Right, so another truck has kissed the Montague Street Bridge this weekend. During the Australian Grand Prix weekend, no less. You’d think with all the precision engineering on display at Albert Park, someone driving a truck through South Melbourne might exercise a similar attention to detail when it comes to, you know, basic height clearance. But no.

For those not familiar with this particular Melbourne institution, the Montague Street Bridge has become something of a local celebrity – not for any architectural merit, but for its uncanny ability to collect trucks like I collect bargain tech deals at JB Hi-Fi. There’s even been a website tracking the days since the last incident, though apparently it got hit harder than the bridge itself (stopped updating in December, though someone mentioned it’s working again now).

There’s a photo doing the rounds comparing the West Gate Freeway approach in 2004 versus today, and honestly, it’s sparked some interesting reflections about what we’ve actually achieved in two decades of infrastructure development. The punchline? Still just four lanes heading onto the Bridge itself, even with all the fancy new tunnel work.

Now, before anyone jumps down my throat, I’m not saying the West Gate Tunnel project was a complete waste. Far from it, actually. But there’s something deeply frustrating about spending billions on infrastructure that, at its core, still has the same fundamental bottleneck it had twenty years ago.

The notification pings on my phone: “Your driver has cancelled your trip.” Then another. And another. Five cancellations in ten minutes for what should be a straightforward $50 ride across Melbourne. Sound familiar? If you’ve been using rideshare apps lately, you’ll know this frustrating dance all too well.

What started as a revolutionary solution to Melbourne’s transport needs has morphed into something that feels increasingly like the old taxi system we were so eager to escape. The promise was simple: tap a button, get a ride, everyone wins. The reality? It’s become a bizarre game where drivers cherry-pick their trips while passengers stand on street corners playing rideshare roulette.