Yesterday I landed at the Sydney international terminal from Dubai a bit after 7am expecting to be picked up by our shuttle bus for the usual 90minute run up the M1 to Lake Macquarie. The shuttle finally arrived after we had hung around for more than an hour wondering what was going on, the driver said that he had left Newcastle at 4am and had been stuck in the traffic because some goose had climbed the bridge and wouldn,t come down. The worst part was that he had another pick up to do at the overseas shipping terminal in The Rocks. More than an hour of crawling and we made it to the ship but unfortunately by that time they had closed all lanes on the bridge as well as the Cahill Expressway so off we headed for the Anzac Bridge. Traffic was going nowhere fast in any direction, for nearly 5 hours we were stuck in that bus before we eventually got home. I cannot believe 1 person can bring a city of nearly 5 million people to a halt and it,s hard to imagine the amount of money that businesses would have lost, the cost of the extra fuel consumed and even the peoples lives that were put at risk because the emergency services would have had the same difficulty getting anywhere in a hurry. I heard that some flights were being delayed because they couldnt get their flight crews or the passengers there on time. I have no idea what this guys problem was - if he had a mental issue or was just pushing some personal cause but I can guarantee you that there will be plenty of potential protesters watching the severity of the action that is taken against him.
BB
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Thursday 5th of April 2018 10:37:10 PM
Dickodownunder said
11:20 AM Apr 6, 2018
I feel for the people whose job it is to "talk him down"
In that situation they actually have to put their own lives at risk to a achieve the desired result.
I guess most of us will never know why he climbed up there but he certainly needs psychiatric help.
As you pointed out BB the cost to the city and to business would be massive.
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Friday 6th of April 2018 11:21:53 AM
Peter_n_Margaret said
04:36 PM Apr 6, 2018
So BB, how would you have done it better?
Clearly, this individual's welfare was not too important to some?
Shame about that.
Cheers,
Peter
rockylizard said
04:45 PM Apr 6, 2018
Gday...
OH how I share your frustration BB. Big cities are just not meant to be lived in anymore.
However, it is just another very clear example how badly designed and lacking in infrastructure the major cities are.
If he hadda climbed a bridge or anything else in Norseman it wouldn't have had the same effect.
Cheers - John
the rocket said
05:05 PM Apr 6, 2018
I do not understand why they have to get him down. Maybe they could hook up mesh like trapeze artists use above the roadway. That way if he jumps he will fall into the mesh. This is just one idea, there must be more. To hold up traffic, planes, and everyone it is not acceptable.
Belmont bear, welcome home
Possum3 said
05:48 PM Apr 6, 2018
Yeah, welcome back Dave.
It's a shame that accidents and incidents do occur and create havoc on our major roads and thoroughfares - but preservation of life must be the paramount objective, or the collection of pertinent evidence in the case of accidents and fatalities.
I for one prefer the way we in Australia do things - in third World Countries they would ignore the mentally challenged, or worse still force the person to jump.
In a perfect World no one would cause any grief to others by threatening self harm - but we live in the real World and a very lucky Country to boot.
Dickodownunder said
06:04 PM Apr 6, 2018
We can only hope that the security on the bridge is upgraded to prevent anyone climbing on there in such a manner.
It may only involve fencing or some other physical means to deny access to these areas.
It must be cheaper to do this than to have this disruption happen again.
the rocket said
07:24 PM Apr 6, 2018
Dickodownunder wrote:
We can only hope that the security on the bridge is upgraded to prevent anyone climbing on there in such a manner. It may only involve fencing or some other physical means to deny access to these areas. It must be cheaper to do this than to have this disruption happen again.
Hi dickdownunder, thats a really good idea.
moamajohn said
08:16 PM Apr 6, 2018
I wonder if at some time in the future that this dickhead looks back and sees that his moronic antic has most likely cost society at least 1 million bucks in the real world . I would like to say what I would like to do to him but sadly political correctness prevents me from having free will these days !!
The Belmont Bear said
11:33 PM Apr 6, 2018
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
So BB, how would you have done it better? Clearly, this individual's welfare was not too important to some? Shame about that.
Cheers, Peter
You know as well as I do Peter in todays society what they did to get him down was probably their only option but what is evident from this event is they need to stop any other hair brained protester or anyone suffering from a mental disorder from pulling the same stunt. I think firstly they will need to do as dickdownunder suggested greatly increase the bridge security and secondly they have to include penalties such as a prison sentence or even custodial time in a mental facility not just a paultry fine.
Now let me ask you this Peter in your opinion was this individuals welfare more important than the rest of those whose lives and properties he put at risk because the emergency services wouldnt have been able to get through ? Would you like to be the one trying to explain to families why they lost their home, business or a family member because this guys welfare was more important than the rest of the population.
Thankou possum its good to be back in Oz even if the welcome was a city in grid lock probably a good reminder of why I live 160kms up the coast. I,m in a lot better mood today because Ive just about shakien off the effects of jet lag and I also picked up my new Jeep GC yesterday.
cheers
BB
JA2340 said
06:41 PM Apr 7, 2018
Yeah, welcome back to blooming hot autumn - it's supposed to be getting cooler and wetter, huh?
Are you sure you're over the jetlag? \|/
The Belmont Bear wrote:
<snip> Ive just about shaken off the effects of jet lag and I also picked up my new Jeep GC yesterday.
cheers
BB
Gaylehere said
10:09 PM Apr 7, 2018
Welcome back to Oz BB. Enjoyed your snippets of life in Oman. Cheers.
The Belmont Bear said
11:26 PM Apr 7, 2018
Thanks everyone I really enjoyed my last 9 months living and working in Bahrain, Oman and the UAE. Don't for one minute believe all this media hype about Islam or Muslims I was in more danger of being dragged into someone's house for a coffeee and a plate of dates than I ever was of being physically threatened. I hope we meet some of you on the road maybe we can swap a few stories over a beer around the campfire.
\
Cheers
BB
By the way these are actual photos taken on the freeway in Sohar where I was living.
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Saturday 7th of April 2018 11:29:07 PM
Yesterday I landed at the Sydney international terminal from Dubai a bit after 7am expecting to be picked up by our shuttle bus for the usual 90minute run up the M1 to Lake Macquarie. The shuttle finally arrived after we had hung around for more than an hour wondering what was going on, the driver said that he had left Newcastle at 4am and had been stuck in the traffic because some goose had climbed the bridge and wouldn,t come down. The worst part was that he had another pick up to do at the overseas shipping terminal in The Rocks. More than an hour of crawling and we made it to the ship but unfortunately by that time they had closed all lanes on the bridge as well as the Cahill Expressway so off we headed for the Anzac Bridge. Traffic was going nowhere fast in any direction, for nearly 5 hours we were stuck in that bus before we eventually got home. I cannot believe 1 person can bring a city of nearly 5 million people to a halt and it,s hard to imagine the amount of money that businesses would have lost, the cost of the extra fuel consumed and even the peoples lives that were put at risk because the emergency services would have had the same difficulty getting anywhere in a hurry. I heard that some flights were being delayed because they couldnt get their flight crews or the passengers there on time. I have no idea what this guys problem was - if he had a mental issue or was just pushing some personal cause but I can guarantee you that there will be plenty of potential protesters watching the severity of the action that is taken against him.
BB
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Thursday 5th of April 2018 10:37:10 PM
I feel for the people whose job it is to "talk him down"
In that situation they actually have to put their own lives at risk to a achieve the desired result.
I guess most of us will never know why he climbed up there but he certainly needs psychiatric help.
As you pointed out BB the cost to the city and to business would be massive.
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Friday 6th of April 2018 11:21:53 AM
Clearly, this individual's welfare was not too important to some?
Shame about that.
Cheers,
Peter
Gday...
OH how I share your frustration BB. Big cities are just not meant to be lived in anymore.
However, it is just another very clear example how badly designed and lacking in infrastructure the major cities are.
If he hadda climbed a bridge or anything else in Norseman it wouldn't have had the same effect.
Cheers - John
I do not understand why they have to get him down. Maybe they could hook up mesh like trapeze artists use above the roadway. That way if he jumps he will fall into the mesh. This is just one idea, there must be more. To hold up traffic, planes, and everyone it is not acceptable.
Belmont bear, welcome home
It's a shame that accidents and incidents do occur and create havoc on our major roads and thoroughfares - but preservation of life must be the paramount objective, or the collection of pertinent evidence in the case of accidents and fatalities.
I for one prefer the way we in Australia do things - in third World Countries they would ignore the mentally challenged, or worse still force the person to jump.
In a perfect World no one would cause any grief to others by threatening self harm - but we live in the real World and a very lucky Country to boot.
It may only involve fencing or some other physical means to deny access to these areas.
It must be cheaper to do this than to have this disruption happen again.
Hi dickdownunder, thats a really good idea.
You know as well as I do Peter in todays society what they did to get him down was probably their only option but what is evident from this event is they need to stop any other hair brained protester or anyone suffering from a mental disorder from pulling the same stunt. I think firstly they will need to do as dickdownunder suggested greatly increase the bridge security and secondly they have to include penalties such as a prison sentence or even custodial time in a mental facility not just a paultry fine.
Now let me ask you this Peter in your opinion was this individuals welfare more important than the rest of those whose lives and properties he put at risk because the emergency services wouldnt have been able to get through ? Would you like to be the one trying to explain to families why they lost their home, business or a family member because this guys welfare was more important than the rest of the population.
Thankou possum its good to be back in Oz even if the welcome was a city in grid lock probably a good reminder of why I live 160kms up the coast. I,m in a lot better mood today because Ive just about shakien off the effects of jet lag and I also picked up my new Jeep GC yesterday.
cheers
BB
Thanks everyone I really enjoyed my last 9 months living and working in Bahrain, Oman and the UAE. Don't for one minute believe all this media hype about Islam or Muslims I was in more danger of being dragged into someone's house for a coffeee and a plate of dates than I ever was of being physically threatened. I hope we meet some of you on the road maybe we can swap a few stories over a beer around the campfire.
\
Cheers
BB
By the way these are actual photos taken on the freeway in Sohar where I was living.
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Saturday 7th of April 2018 11:29:07 PM