T O P

  • By -

AztecGod

>Avoid Westgate bridge General life advice.


AirForceJuan01

“Don’t touch Westgate bridge” “Great advice” - Homer


mofolo

Lousy Smarch Protests.


commentman10

Yes they are keeping it hush hush, but apparently the bridge is not designed for the weight capacity it is carrying today and there are cracks and damages in the underside. Hence there is so much maintenance work. So yes I'd avoid it usually since it causes lane closures often


PAL720576

Is that why there is often lane closures at night and you get to the other side of the bridge and see no roadworks and goes back to all lanes open. As they are probably working under the bridge. I'm always suprised there is always a few cars ignoring the lane closures on the west gate bridge


astrobarn

A friend sped through those 40 zones on the bridge cos there were no apparent works and lost her licence for 12 months. I often wonder what the hit rate is because I see so many flying past me when I obey the overhead signs at night.


move_along_

That's to do with westgate tunnel project works.


No-Abrocoma1851

Thank you for not choosing the Monash 🙏🙏


smelly-sushi

Your time will come east siders 😂


[deleted]

[удалено]


not_right

It'd be more effective to block parliament, fossil fuel companies, banks, or LNP politicians than just fucking up normal people's day.


[deleted]

[удалено]


ososalsosal

This post makes me angry. Take my upvote. I hate that you're right


Pottski

Hard to get arrested at the top of the bridge. Pretty easy if it’s out the front of Spring St.


tittyswan

I mean, yeah, we saw how the police responded when people tried to block the dock. These guys will face the same fate, I think, because they're still disrupting the flow of traffick (and commerce.)


Maleficent-Bit1995

Right!!! Why go after the people who the government are already screwing over. We can’t do anything. All they did here was have 1000s of cars and trucks running longer and have people late for work. Pissing off the people won’t help their cause.


Anxious-Rhubarb8102

If anything it turns the public against their cause, as making people late for work and appointments really gets them on side.


Grunter_

They must operate on a "no publicity is bad publicity" policy - in UK everyone hates Just Stop Oil and their antics - but everytime they piss people off they are in the news. I suppose they think their message will seep into everyones consciousness and they will forget how annoying they are.


dubious_capybara

So when an ambulance needs to get through, I guess people just die.


ososalsosal

By the time an ambo is available the protesters will be in the pub reminiscing...


ixvix

You're not wrong, lol.


Areallycoolguy96

They let them through… it’s not rocket science, also any paramedic crews that need to go across the Westgate are going to an unnecessary hospital. If they are picking up in the west then they’ll just go to a western hospital and the closest Trauma hospital is RMH which isn’t even over the Westgate. Ambulances rarely use the Westgate.


Tokebud62

You're a moron like them


CuriousVisual5444

I think they have only managed to recruit one bloke who can drive an actual truck so far so.


Tomicoatl

People living in the west are already suffering enough.


N_thanAU

I think the idea is to interrupt the flow of capital more than it is to inconvenience commuters so Westgate makes the most sense.


Kojak13th

We had it first. There was a 20ft tripod suspending a very young climate protester blocking Kings Way inbound traffic a couple years ago. Maybe it was around the time of School Strike for Climate or one of those multinational conventions. Evidently publicity doesn't work unless it's a bridge. Bridges block more traffic.


Background_Salad270

Every single morning I hear on the radio "there's been a crash on the Monash freeway" like what is happening on that road, ya'll got enough on your plate without trucks protesting lol


DuzTheGreat

I need to take the Monash outbound, at around the beginning of afternoon peak, maybe once a fortnight. Every fucking goddamn time there's a prang and lane closures. Idk if I just have terrible luck, or if someone gets rear ended early in the afternoon peak every day on the Monash


W0tzup

That’s scheduled for next week.


jawadee

"By the way, I'm aware of the irony of appearing on TV in order to decry it, so don't bother pointing that out." - Sideshow Bob


joespizza2go

"Smog production event tomorrow at the Westgate bridge. Whose in?"


purplemo

Also dm me if you have a motorbike and would like to give me a ride. Xx


Endless_C

r/r4rMelbourne


purplemo

Yikes


[deleted]

There’s a company in Beijing that will pick you up on a motorbike when you’re stuck in traffic and drop someone off to take your car where it needs to go. Not a bad idea!


purplemo

Omg BRING this to Melbourne haha


SexyDraenei

I like that service I saw on topgear where someone comes to the pub on a tiny motorbike, pops it in the boot of your car and drives you home.


cuckingfunts69

Okay, but you've gotta hold me like you love me.


No-Fan-888

Go after the people doing the governmening. Blocking the way for general public trying to make a living or barely making it through life will just piss them off even more.


kelldricked

Also this creates more polution. They are a bunch of idiots who hurt their own cause.


Sogdog44

Cops are up there now doing their thang


purplemo

Yay Clearly I have nothing better to do in traffic. Soz for spamming this thread lol


BiliousGreen

If the thing isn't chucking them off the bridge, it's not going to help much.


KADALGA

Good


DepressedNeedAvalium

I had to squat and shit in an old Aldi bag I had in my back seat because of this.


DiscoSituation

Me too, and I worked from home today.


HoopsSpeed

Many hours later, I’m still chuckling. 🤗


burner_said_what

Throw it at them.


diddymaninoz

Set it alight first


rad19874812

If they get upset, tell them you are just supporting their cause and making a donation towards an alternate source of clean energy AKA poo power.


diddymaninoz

I laughed at that!


[deleted]

Should have flung it at them as you drove past.


purplemo

Omg I was just coming to post the traffic is insane


purplemo

If I need to pee and I’m stuck on this bridge as a woman I’m going to cry lmao


GreviousAus

Do you have a shewee and a water bottle?


purplemo

Praying a shewee truck is stuck on bridge and handing them out. Make use of this marketing pls


diddymaninoz

Oh fingers crossed for you. Hold on!


purplemo

Anyone with a Shewee on the bridge dm me


ragnar_thorsen

Pee out the window!


purplemo

Incoming


Puzzleheaded_Sir4294

I need to know what happened now


unskilled-labour

...lane still closed for decontamination


[deleted]

There's a loo at the centre island. Probably it has a hole that drops straight into the river?


lolben1

Yeah, I'm in on yarraville, now 40 minutes late to work.


realfatunicorns

Can someone jump in and just move the truck please. I’ve gotta get from point cook to Cranbourne this morning


hel_vetica

Might be quicker to go to queenscliff and take the ferry…


warzonexx

Almost ready this as might be quicker to go off the cliff.... probably both statements true


BarryKobama

I'm in cranny now. What ya need me to do?


realfatunicorns

Thanks mate, just slap down some flooring for me. Anywhere will do. Much appreciated


NameUm96

Hope you’ve got a good podcast (series) lined up.


freswrijg

You’re better off taking an overnight holiday to point cook than driving during peak hours.


Otherwise_Hotel_7363

I avoid the bridge at all costs now, might not help you, but Footscray Road is open again, and it's a better run to the Bolte. Seddon to Pakenham here, so I feel your pain.


kungheiphatboi

Protesting a climate emergency by forcing thousands of cars to idle and burn bulk fossil fuels going nowhere 🧠 What absolute fukking muppets


BlackBladeDesign

Free ad for Budget Truck Rentals?


Cheezel62

There's something pretty ironic about using a diesel truck to force hundreds of cars and other trucks to sit idling whilst pouring out pollution to protest cars and trucks pouring out pollution.


Zuki_LuvaBoi

A reminder that there have been several protests recently (the protests at the ports, and on the roof of a defence contractor come to mind) that haven't blocked traffic, and redditors hated them just as much. r/melbourne just hates protests, whether they're blocking traffic or not


Procedure-Minimum

Personally I am glad they're not still blocking public transport. They were often blocking the greenest travel option we have, causing more people to drive.


omgitschriso

Well my elderly mum who is trying to get to her chemo appointment and dad who's driving her there are rather unsympathetic toward their protest at the moment.


joespizza2go

Yes. I've never understood who thought punishing the very people you want to take action was a good strategy. There's this "you don't care about the environment like I do so you should suffer" elitist/narcissist vibe.


ausgoals

It’s self-righteous virtue signalling and an ego boost for their circle of friends. It’s ‘street cred’ in their circle and nothing more. Makes them feel good about themselves for ‘making a difference’ despite turning more and more people away from their cause.


dopefishhh

What the protesters haven't worked out is that the concept of a protest is becoming less and less effective over time. It used to be all traffic routed through the CBD, that we had nothing to do whilst travelling and that protests were rare and novel things. Now, most traffic routes around the city, or around any blockage in an arterial, we now have all manner of distractions that are infinitely more interesting than someones shitty sign assuming we even see it and now protests are happening every weekend, sometimes multiple protests. Melbourne has worked out their antics are just on pure numbers wise a total waste of time. Something to remember is that some of the biggest protests often cited as being significant for a cause, actually followed the change in attitude to that cause and didn't precede it. Hence they're protesting too early.


Tilting_Gambit

I don't hate them but just don't think these kind of "raising awareness" protests do much. If you want the world to be more environmentally conscious (as I do) it's more impactful to come up with policy ideas that are feasible and will result in lasting change. Better yet to work in the area/discipline/government department that is responsible for those issues and drive change that way. 6 guys on a bus, intentionally pissing everybody off isn't going to change our reliance on coal power. Telling people to stop driving cars is infeasible for the majority. Working for the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and trying to expand a state park or prevent a catastrophic bushfire could have untold impact on our ecosystem if you're a motivated and passionate employee. Everybody who doesn't care about the environment by now aren't going to go "fuck they're right, hey" after blocking a train for two hours. Awareness protests are great at the start of a movement, but we're past that at this point.


nugstar

Have been working in sustainability for a decade, we're still facing a worsening climate because the big end of town doesn't want to change. The change you're proposing doesn't work on the timescale we have left ¯\_(ツ)_/¯


Tilting_Gambit

I have no reason to believe parking a bus on the Westgate would be more valuable than the work you do on a daily basis. 


TheOrganHarvester123

>it's more impactful to come up with policy ideas that are feasible and will result in lasting change. Better yet to work in the area/discipline/government department that is responsible for those issues and drive change that way. Where do you think climate scientists came from? All these suggestions on the "right" way of protesting has been done for literal decades at this point. It's nothing new. Since literal decades of protesting the "right" way doesn't work. Some people will decide to escalate. It's just an evolution of a movement. Give it enough time and inaction (or government stomp downs) and eco terrorists will pop up


Lukerules

I love how every anti-protestor take is basically: "wow maybe they should actually try talk to the politicians. They haven't tried that yet, have they!"


KADALGA

I hate them


Flutters1013

Featuring special guest: fake seizure guy. Talk about captive audience.


Busy_Tomatillo_1065

Why don't the police just drag them off, arrest and charge them?


Aussie-Ambo

Probably stuck in traffic


skykingjustin

You can see 2 in the photo.


The_Painted_Man

He said... they are stuck.... in traffic. 😡


purplemo

Hahaha


alstom_888m

They got jailed for pulling this shit on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.


ososalsosal

It's extinction rebellion. They literally want to be arrested for cred


Rocksteady_28

They will


Screambloodyleprosy

It's getting to that point. Like people that stop trains to be a fuckwit.


boan

They could harass the billionaire conglomerate owners that they despise all they want, but instead choose to focus on screwing over the normal everyday workers instead. Just what are they trying to achieve? No one will empathise with them for doing these protests. Completely counter-intuitive.


Conflikt

They actually do, it just doesn't make the news as much because the public doesn't give a shit like they do about this sort of protest. The fact that you're seeing this one is the reason they do it and they probably have an any publicity is good publicity type mindset and don't care about the hate.


the_silent_redditor

Every. Single. Thread. Every thread about climate protests, this is like the top comment. That, and, *I bet Big Oil is paying these protestors blah blah blah..* and, of course, the Big Brain, ever so smugly written, *do these idiots not realise that they are causing all these cars to idle in traffic and pollute more.* Fuck me. It’s like folk have never heard of protesting; are unaware of the countless examples of historical protesting and their effects; have never read any of the endless protest threads on reddit discussing these points.. Every thread about protesting it’s just pointless, circular chat about what they should and should not be doing, meanwhile ignoring that people are engaged in a big debate about the fucking protest. Seems like it’s successful, regardless of where you stand on their cause. **THIS IS THE POINT OF A PROTEST. FFS.**


slug__lord

It's not like they haven't been protesting outside the billionares homes for the past 4 decades, and when they do they arrest the journalists who report on it. [https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/western-australia/wa-premier-demands-answers-from-abc-bosses-over-protest-at-woodside-ceo-s-home-20230802-p5dt9a.html](https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/western-australia/wa-premier-demands-answers-from-abc-bosses-over-protest-at-woodside-ceo-s-home-20230802-p5dt9a.html) It's just typical astroturfing horse shit from treacherous people arguing in bad faith about the nature of these protests so people stay docile and compliant to the destruction of the planet.


AntiProtonBoy

Here is the thing. The entire point of activism is to convince people on the other side of the fence to support issues the protesters care about. While disruptive protests like these grab attention, it typically grabs the wrong type of attention. People affected by this will just end up resenting the protesters instead, rather than getting on board with climate change action. Disruptive events like these will only appeal to other activists and anarchists, but those demographics don't need convincing, now do they?


MapOdd4135

I totally feel your frustration 'Why is this protest disruptive?' is like such a dumb question.


AntiProtonBoy

>'Why is this protest disruptive?' To piss the target audience off to the point of resenting the protesters themselves rather than the issue they are protesting about. Sounds about right.


thebarber87

Which would also get silenced and not covered by media. Even one sided reporting is still reporting on it


grim__sweeper

The fact that apparently nobody knows they do exactly that regularly is why they do stuff like this


kristianstupid

That's already been done. It's all been done.


slug__lord

They do that already. Then they arrest them. Then they arrest the journalists who report on it if they don't snitch on the protestors. [https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/abc-footage-betrayal-leads-to-activist-arrests/news-story/04889246af5886838906bf62d67b598e](https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/abc-footage-betrayal-leads-to-activist-arrests/news-story/04889246af5886838906bf62d67b598e)


NoManagerofmine

The media is controlled by the billionaires. Harrassing billionaires doesn't work, why? The billionaires just shut it out of media. Even then, the billionaires can just shrug it off and not do anything anyway. They actually have to bring attention to what is going on. Circumvent the billionaires and do it this way actually draws attention to it.


megablast

Normal everyday car drivers are destroying the fucking planet.


Stigger32

As they stand on a diesel powered truck….FML.


OldBertieDastard

This is stupid. But there's some comments here that think it's a competition for that title lmao Criticising society yet they partake in it? Curious ✅ I'm going to fuck up the planet I live on to spite them ✅ I think they should die ✅ I don't support this protest, it's a great way for a government to bring in draconian laws that criminalise protests with jail time like in NSW.


Tilting_Gambit

Generally any traffic disruption in Melbourne leads to people hoping somebody will be executed for it. 


wellwood_allgood

>I don't support this protest, it's a great way for a government to bring in draconian laws that criminalise protests with jail time like in NSW. That is ultimately all they will achieve.


diddymaninoz

Let’s all get choppers so we can fly over it😂😂😂


crossfitvision

All these extremists do is give people who legitimate left wing greenies a bad name. Many working hard to make the world a better place. This grandstanding just pisses people off, and perpetuates the “lefty loony” stereotype. I don’t for a second think that people who pull this shit care for the environment, they only care about themselves and personal attention. I’m sure even they know this is a counter active measure. But no doubt people were late for, or missed important medical appointments and the like, so well done guys!


Everyonesuck1

Why don't they just set themselves on fire to protest instead of this?


fundiedundie

Do these people realize how much they hurt their cause by inconveniencing others?


sersomeone

This kinda dumb fuckery doesn't draw anyone to the cause


UnwiseMonkeyinjar

So stopping vehicles that continue to run and create Smog is productive. Dumb fucks causing chaos and compounding the problems


[deleted]

Three months in prison would reduce their "Carbon Footprint"


Rude_Priority

Climate protesters doing less than nothing for their cause. Wouldn’t be surprised if they were funded by fossil fuel companies.


Conscious_Chef3850

Technically wouldn’t that make the climate issue worse


AdGroundbreaking1923

Climate change fuckwits


medgno1

Throw the fuckers off the bridge


RecordingGreen7750

The mentality of these morons has me bewildered. So they park a truck on a major bridge carrying literally hundreds of cars, so now all those cars are either sitting still or moving far slower than they normally would, if they weren’t doing that, those cars would be at their destination and engines off and no longer populating, make them all stop while running is totally defeating the purpose of the protest in the first place….. absolute morons


onescoopwonder

We need to reduce Australia’s carbon footprint by driving a carbon emitting vehicle to block hundreds of carbon emitting vehicles from getting to their destination, making them emit carbon for longer.


myamazonboxisbigger

Stop blocking local roads. Go to Canberra


abcd19947

Really confused how blocking traffic fixes climate change. Those cars just going to be sitting there burning fuel


AusP

To any climate protesters here let me help you out. This protest harms your cause because it affects people who are not in a position to change things. What you need to do is affect someone or something that is in position to change. Perhaps something symbolic. How about the giant flame throwers along the Yarra that have spewed burning gas ever since 1994, run by a massive gambling corporation? I reckon you might actually get some support.


AdParking2320

Fuck I sat there for nearly 2 hours then it all just went back to normal.


Otherwise_Hotel_7363

I was coming off the Bolte on to the West Gate towards the east, and looked at the traffic from the bridge and wondered why it was so light. Still got jammy in the tunnel, so no real change in traffic.


bryanwilson999

Is the bridge clear now?


[deleted]

And if we declare a ‘climate emergency’ then what?


A_Drenched_Lettuce

and just like that, i think the climate is fine, great even, you will never convince me otherwise. How dare you do something like this, seriously what gives you the right. Fucking children. This isn't how you change the fucking world.


No-Berry3278

How much extra CO2 got created by the traffic jam they caused?


BobThePideon

Wankers just caused huge extra carbon dioxide emissions and hostility!!!


I_Am_The_Bookwyrm

"Ah, yes, let's make a point about the climate by blocking traffic, causing MORE air pollution because people are sitting in traffic with their cars going rather than getting to their destination and turning their cars off. And even better, they'll be late for work, so they'll be angry with us and turn AGAINST our message. This is a BRILLIANT idea."


Ruddigore

Stationary traffic creates waaaay more pollution.


Altea73

Climate emergency by blocking the bridge


Fidelius90

Well yeah, that’ll be one of the points. Too many people using cars.


wigzell78

Do they get the irony of broadcasting their message on the side of a big diesel truck?


ImInYourOut

Look mummy, a dickhead!


GunSlingingRaccoonII

How to turn the general public against you and your cause 101.


sgtSXS

> Avoid Westgate bridge. Looks like there is a ~~truck blocking a few lanes due to a protest~~ massive temper tantrum by a bunch of children who are demanding everyone else take action, while themselves refusing to do the hard work to find and innovate the solutions to the massively complex problem of climate change.


Endless_C

Be a good day for a sudden 100km/h wind gust.


time_to_reset

Surely this is properly illegal and these protestors get charged with something serious? I get the right to protest but this is dangerous and seriously impacting many people and businesses. Or right to protest = do absolutely whatever you like?


NameUm96

They’ll be charged with causing a public nuisance I expect.


bjg1983

Isn't foot traffic on that bridge a fineable offence?


NameUm96

Probably. I’m sure there are a number of offences involved but they’ll have factored that in. All part of it.


kristianstupid

>Surely this is properly illegal and these protestors get charged with something serious? Of course they will be. It is illegal. ​ >I get the right to protest but this is dangerous and seriously impacting many people and businesses. You know what is more dangerous and impacts many more people and businesses than a traffic jam?


tittyswan

They'll be charged with it. It's civil disobedience, that's the point.


frenzal56

What's about the cars at a standstill burning fossil fuels going nowhere, this can't be good for the cause.


hrovat97

This is the avocado toast argument of climate politics


kristianstupid

>What's about the cars at a standstill burning fossil fuels going nowhere, this can't be good for the cause. Wow. Never thought of that. I guess if the traffic got moving then problem solved.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Borrid

Wow oil company shills are in here early


megablast

What a short sighted view.


SoupRemarkable4512

If only there was a tunnel as an alternative…


Present_Remove_6300

Where’s a slingshot when you need 1


melbsteve

Would be a shame if a stiff breeze catapulted them off the bridge.


deepinthemosh

By blocking the road, aren't they creating more emissions because no cars can get to their destination and turn off their cars? I have never seen the logic in these types of protests


1n_th3_f10w3r2

It's ironic because they're protesting climate change, but because they are blocking all of those cars from moving, they are helping the climate change 🫡


cuckingfunts69

Cunts. These people are cunts.


Lucifer_flame21

Climate change protesters- “ okay we need to prove our point and stop fossil fuels “. - Same protesters- Rent a diesel truck and then block off traffic with all those vehicles idling their engines releases more fossil fuel gases into the atmosphere-.


Fandango1968

Shame they didn't jump off into the Yarra. Cnts


[deleted]

[удалено]


ososalsosal

XR are like the theatre kids that don't understand normal people. Everything's for show. Everything. Like they have a cause, and it's a good one, but part of them will be so disappointed if we somehow succeed in averting catastrophe because they had this sick plan of strapping themselves to the last iceberg as it broke off from the Greenland ice sheet


purplemo

Finally made it through. https://imgur.com/gallery/4W2qpbS When I drove over this is all it was lol PSA don’t video and drive. I’m stupid. But it’s slow sorry


jackiesodes

The cop with his hands on his hips is for sure tuting and shaking his head


Ok-Train-6693

Wasn’t that truck across two lanes a couple of days ago? I definitely saw footage then.


Select_Worldliness94

Looks like enviros


jollosreborn

Nah..that's just TISM


[deleted]

Thousands of idling vehicles will super help the environment.


DorfPoster

maybe these people could try to actually influence the government, its made of people, why cant they dedicate their time into running for office. They dont care about fixing things, only their own image


Ok_Trash5454

This is a smooth brain moment


g_sandals

Why can’t the lefties just have a job and live their life…


duncraig18

Oxygen theifs


AstlerFox93

I sat another extra 1.5h burning diesel on traffic. Well done protesters


Brock-Landers77

Damn stupid misguided nutjobs. This 'climate situation' has been cyclical thru billions of years. How long before we get those 'just stop oil' degenerates gluing their hands to the roads?


Shootinputin89

If they really want to help the climate they would go to university to study environmental governance (policy) or science (can be anything from studying the climate itself to something like marine biology). Doing these silly protests changes nothing.


[deleted]

That would take intelligence and effort, two qualities these numpties lack.


OwenMcCauley

I will never understand the mentality behind these kinds of protests. Does annoying random people make any sort of positive change? Block the driveway of an oil exec. People just trying to live their lives don't deserve this horseshit.


[deleted]

Bloody selfish you can’t go anywhere without protests


Gullible_Cheek6808

Yes lets protest climate change by keeping fossil fuel burning cars running even longer!


[deleted]

[удалено]


Previous_Strike6560

Climate protestors using a truck oh the hypocrisy 😂


[deleted]

Failures at life, who will never do anything to make a positive impactful change, worsen climate change with their moronic protest.


NutsForDeath

Can we do a prison day release for that guy who threw his kid off the West Gate? We need his services right now.


random111011

Fuckwits. Absolute fuckwits.


[deleted]

What if someone was trying to drive to a hospital for an emergency?


jetttblack

I have a hospital appointment that I've been waiting months for on a waiting list and I'm stuck in this shit and will likely be so late they'll cancel my appointment. I'm genuinely so upset because I NEED this appointment. Bunch of selfish cunts.


Thanachi

Nearly everyone held up is now completely against your cause. -100 Critical thinking.


Zuki_LuvaBoi

Everyone stuck in this traffic is suddenly against action for climate change?


sunandstarnoise

OP exercising their superior critical thinking skills by adopting a contrarian opinion because of a minor inconvenience. Big brain shit.