I’d like to thank all those unidentified people who came to my aid; Karla, the ambos and my colleagues.

To BHS staff in ED, Radiology and in the ward; thank you. To all the well wishers, it’s been amazing & surprising. To the lady who was driving the car; thank you for your thoughts and apology and I hope you feel better after our chat. To those who tend to jump to conclusions on social media; it would be nice if you’d refrain from your comments as it helps no one.  

We all share the roads whether that be in a motorised vehicle, bike or on foot. Have some patience and curiosity and we’d all be much safer.

K.Birch, Ballarat.

I wish to commend The Committee for Ballarat's CEO Melanie Robertson for her thoughtful letter entitled "Imagine a Ballarat CBD Without Cars" May 16.

The idea of enlivening our struggling CBD by cutting down on car use and improving public transport/walkability makes me feel excited about the future of Ballarat.

While I agree the transition to self-driving vehicles etc. will have to be slow and managed carefully, changing the way we get around will bring our city into the 21st century and cut down our CO2 emissions at the same time.

While some of our community leaders struggle to think beyond the next election cycle, it's great to read that the Committee for Ballarat is really thinking long term to ensure we continue to be a prosperous city well into the future.

A.Barnes, Brown Hill.

I comment on the Opinion Piece by Melanie Robertson published May 16.The author envisages a car-less CBD and a first phase to reducing  car use. My opinion is that there be two other phases. These are:

1.Obtain a first rate public transport system

2. Address the outer sprawl where developers are simply digging up more farm land further away from the CBD.

Take a lesson from Auckland, New Zealand where 40 years ago it determined a line around the city and decreed that no further residential developments occur outside of that line. The result is Auckland has gone from  having the third biggest average area owned by a single residence in all cities in the world to 200th. The manifestation of this includes fewer underutilised, residential areas and higher rate producing properties enabling the governing council to spend  on developing and maintaining excellent public transport.

This project is now under review because Auckland  has the largest population growth rate of all cities in N.Z. as it is regarded as the most livable city in the country.

P.R. Berlyn, Mount Rowan.

I have noticed the Turnbull government  is patting itself on the back . However, it has forgotten  people who are on a pension and dealing with the rising cost of living.

The government  tells us to stay home as long as we can because it doesn’t want us in a nursing home. I read a story  about pensioners going overseas to live because they cant afford to live in Australia. So what is that telling us?  

 The government gives money to people who don’t live in Australia and forgets the people who are Australians and who have worked  hard all their lives.

G.  Hills, Ballarat.