Few more questions,
1) I don't drink so its' a nil issue but I was curious what makes it so bad to drive intoxicated over there? We are supposed to have relatively strict DUI laws but they don't seem to be very effective.
2) Do visiting dignitaries gain any kind of "diplomatic immunity" when in Australia, or is that just an American thing?
3) Anyone have any suggestions for decent hotels in Sydney, also ones to avoid would just as welcomed.
Australia actually changed the law so diplomatic immunity did not exist anymore. This was because of complaints about diplomatic vechiles breaking road rules and not being punished like everybody else. However while the law changed in practice it is only if they do something really bad that they are pulled up. That comes from a friend of mine who works at the american embassy here.2) Do visiting dignitaries gain any kind of "diplomatic immunity" when in Australia, or is that just an American thing?
Information about drink driving (as we call it) can be found hereFew more questions,
1) My wife and I are reading a book about being an American coming over to Australia. One of the things they mention is not to drink and drive. I don't drink so its' a nil issue but I was curious what makes it so bad to drive intoxicated over there? We are supposed to have relatively strict DUI laws but they don't seem to be very effective.
2) Do visiting dignitaries gain any kind of "diplomatic immunity" when in Australia, or is that just an American thing?
Can't help you there3) Anyone have any suggestions for decent hotels in Sydney, also ones to avoid would just as welcomed.
Few more questions,
1) My wife and I are reading a book about being an American coming over to Australia. One of the things they mention is not to drink and drive. I don't drink so its' a nil issue but I was curious what makes it so bad to drive intoxicated over there? We are supposed to have relatively strict DUI laws but they don't seem to be very effective..
3) Anyone have any suggestions for decent hotels in Sydney, also ones to avoid would just as welcomed.
131500 Transport Infoline - Home is a govt website where you can type in your starting point and destination and it will give info on what bus or train to catch as well as how long it will take. Certainly ask Trogz as well for good local perspective. I have been gone too long from Sydney to be much help. Generally despite what many say the trains are very good so living close to a train line is helpful.Thank you all for your help, Trogz I will probably be asking you a few more questions a little later. Especially about actual distance and travel time.
131500 Transport Infoline - Home is a govt website where you can type in your starting point and destination and it will give info on what bus or train to catch as well as how long it will take. Certainly ask Trogz as well for good local perspective. I have been gone too long from Sydney to be much help. Generally despite what many say the trains are very good so living close to a train line is helpful.
basically the same wherever you go. The majority do go into or close to the city that it makes sense to have trains going through there. Some lines have a 5 minute frequency in peak so you don't need a timetable.Trains are generally very good but tend to be city orientated, in that most lines take you into the city, or back again. So for instance I know people who live in the Sutherland Shire who work in Parramatta and they have to go into the city (at least to Redfern) before they can start heading back out again.*
Yeah I noticed this on my recent trip to sydneyThe trains are very good except when it's very hot or it rains very heavily.
Not all train carriages have air conditioning. Air con might even be absent on the same train that has air con in other carriages. If it's hot I always avoid a train with open windows - open windows means no air-con. Air con carriages have either solid glass windows, or their windows have been fixed closed.
This is true of all cities. While companies are obsessed with having people travel into work when they could easily work from home this will continue to happen. For some reason companies are stupid enough to think if you are in the office you can't sit around and do nothing while believing there is no way to track work at home. Both are very wrong beliefs.Trains are generally fast and prompt but can be exceptionally crowded in peak times. Crowded in the morning heading into the city. In the afternoons heading out.
Lets not forget about nightride services where they have buses to replace trains between midnight and dawn (although the two do overlap especially on friday and saturday nights). These run along every suburban train line making every train line 24 hours. A return train ticket (from the day before) or a weekly will allow you to travel on these servicesThere's limited services late at night on all lines due to personal safety concerns.
Although the number of people who did not buy tickets when I lived in sydney was staggering. It seems to be an acceptable part of the culture to dodge train fares which if tickets were purchased could add millions of dollars (almost $9 million last financial year). That money could be put to good use. I reckon they should do what they have done in queensland if they don't already. Fines are sent to state debt collection. They have the power to cancel your drivers license and vechile registration and seize assets to recover money if you don't pay.There's heaps of ticket inspectors and it seems that CityRail's main concern is collections of monies rather than clean uncrowded trains.
because it was decided it was too expensive. Perhaps if they had done something about it when it was first mentioned then it would have been finacially feasable.Another attempt at a 'cross-city' connection was meant to link Chatswood to Epping to Carlingford to Parramatta but only links Chatswood to Epping.
Various labor governments have implemented policies of decentralisation, thus for instance there's a justice precinct at Parramatta with the state's Attorney General's department moved there from the city.basically the same wherever you go. The majority do go into or close to the city that it makes sense to have trains going through there. Some lines have a 5 minute frequency in peak so you don't need a timetable.
Trains are still my preferred way of travel, but I do look to which are air-conditioned firstYeah I noticed this on my recent trip to sydney
They also encouraged companies to stager start-times, or to introduce flexible working hours so as to spread out when people arrive and leave the cityThis is true of all cities. While companies are obsessed with having people travel into work when they could easily work from home this will continue to happen. For some reason companies are stupid enough to think if you are in the office you can't sit around and do nothing while believing there is no way to track work at home. Both are very wrong beliefs.
It takes a long time because Sydney's roads don't readily follow the train lines.Lets not forget about nightride services where they have buses to replace trains between midnight and dawn (although the two do overlap especially on friday and saturday nights). These run along every suburban train line making every train line 24 hours. A return train ticket (from the day before) or a weekly will allow you to travel on these services
I am not against ticket inspectors. However there's much more of them than there are people there to ensure a safe journey.Although the number of people who did not buy tickets when I lived in sydney was staggering. It seems to be an acceptable part of the culture to dodge train fares which if tickets were purchased could add millions of dollars (almost $9 million last financial year). That money could be put to good use. I reckon they should do what they have done in queensland if they don't already. Fines are sent to state debt collection. They have the power to cancel your drivers license and vechile registration and seize assets to recover money if you don't pay.
Nightride buses are a bit sad and lonely to travel on. Do yourself a favour and if you're going to get drunk at the pub, stop drinking before the trains stop running.Lets not forget about nightride services where they have buses to replace trains between midnight and dawn (although the two do overlap especially on friday and saturday nights). These run along every suburban train line making every train line 24 hours. A return train ticket (from the day before) or a weekly will allow you to travel on these services