City of Boroondara Bike Plan
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Boroondara Bike Strategy
Boroondara Council together finalised the Boroondara Bicycle strategy in late 2008 with input from Boroondara BUG and the general community. Implementing the strategy has lead to significant improvements to cycling infrastructure in Boroondara.
With its expiry in 2018, Boroondara Council should be commencing the renewal process very soon. We encourage everyone to have input into the consultation process when it occurs.
You can find the full current strategy here: Boroondara Bicycle Strategy - Sept 2008 - 7.8mb pdf
Vision
We challenge the council to introduce cycle ways into Boroondara. Routes primarily designed for cycling. Lead the way rather than playing catch up:
- Perth is already leading Australia
- London has major plans
- Paris, Barcelona and many others have bikes made available to the public
- Bogotá, Columbia is right up there thanks to Mr. Peñalosa
- Portland Oregon has done great work
- and of course Copenhagen is renown
Don't want muli-storey towers at Camberwell Junction? Improve the village atmosphere at Camberwell Junction by inviting more cycling at the expense of cars and improve walkability in the area.
It is not uncommon for a cyclist to travel 30 to 80 km in a day on a recreational ride. Commuting distances are typically 10 to 15 km one way. Councils need to think beyond their own boundaries. Our neighbours should be considered and catered for when they visit Boroondara. The cycling paths - on road and off road, form a network that is city wide - not council wide.
Cyclists spend money - any food establishment located on a bike trail will tell you that it is good business to be cyclist friendly.
Councils are battling traffic problems and are now expected to be environmentally friendly. Bicycles can help move more people down a road during peak hour and are environmentally benign. Should a council receive carbon credits/offsets by supporting cycling?
Providing medical services costs money - improved fitness through cycling cuts down on those costs. Costs paid by all of us - cyclists and non cyclists.
Any of us who have children should be mindful of the term "peak oil" and think seriously about sustainability and global warming. Hedge your bets and play it safe.
Cyclists vote.
"From little things, big things grow" Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody.
Future planning
Under the State Government's Plan Melbourne metropolitan strategy, councils are required to improve cycling provisions as part of sustainable transport. Cars are not considered sustainable. For example, the Victorian Planning Scheme requires certain rates of bicycle parking (State Planning Policy Framework 2.5.3 SPPF Clause 18.03 Bicycle transport).
The objective of this clause is to integrate planning for bicycle travel with land use and development planning and encourage cycling as an alternative mode of travel.
"Wherever possible, off-road bicycle networks should be planned for in new urban development." Note the word "Off-road".
The council is working on its access plans and unfortunately they are a minimal response to directions set by the Victorian Government. Typically pedestrians and cyclists are considered as one homogeneous group. Given the known problems of pedestrian/cyclist conflict in shared spaces, this seems particularly naive.
Plans can be examined here:
- Camberwell Junction
- Glenferrie shopping area
- Glenferrie Oval, Grace Park and LE Bray Reserve Concept Master Plan
- Kew junction
- Balwyn
BBUG response to original Melbourne 2030 plans
BBUG, with its somewhat limited resources, has written a response to some of the plans listed above, which beside other items, also include discussion of the East West Link.
The Glenferrie Oval, Grace Park and LE Bray Reserve Concept Master Plan - BBUG response
Glenferrie Road Structure Plan - BBUG response
Camberwell Junction Structure Plan - BBUG response
Kew Junction Masterplan - BBUG response
Victoria Park Masterplan - BBUG response
BBUG response to the Council Plan
BBUG has also responded to the Draft Council Plan 2008-2013: BBUG response. In summary the Council needs to plan for cycling in Boroondara at a higher level than previously - not just in the traffic department but also in the sustainability department .
Eddington Report
BBUG has responded to the "East West Link Needs Assessment final report" headed by Sir Rod Eddington. Our response primarily covers recommendation seven, which encompasses cycling as a means of transport. Our response to the report - pdf
Safety
- Boroondara is ranked 1st highest of the 16 municipalities in the Melbourne south east metropolitan area for cyclist fatalities and serious injuries
- Boroondara is ranked 6th highest of all of the 27 Melbourne metropolitan municipalities for cyclist casualties per 100,000 population
Executive Summary - Road Safety Strategy
Map of cyclists crashes - 1 meg download
This shows the crashes in Google maps - link occasionally works in IE but works best in FireFox. Have a look at the crash spots. Given your local knowledge of a location, you may know how cyclist safety could be improved at a crash location. If so let us know -->
Council spending
How much is Boroondara council spending on cycling infrastructure per capita? Not enough according to Bicycle Victoria's BiXe. Fortunately in Victoria we spend more on cycling per capita than most states excluding WA. See chart. Reference SA Geens party
Gaps
Boroondara is the proud part owner of the two biggest and most significant gaps in the inner suburban trail network. We would like to see that corrected in an effective manner that totally rules out circuitous routes. In the case of the Gardiners Creek Trail gap, that requires significant co-operation with and by Stonnington council.
Ongoing works
See the minor works required.
How many cyclists traverse Boroondara?
Boroondara is the home to some of VicRoads cycle counters - see them in google maps.
Results are presented in this pdf.
