Welcome to Tiser Hot Takes where each week someone from our wonderful Advertiser team shares an issue that has them fired up. Meet Matilda McDermott, a cadet journalist who is originally from Melbourne (don’t hold that against her). Join the debate in the comments and Matilda will jump in and reply.
Adelaide has a lot to hold over Melbourne.
Stealing the MotoGP,oh and the golf (cheers Mali).
Everything being a 15 min drive away.
A fierce rivalry in a twice-a-year Showdown.
But there’s one thing holding back South Australia and its capital city and that’s the blatant lack of hook turns.
As a Victorian expat, I’m still getting used to the early Adelaide nights, being asked what school I went to and the pool-tasting tap water, but driving in the city is a whole other ballpark.
I find myself to be quite a calm person.
I’m great at diffusing my own bomb of anger and it takes quite a bit to send me over the edge of rage.
But driving in the CBD has seen me turn a shade I didn’t even know I had. I’ve become a road-rage fuelled monster, calling people idiots, many eye rolls, tapping of the wheel and several “come ons!”
What have I become?
Turns out being stuck at one set of lights three successive times can turn you into a huffing puffing mess, one that chastises your morning self for not leaving earlier.
And getting stuck in a left turn lane with no arrow, or god forbid no turning lane, is a rage-spiral just waiting to happen. Especially during peak hours in the CBD, when every car and bus decides it’s time to drive just far enough apart so you can’t get through.
Sometimes the idea of a right turn is quickly shot down when you realise you’re not even allowed to perform a right turn.
Because it’s not even legal at certain times of the day.
I’m sure everyone would like to get to work or see their family and friends on time without having to send the dreaded: “Sorry guys running about 5-10mins late! X” text message.
Only to be met with their disappointed looks because they’ve been waiting 15 minutes to order or you’re now in your boss’s bad books for tardiness.
It’s an issue and it needs to be solved. Quick.
There’s one solution that Adelaide seemingly ditched in the 1950s that Melbourne held onto, and that’s a wonderful thing called hook turns.
For a city so prized on its heritage buildings and architecture, they sure were quick to dump the iconic trams and the hook turns along with it.
Through my own research, only the metro buses can perform a hook turn in certain areas in Adelaide.
So if it’s good enough for a bus, why not the common commuter?
While at first glance performing a hook turn can be daunting, once completed it can become as easy as turning the key in the ignition.
Pull up to the left, wait for the opposing light to turn green and boom away you go. One set of lights and a couple minutes shaved off your commute. It’s amazing right?
Ahhhhhhh, can you hear that? It’s my inner peace returning.
For those who think it’s “impossible”, have a bit of faith will you?
Just like the O-Bahn was a cost-effective way to introduce streamlined public transport to the eastern suburbs, the hook turn is the cost-effective way to avoid traffic lockup and incidents of rage.
For those who oppose it because “it’s too hard,” maybe give it a go? Maybe stop being a sook? Maybe embrace it for my sake.
I have places to be.
What do you think? Let Matilda know in the comments.
Matilda McDermottCadet Journalist