basic MCSE is far, far too
> expensive {:-).
>
> > However much I despise the Howard Govt and it's evil WFTD schemes,
> > OSS is better than painting rocks and cleaning dead animals out of sewers
> > or whatever other useless dead end tasks the unemployed have to
> > do to keep the govt's employment statistics appearing to be
> > better than they actually are...
>
> You are now counted as "employed" if you do 1 hour or more work per
> week.
>
> As Matthew (sp?) said, WFD schemes are a major pain. Community Work
> options are better way. You just need the money for public liability.
> Something through ComputerBank would be easiest, but the problem is
> having local actitivities.
--
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