The oBike scheme: Blame the mindless vandals, not oBike

oBike's failed, undisciplined move into Melbourne

Abandonment of its fleet is not the only demonstration of thoughtlessness by the operator of oBike. Did the company ever consider that it might struggle to gain a toehold in Melbourne when the CBD and inner-suburbs are already well served by an extensive network of intersecting train, tram and bus routes?

Or that what is needed ahead of any bike-share scheme is a safer cycling environment? This includes dedicated infrastructure (continuous cycling routes, separation from motorised traffic and special signal treatments) and a greater awareness by among road users. Or that its failed and undisciplined move into the Melbourne market might make it more difficult for cycling to develop as a respected, sensible transport option here?

Tim Patton, Camberwell

A widespread problem: how to stop 'bike dumping'

While travelling around Singapore recently, I saw many hundreds of discarded, yellow, hire bikes gathering rust, and with grass growing up around them, especially in the western industrial part of the island. No doubt it has made mowing a problem for authorities.

It was also obvious that the offenders did not have the same bent on "artistic dumping" that we see around Melbourne. Singapore, a clean and beautiful city, has the same problem that Australian cities are experiencing – keeping them free of "bike dumping".

Ron Lutton, West Wodonga

In defence of the majority of oBike users

Melbourne's new lord mayor, Sally Capp, says "the actions of some riders made it hard to manage the bike-sharing system", and suggest this contributed to oBike pulling out of the city.

Really? I am sure that most Melburnians believe riders who pay a deposit and rent bikes do not then go on to vandalise them. The vandals are most likely from the same group whom we allow to graffiti and vandalise our streets and public transport.

Sandy Richards, Port Melbourne

Give the unwanted bikes to the disadvantaged

According to your article, about 200 bikes are still in Melbourne, 120 are in the City of Port Phillip and between 60 and 100 are in the City of Yarra. What will happen to them?

They are good quality bikes and it would be a huge waste if they go to landfill or the metal crusher. Why not give those oBikes that have been damaged to schools for their VCAL programs, youth at risk programs, detention centres etc to repair? Then all these unwanted bikes can be donated to underprivileged kids and adults.

Graham Turner, Torquay

THE FORUM

Why the delayed report?

Joanne McCarthy rightly condemns the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference for not releasing a report completed by its Truth, Justice and Healing Council, in response to the royal commission's report and recommendations (Comment, 15/6). Catholic laity and the Australian community have a right to know the council's findings. By their actions, the bishops are causing further alienation to an already damaged church.

Anne Fitzpatrick, Abbotsford

Spain leads the way

A new report by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre details the appalling shortcomings in the physical and psychological care provided in immigration detention (The Age, 14/6). It is yet another disturbing reminder that this government, and its co-conspirator, the ALP, ignore the rights of those incarcerated there.

At the same time, visitors to these centres are being subjected to more and more security checks and tighter restrictions. The loss of hope of those being visited is palpable. The only light on the horizon is Spain (World, 13/6), which has the leadership, courage and moral fortitude to do what is right. Once upon a time that would have been Australia.

Jules Rolfe, Aireys Inlet

Conveniently forgotten

"The (hospitality) industry has changed from the days of long hours and no pay," says chef and restaurateur Luke Mangan (Epicure, 12/6). Is he talking about the same industry that is currently facing numerous accusations of underpayment and exploitation of workers?

Mary Hoffmann, Richmond

Duty of care to students

Half of Australia's 25-year-olds are unable to secure full-time work even though 60per cent have tertiary qualifications (The Age, 14/6). Megan O'Connell from Victoria University says the education system is failing to prepare students for success after school, and advises them to "start thinking about what they enjoy and what they are good at in primary school, and learn about how they might contribute to different jobs".

That is a copout. Some people do not have that answer at the end of their tertiary studies, let alone secondary school. At primary school all kids want is to have fun and knock around with their mates, and so they should.

Tertiary institutions should tailor courses for future careers, rather than just accept students' fees and then leave them to their own devices after they graduate. They could also communicate, and coordinate, with secondary schools to come up with "real world" solutions. This would be better than leaving "educated" 25-year-olds on the scrap heap.

Serge Bobbera, Curlewis

Consistent rail gauges

Noel Towell's report, "West 'best' for airport rail" (The Age, 15/6) is most welcome. The line should be commenced soon in the context that Melbourne Airport's passenger numbers are expected to double to 70million a year in the next 20years. However, the line must be built in standard rail gauge (1435millimetres) so that it can be integrated with country lines that will be eventually re-gauged and, most importantly, so that it can form part of a Melbourne-Canberra-Sydney-Brisbane link. We must not repeat the mistakes of the nineteenth century when states adopted different rail gauges.

Rod Watson, East Brighton

Avoid all shortcuts

At least Melbourne Airport management can see the value of a high-speed train, with a major interchange at Sunshine, as the best option. With lines from three major country centres converging at Sunshine, this option would seem to be a no-brainer to anyone who does not have a vested interest in the other options.

But let us hope that the same "brains" behind the Regional Rail Link are not involved. Shortcuts and decisions which do not take into account the future increased patronage, which a better service will produce, are not welcome.

Mike Trickett, Geelong West

But where are my trees?

I am an ex-Melburnian who is back here temporarily. Yesterday, as I waited for my train at Rushall Station (an area I used to live in), I was astonished to be faced with a barren tract of land and a horrendous, graffiti-covered wall.

I was last here in January and I enjoyed the shade and respite from the heat that the well-established elms offered. Now these have been removed. Surely these trees were the lungs of this area, providing oxygen, shade, privacy and a haven for birds, animals and humans.

I thought that Victoria was the "garden state". I am shocked and saddened.

Anna Shaw, Wadeye, NT

When the magic eludes us

"Alienation, an experience of profound emptiness", as George Wills poignantly says (Letters, 13/6), is almost impossible for even close friends and family to understand, let alone address, despite all their "love, listening, honesty and appreciation of the validity" of someone special.

I do not know the answer, but I do know I will never seek help again. It is a hell of a lottery out there, if not a jungle. My only remedy is to put one foot in front of the other, a day at a time, enjoy little things, do whatever it takes to survive and accept there is no magic. Retrieving "the magic of being alive, that most of us take for granted" eludes so many of us who crave just that. I think Robert Boyd (Letters, 13/6) would get my drift. Hugs are a wonderful, if very transient therapy. All so aptly, if more lightly, reflected in dear Leunig's cartoon.

Ros de Bruin, Balwyn

Who is the real Kim?

Kim Jong-un has been greeted as a child prince – bowed to, escorted by lackeys and showered with gifts. The Trump team assesses him as a dim-witted, greedy boy who will do whatever you want if you give him a double ice-cream and a birthday cake with his portrait on the icing. It will be interesting to see if they are correct, or if Kim is actually the shrewd kid who sees exactly what is going on, is humiliated by being patronised, and does not forget.

Campbell McAdam, Nalangil

The US template

Cuddle up to your enemies. Praise their leaders for their strength and achievement. Ignore their appalling histories. Sneer at your friends. Accuse them of being weak and free loaders. Insult their leaders. Is this the new template for running US international relations? Will it work better than the old order and lead to a safer, more stable world? To quote Chou En-lai: "It is too early to say". But we can certainly look forward to interesting times.

Bob Malseed, Hawthorn

New world order

Between 80,000 and 130,000 children, women and men are thought to be held in the North Korean gulags. Political torture, murders and executions are common. This is a "rogue state" which makes income by selling weapons and drugs illegally around the world.

I can remember a time when the political line was: "We do not negotiate with terrorists". I guess the opportunity for good PR footage outweighs that.

Doug Steley, Heyfield

Taking responsibility

I offloaded my Commonwealth Bank shares as the last – or maybe it was the second last or even the third last – scandal about the bank's management erupted in the media. If you cannot be bothered keeping an eye on the behaviour of companies to which you give your money as share capital, you deserve everything you (or do not) get.

Linda Skinner, Mooroolbark

Joys of materialism

Marcus Padley's incisive, humourous article – "Dull assets beat pointless and costly fast cars" (Money, 13/6) – struck a chord with me. Like him, I saw the car which I drove as an investment as well as an expression of my material worth and importance.

Admittedly, my 1987 Toyota Corolla did not compare with his Jaguars, BMWs and Mercs, but like him, I valued it highly. Looking back, I guess that was the difference between a skinflint who relied on bank interest and a sharebroker or financial advisor.

Ken Barnes, Glen Iris

Rugby for all classes

Russell Harrison says: "If it is noteworthy that rugby is in practice restricted to advantaged sections of the community then it does not deserve broad public support" (Letters, 14/6). My disadvantaged school in the western suburbs has rugby teams, as do other ordinary state schools in the region. (I was water girl for one team when I took them to play). We have South Pacific Islanders and Maoris. The kids love it. A popular game where they come from, so why not?

Sue Bursztynski, Elwood

Protecting our wildlife

It was shocking to read about suspected poisoning of wedge-tailed eagles and other wild birds (The Age, 13/6). It is astonishing that at a time when our wildlife faces multiple threats – habitat loss due to clearing, deforestation and the impact of climate change – someone would commit these heinous acts. The fines and penalties must be strengthened, and effective preventative strategies must be implemented.Destruction of wildlife must be stopped on all fronts.

Alison Johnston, Prahran

A dumpster? What's that?

If the use of American words is going to proliferate in the Age's quick crosswords, perhaps the clue could contain an alert that the answer is American. I note the use of "dumpster" (9/6) and "rancher" (13/6).

Peter Ratcliff, Parkdale

The PM's illogical logic

Malcolm Turnbull claims a ban on plastic stirrers and straws could increase pollution and therefore the Coalition is unlikely to implement it (World, 12/6). The logic behind this reminds me of The Party's slogans in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, where war is peace, freedom is slavery and ignorance is strength.

Tony Prout, Mulgrave

AND ANOTHER THING

Summit

China and North Korea have played a merry tune with Trump's bloated ego.

Scott Ramsay, Strathdale

The Donald and Little Rocket Man are now best mates.

Bruce Love, East Melbourne

Kim met Trump, not Obama, because he knew he could outwit him.

Andrew Cameron, West Launceston

When Kim stepped out from the cover of North Korea, he should have been charged with multiple murders and human rights abuses.

Colin Suggett, Venus Bay

The large print giveth and the small print taketh away.

James Goding, Princes Hill

Dark suits in front of colourful flags looked great, but let's see what happens.

James Moseley, Frankston

At least the summit got Barnaby off the front page.

Roger Leslie, Pakenham

Politics

How can a country that used to be caring and compassionate treat human beings so badly?

Perry Becker, Leopold

The Spanish government showed compassion when most will not. Would Turnbull or Shorten have done the same to prevent loss of lives at sea?

Tony Delaney, Warrnambool

Why will Turnbull deliver a national apology to child sexual abuse victims? The institutions involved should apologise, not him.

Patricia Norden, Middle Park

Furthermore

Hooded plovers: yes. Hooved plodders at Phillip Island (13/6): no.

Caroline Stinear, Berwick

If the economy is so strong, why is there a housing shortage?

Anne Flanagan, Box Hill North

You'd expect the airport operator to push for the rail route that will least threaten its car park profits.

Chris Davis, Pascoe Vale

Yes, we Kazan (Sport).

Paul Sands, Sunbury

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