In an age where convenience is king, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where a family is forced to transport a mountain of groceries home via public transport.
Yet, this is precisely what happened to a Sydney family, whose trolley-laden train journey has sparked a heated debate about urban planning and the challenges residents face in new housing estates.
The sight of three men and a woman wheeling a Woolworths shopping trolley onto a Sydney train brimming with bags of groceries was enough to turn heads and prompt a flurry of online comments.
The video captioned ‘Western Sydney things’, quickly went viral, with Australians split in their reactions. Some criticised the family for taking the trolley beyond the supermarket’s boundaries, while others sympathised with their plight.
But the underlying issue here isn’t about the appropriateness of using a shopping trolley on a train.
It’s about the car-centric urban planning that has left many families in Western Sydney’s new suburbs without a viable alternative for transporting their weekly shop.
Sebastian Pfautsch, Professor of Urban Planning and Management at Western Sydney University, illuminated the matter, explaining that suburbs such as Schofields and The Ponds are designed with the assumption that every household is totally car-dependent.
‘This presumption allows government to implement minimum retail space inside settlements and very limited public transport options, and supports developers to focus on maximising profits from land sales,’ the professor said.
Professor Pfautsch added, ‘Not every family can afford two cars, or even wants them for a number of reasons, and if one member of the family needs the car for commuting, the other family member needs to deploy other means of transport when getting groceries.’
This situation is exacerbated by the lack of local infrastructure, such as corner stores, which could otherwise alleviate the need for such trips.
Professor Pfautsch advocates for more thoughtful urban planning, suggesting that integrating more retail spaces within housing developments could reduce the need for short car trips.
Improving public transport in these areas would also benefit families with one vehicle.
The family’s train journey with a shopping trolley is a symptom of a more significant issue—the failure to provide adequate infrastructure for growing communities.
Some Aussies shared their own stories of struggling without a car. One commenter said, ‘I was broke during uni and had no car, no taxi fare, and no direct bus from the shops to my flat. If I hadn’t used a trolley, I would’ve been so screwed,’
Others criticised the use of a trolley on public transport, with one saying, ‘I love seeing random shopping trolleys strewn across neighbourhoods. Great for the streetscape when they inevitably get filled with garbage.’
Transport for NSW has clarified the matter, saying, ‘Shopping trolleys from supermarkets are not permitted on station platforms or onboard metro or train services.’
They can pose a hazard if they roll or fall onto the tracks or are left on the platform’s edge as a train approaches.
Woolworths, aware that some customers take trolleys beyond the confines of shopping centres, invest millions in collection services to address the issue of abandoned trolleys.
However, this incident highlights a broader problem requiring a more strategic solution than collecting stray trolleys.
As we reflect on this family’s insane experience, it’s a stark reminder of the importance of inclusive urban planning that considers the needs of all residents, not just those with cars.
It’s a call to action for city planners and developers to create communities where convenience doesn’t come at the cost of accessibility and where public transport is a viable option for everyone.
Have you ever faced a similar dilemma? How could urban planning be improved to support families without cars? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below – let’s start a conversation about building better, more inclusive communities for all Australians.
Also read: Budget breakthrough: Mum’s $25 grocery trolley hack stuns shoppers
I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just get them delivered.