Boroondara Bicycle Users GroupAdvocating for bike riding
Planning on doing some rides over the Christmas break? Know someone who might just be getting a shiny new bike for Christmas?
The City of Boroondara has just updated their Travelsmart map in time for the holidays. The map highlights shared paths, bike lanes and quiet back street routes.
Boroondara BUG was pleased to have input to City of Boroondara new Parklet dining Guidelines for cafe owners wishing to provide bike parking within their dining area.
Where on street car parking is being removed for dining, it makes sense to offset car parking with bike parking and encourage the use of space-efficient sustainable transport.
Does your local cafe or restaurant provide bike parking?
For more informations see Parklet Guidelines
The Federal Parliamentary Friends of Cycling, with We Ride Australia, was launched on Wednesday, 23rd November, with an e-bike test and ride event on the lawns of Parliament House Canberra.
The Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, the Hon. Patrick Gorman, launched the group with the group’s Co-Chairs the Member for Swan, Zaneta Mascarenhas MP (Labor), the Member for Fisher the Hon. Andrew Wallace MP (Coalition) and the independent Member for Indi, Dr Helen Haines MP.
BBUG is asking all candidates in the 2022 Victorian state election to commit to the following opportunities for improving cycling and increasing the number of bike trips for people of all ages.
Kew
Hawthorn
Ashwood
State-wide issues
BBUG requests that:
There are lots of potential projects that could be funded – either implemented by major projects, Council or the new Active Transport Team within Department of Transport.
One of BBUG’s members recently obtained an exemption and this is what they learned…
The road rules say:
Rule 250(1A)(b) amended by S.R. No. 96/2019 rule 11(5).
(b) the rider of the bicycle is 13 years old or older and—
(i) has a certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner; and
(ii) the certificate states that the rider has a disability or medical condition which makes it undesirable, impracticable or inexpedient for the rider to ride on the road; and
(iii) the rider is complying with the conditions (if any) stated on the certificate; and
(iv) if the disability or medical condition is of a temporary nature, the certificate contains an expiry date and has not expired; and
(v) the rider is carrying the certificate; and
(vi) the rider produces the certificate when requested to do so by a police officer or authorised person;
http://classic.austlii.edu.au/…/rsrr2017208/s250.html
Road Rule 250 1A(b) provides for a medical exemption for footpath riding issued by a registered medical practitioner on the basis of Disability or Medical Condition and worded as set out in the rules.
Congratulations to the City of Yarra for showing commitment to deliver safe walking and cycling infrastructure including a commitment to deliver more safe speed 30kmh zones.
Listen to Ruth Jelley as she describes her ride on her ebike from Northcote to Swinburne University, Hawthorn. She presented this slide deck to the Boroondara Council when they voted on the Boroondara Bike Strategy. Thanks for sharing Ruth!
The Boroondara Services Delegated Committee met on 11 July 2022 to discuss and vote on the 2022-2032 Bike Strategy.
You can view consideration of the draft Bike Strategy in the video below.
There were several presentations from members of the public. The BBUG presentation to the meeting begins at 1:01:40.
In summary, BBUG opposed the Council Officer’s recommendation to remove the Glass Creek / Jacka Trail from the strategy because it prevents the construction of a safe cycling route for students to get to schools including Balwyn North Primary, Greythorn Primary, Balwyn High & Kew High.
It is unfortunate that misinformation has been spread about this route being “unsafe” and a “busy commuter route” when it would provide students the opportunity to ride safely to school and for people to access several local recreation reserves by bike. The trail would also suit pedestrians of all ages and dog walkers.
The Boroondara Services Delegated Committee is meeting on 11 July 2022 to consider the Council Officer’s Report on the Boroondara Bicycle Strategy.
Boroondara Bicycle Users Group (BBUG) is concerned that suggested amendments to the draft strategy and implementation plan (p24) will prevent the construction of a safe cycling route for students to get to schools including Balwyn North Primary, Greythorn Primary, Balwyn High & Kew High.
This route was included in the previous drafts of the bike strategy and implementation plan.
It is unfortunate that misinformation has been spread about this route being “unsafe” and a “busy commuter route” when it will provide students the opportunity to ride safely to school and for people to access several local recreation reserves by bike. The trail would also suit pedestrians of all ages and dog walkers.
We are surprised that several of the key findings of the Community and Stakeholder Engagement Report (p33) are negative towards cycling when there are many examples of shared paths such as the Anniversary Trail, Koonung Trail, Main Yarra Trail and Darebin Creek Trail providing good amenity to both bike riders and walkers.
Riding a bike is healthy, emissions free and convenient for both local and longer trips.
Boroondara BUG members attended the City of Melbourne Future Melbourne Committee meeting on 7 June 2022, along with over a hundred local bicycle advocates and residents from across Melbourne.
Boroondara BUG’s submission to the meeting is here.
There were two hours of incredibly powerful speeches from Melbourne’s cycling community, including Boroondara BUG, asking the Council to continue their timely rollout of new bike lanes.
The council received 1,028 submissions in favour of continuing the bike rollout, and just 10 against.
Speakers included doctors, scientists, climate groups, transport groups, bicycle user groups, urban planners, theatre operators, residents and the wider community.
After 33 presentations in favour of continuing the rollout of the City of Melbourne bike network and none against, the amended motion passed by Councillors STILL deferred building bike lanes in the Hoddle grid.