For example, on Sunday, I travelled to Sydney by train from Wyong, hopped on the ferry to Manly, then back to Circular Quay, hopped on the train to Central, then hopped on the light rail to Paddy’s Market, all for $2.50. What a bargain.

The gold pass I am speaking about is the Opal card. You tap on and off as you go on your merry way. Thank you, Australian taxpayers.

- Richard Ryan, Summerland Point

I READ with interest David Stewart's helpful articles (“Speed limit ignored”, Lakes Mail, February 2, and “No limit to driver frustration”, Lakes Mail, February 9).

From the first article I learned the purpose of the road works. From the second article I learned the reason for the lengthy time the road works are taking. I was pleased to also learn that I am not the only driver that sticks to the speed limit, and to experience a line of cars queuing behind me.

The speed limits apply over a distance of about 1km. If a driver decreases speed from 80km/h to 60km/h it will take 15 seconds longer to travel the 1km distance. If a driver decreases speed from 80km/h to 40km/h it will take 45 seconds longer to travel the 1km distance. 

Most people do not think anything of talking or watching TV for 45 seconds before starting off to drive. Why is 45 seconds longer so much more stressful when travelling 1km of road works? 

Or look at it another way. Most drivers by now know about the speed limit restrictions at that road works site. So why not leave only one minute earlier, stick faithfully to the road works speed limit, and arrive at your destination at least 15 seconds earlier? 

- Allan Young, Fishing Point

TORONTO Swim Centre is a disgrace, a relic from the 1950s. Paint is peeling from floors in the men’s change rooms. Showers cost 20 cents a time, often don’t work and, when they do, are lukewarm. Shower heads are fixed and point straight down. 

There is only one disabled toilet to service the large groups of disabled who use the pool, so they and their carers are forced to use the public change room. 

There are large areas of bare concrete from which it is easy to catch infections. The pool is also used by aquarobics and learn-to-swim classes, the elderly, and physio patients. I had occasion to visit West Wallsend pool recently - luxury! What do the good citizens of Toronto have to do to get even the same facilities as this?

Not that I am totally negative about Toronto pool. It has a wonderful fully automatic distilled water replenishment system - the roof leaks rainwater into the pools when it rains.

- Robert West, Wangi Wangi

JUST got back from 15 nights down the South Coast and, as usual, I kept my eye on fuel prices.

When we left, Morisset’s E10 was $1.44.9 per litre. Going through Sydney it was $1.30 to $1.40 a litre, but down at Huskisson and Batemans Bay it was $1.30 for E10 at the Woolworths/Caltex stations and others as well. 

Coming home through Sydney, Woolworths/Caltex stations had dropped to between $1.13 and $1.20 per litre, and Hornsby was $1.20 for E10.

Get home to good old Morisset and the Woolworths/Caltex and most others are still $1.44.9 per litre.

I never fill up in Morisset unless I have absolutely no option. It’s time the petrol stations in Morisset gave us a fair deal.

If other small towns can sell for Sydney prices and below, so can the petrol stations in Morisset.

- Paul Smith, Cooranbong