Time for a Change .. to Something BIG ...

[G. Lewis]

Seems to me that this Board has lost it's way a bit and has trouble deciding if it is a Bus or Rail forum. The title would suggest that it is a Bus Forum (by enlarge it is), but as we know there are sections of 'Bus Australia' dedicated to rail . Does 'Rail Page' have sections dedicated to "Bus sightings" in various states .. ?? .. Don't get me wrong, I am also a big fan of rail, but maybe if this forum keeps going the way it is you should consider dropping 'Bus Australia' and just have ATDB as the title .. ??

[Newcastle Flyer]

Their are some other threads on the subject as well, but should the "A" from ATDB be dropped also, as both New Zealand and non-Australian/New Zealand subjects are covered.

[G. Lewis]

.. Yes, well there's another odity .. why have NZ sections when there are overseas sections .. last time I checked NZ was overseas .. ??

[boronia]

We also get other forms of transport discussed here, taxis, ferries, cars, trucks, fire engines, aeroplanes, etc. which is not a bad thing.

We have a lot of people here whose interest and knowledge spans many of these areas, which makes the board so interesting. It does seem to project a "mature" image than Railpage.

The Bus Australia part may detract some people from visiting or joining, but while it is part of the BA home page it may be hard to get rid of the image. It would really need a stand alone URL (eg ATDB.com)

[G. Lewis]

Their are some other threads on the subject as well, but should the "A" from ATDB be dropped also, as both New Zealand and non-Australian/New Zealand subjects are covered.

I did have a quick look around for simular subject, but didn't see anything .. I would keep the "A" .. well because we are in Australia ..

As far as the rest of the Board goes I guess I will just blurt out my suggestions here and see how we go ....
Firstly change the URL to "Australian Transport Discussion Board" and drop Bus Australia. The new website would comprise of the following sections (pages) ...

Bus/Coach .. Obsevations/Discussion/Photos (each state), basically what exists now ..
Rail .. Observations/Discussion/Photos (each state) ..
Ferry .. Observations/Discussion/Photos (Aust. wide)
Aircraft .. Observations/Discussion/Photos (Aust.wide)
Taxi .. Discussion/Photos (Aust. wide)
Truck .. Discussion/Photos (Aust. wide)
Overseas .. Observations/Discussion/Photos (generic) broken up into .. NZ, Asia, Europe, North America, International sections.

I understand this may cost a few bucks to set up .. you could ask for donations from the members, and or, have advertising ..?? This would be a great oportunity to start something BIG ...

[Newcastle Flyer]

You've changed the title, so something BIG, okay then. How about the "Australian, New Zealand & Overseas Buses, Trains, Ferries, Taxis, Planes, Fire Engines & Trucks Transport Discussion & Transport Enthuisast Board"?

[G. Lewis]

You've changed the title, so something BIG, okay then. How about the "Australian, New Zealand & Overseas Buses, Trains, Ferries, Taxis, Planes, Fire Engines & Trucks Transport Discussion & Transport Enthuisast Board"?

.. Yeah .. thats very funny .. now do you have anything constructive to say regarding to this thread .. Or better still any comments from Admin ..

[Fleet Lists]

Basically it has been my opinion as an admin that this board is a Transport Board with its main but not exclusive aim, to cover buses. So other modes of transport can also be covered.

Personally I have no difficulty with a number of items on other modes of public transport being included.

Having said that, I would also not have any objections, if so desired, that separate sections be included to cover such other modes of transport, such as trains, ferries, trams and any other mode which people may think of.

And it is basically Australian with a subsection for New Zealand and one for other Overseas. I think it is valid to treat New Zealand separate to otehr overseas, as we have a considerable number of New Zealand members.

That is just my personal opinion and may not necessarily be the opinion of the other admins.

I certainly can not see the need for another train board.

[G. Lewis]

And it is basically Australian with a subsection for New Zealand and one for other Overseas. I think it is valid to treat New Zealand separate to otehr overseas, as we have a considerable number of New Zealand members.

.. Yes .. under the current format .. Under what I am proposing, they could visit the NZ page of the OS section ..

I certainly can not see the need for another train board.

.. Why not .. ?? nothing wrong with a bit of competition .. anyway it won't just be a train board, it would be a transport board with rail being one part ..

[Fleet Lists]

I thought you were proposing that this board be expanded to be that transport board and that it would include trains.

The NZ pages now are part of the Overseas section so I can not see the difference in what you are proposing.

[Newcastle Flyer]

You've changed the title, so something BIG, okay then. How about the "Australian, New Zealand & Overseas Buses, Trains, Ferries, Taxis, Planes, Fire Engines & Trucks Transport Discussion & Transport Enthuisast Board"?

.. Yeah .. thats very funny .. now do you have anything constructive to say regarding to this thread

Seriously though busaustralia.com is easier to remember than either atdb.com(.au), or tdb.com(.au). I see why you don't have an .au included in part of the URL. Some other names (not the one I stated previously of course!) while valid, maybe a bit too long, and the existing URL means something.

Their may be reasons for separating each mode of transport into groups. But then again, if you did, would you be introducing too many groups? Probably get put down about this, and probably a bit off topic, but instead of having titles, such as "Brisbane/Qld", "Sydney/NSW, Melbourne/Vic, etc, just have the name or abbreviations of the states/territories, without the capital cities.

[MetroTasCatcher]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[G. Lewis]

There seems to be a bit of confusion around regarding what I am proposing .. some think I am pushing for another rail forum .. I am not .. What I am suggesting is that this forum expand to cover rail in more detail simular to the way we cover bus .. eg. observations/discussion/photos from each state .. thats all, as well as the other expansion plans I have listed above with taxi, truck, ferry etc ..

[Andrew]

You are welcome to create a rail-based thread within any state forum at the moment.

Perhaps a trial could be set up, say for NSW and VIC (which appear to be where more rail matters are discussed than other states) where separate forums are created for rail discussion.

I will ask other admins what they think.

[Denning-6V71]

I think the main reason why the forum hasn't expanded to cover rail more often is simply because the majority of users are more interested in buses. It's not that rail discussion is being discouraged by anyone (look at the Vic forum, plenty of discussion about rail in there!) plus there's a few number of photo threads dealing almost exclusively with trains. It's up to the members to start discussions regarding rail and, if they take off, I'm sure the admins could sticky the thread in the forums.
I could claim that the forum's biased against trucks or fire trucks or aircraft too, simply because I don't see them represented much either. But I don't because I understand that most users are more interested in the bus/coach scene than in trucks or planes.
Cheers,
John

[Andrew]

More truck pictures would be welcomed!

It is a transport discussion board.

The bus australia in the URL came about for historical reasons....

[Fleet Lists]

You are welcome to create a rail-based thread within any state forum at the moment.

Perhaps a trial could be set up, say for NSW and VIC (which appear to be where more rail matters are discussed than other states) where separate forums are created for rail discussion.

I will ask other admins what they think.

As I have indicated before, I am open to any such suggestions.

[moto51]

I like it the way it is, not a rail fan myself and I don't discourage it but if you want to talk rail find a rail forum. The way phpbb (forum software in use) works, If I don't want to have the rail forums on the index page I am unable to hide them like on other forum software, requiring large amounts of scrolling or if integrating sub-forums, lots more clicking. Maybe there could be sub-forums in each section for rail discussion, it'd be pinned at the top of the respective area and then the board would not be anymore cluttered and those who just want to discuss rail could do so without having threads about buses in the way.

About the .au extension, for that the owner is required to have an ABN to be eligible for a .au domain

[Bedford-29]

I been wondering this Australian Transport Discussion Board a Discussion Board to talk various forms of transport from trains to freight trains to cars to buses to trams to ferries to big rigs to trucks and did I leave anything out.These are all forms of transport so why in the hell change ATDB just leave it the way it is.ATDB has been going all these years with no hint of change and it ain`t needed now.

[chuboy]

Plus I believe there is a higher cost associated with a .au domain.

[Mr OC Benz]

busaustralia.com there's no need to add an .au ... Its pretty obvious that its Australian based when you see the word australia in the domain...

[Denning-6V71]

did I leave anything out.

Aircraft

[Fleet Lists]

busaustralia.com there's no need to add an .au ... Its pretty obvious that its Australian based when you see the word australia in the domain...

the .au version is already owned by Brisbane Buslines.

[G. Lewis]

.. Please excuse any ignorence in my terminology (and what it may cost) re. tech stuff, but I will try to explain a bit more of what I am proposing ..

.. A new home page titled "Australian Transport Discussion Board" .. This would include a montage of colour photo's of the various transport modes within the website .. Buses, Trains, Trams, Trucks .. etc. etc. also a brief blab about the website. Then a list of links to the various forums within the website ..
Bus & Coach .. This would open up basically all of what we have now minus any reference to other modes of transport including Overseas, Models, Buy/Swap/Sell, Luch Room,Where is it, & Which Vehicle is it (all of these will have there own sections)
Rail .. This would mirror what is in the bus site .. Observations/Discussion/Photos & Timetable etc. from each state.
Aircraft .. An Australia wide forum .. Observations/Discussion/Photos .. etc. etc.
Tram .. Australia wide forum with .. Oservations .. etc.etc.
Truck .. Australia wide forum .. Observations .. etc. etc.
Taxi .. Australia wide .. Observations .. etc. etc.
Overseas .. Generic Transport Discussion broken up into NZ, Asia, Europe, North America & International sections.
Miscellaneous .. Tranport Models, Buy Swap Sell, Where is it, Which Vehcle is it, Lunch Room.

This is just a very rough outline of what I have in mind, but I hope you can get more of a picture of what I am thinking.

P.S. I have been a supporter of this site for several years in it's present form, and if admin decide to leave it that way .. fine .. just trying to generate discussion from the members about their forum ...

[Kurt]

G. Lewis, I quite like the idea except that the Taxi/Truck/Aircraft would have little activity