I completely understand your viewpoint, and have been hearing from many people lately how much the rental/housing market sucks these days...I only just moved here in October of 2007, and *really* became familiar enough with my surroundings to be conscious of them just a couple of months ago (and still feel like I have a lot to learn about this place...)

Frustratingly, public transit and traffic seems to suck *everywhere* these days. It's *always* overcrowded and seems to always be running late. Especially in a city whose economy is *booming* right now, that seems to have drawn an incredible amount of people here in an incredibly short amount of time.

More people = more crowded = more traffic = less housing = maximum frustration.

But, that said, having come from Chicago, I'm pretty sure things could be worse. Perhaps I'm still in the honeymoon phase of just having moved here from somewhere I've lived all my life, or perhaps the grass is just greener everywhere else...but here's some differences that I've picked up on from my home town that I've come to know and am learning to love about Melbourne:

Speaking just of public transit alone, so I've heard (many times) Chicago is supposed to have one of the best public transit systems in the US, if not the world. From personal experience, this has *certainly* not been the case, especially in the past couple of years. City funding for the buses and city trains have been cut and as a result they have eliminated bus routes and run the buses and trains much less frequently. Simple train rides within the city or to the outer suburbs can take a ridiculously long time (and frequently do) due to massive mechanical failures...ooh, and winter transit...standing outside waiting for a train or bus in subzero weather, ankle deep in snow is no picnic, especially with all the insane delays.

Not to downplay what you are saying *at all* about the public transit here, (as I have been on crowded trams as well, and it is *not* my idea of fun), but on the whole, I've just found the transit systems here to be *way* more enjoyable and regular than back in Chicago...it's actually been a relief. And with the weather being so mild here most of the time, it's no big deal to stand outside waiting for a tram for 10 or 15 minutes.

Also, as you said in a previous post...riding your bike is *awesome*!!! I ride mine just about everywhere I need to go and it is fantastic. Especially given all the parks and green areas everywhere, most of the time you don't even have to interact with mass transit, crowded streets, and nasty air from car exhaust...to get where you need to go...or is that just me?

I must agree with you though on the housing front...that does *majorly* suck here and it only seems to be getting worse. My own rent just went up last month. Ugh. I don't know what the solution is to that other than more community style living arrangements. I guess the trade off to having a housing shortage is the fact that the local economy is doing so well, and the unemployment rate is relatively low...but I have heard of some pretty shady things going on within the rental market and how good people are getting screwed...that's just wrong.

Having only lived here for a few months so far, I've had a chance to see this city from a brand new perspective and have had the wonderful opportunity to do some major introspecting and contemplating of the place(s) I live and my place in them. Good, bad or neutral, I've discovered these things:

Melbourne is a place where Community is real, alive and a true, positive force. Places like CERES are living examples of that. Generally, I've found people to be friendly, helpful and genuine here. There is *loads* of outdoor green space here!!! And it's possible to be outside, enjoying those green spaces pretty much every day of the year, due to the pretty awesome weather almost all year round. The public transit, while not ideal, is mostly functional and efficent. People are encouraged and supported in riding bikes, conserving water and energy, recycling...etc...Fresh, organic produce and products are available *everywhere*...I'm sure there's more, but you get the idea...

Again, I don't mean to negate anything you've said here, just trying to offer an alternative perspective. I wonder...is it Melbourne *alone* that sucks lately, or do you think this experience of city living would be replicated in pretty much any major metropolitan city these days?

Hope this finds you well,

~Meagen

I just put a thread into Smelkstar's new tribe.. it is about the Eastern Freeway extension (there is a cool video there) and Melbourne/Oz public transport...

Have a look.. tribes.tribe.net/australia...4aef1b03e4