[publictransport] Open Letter to Lynne Kosky

[Rob Eke]

Hi Kerry, good to encourage such initiative, we all should let this Minister
know our thoughts on practical solutions we, as PT users see, and especially
those with insight or special knowledge of PT solutions across the world.

I have written to the Minister some time back and although acknowledged,
have no direct comment from her other than her representative at DOI calling
me and hoping we( the advocacy movement) will be “understanding”. I have
said “we will be offering solutions aimed at giving the people of Victoria a
sustainable intermodal system that benefits all users and delivers our State
long lasting positive outcomes not short term fixes that disenfranchise
needy  people and merely aim to blame shift”. That wasn’t (all that) well
received, but they know where we stand, as evidenced by the Minister’s
review announcement today.

I have called for
1)     longitudinal seating on Connex Trains ( to increase capacity, speed
up loading and unloading and reduce station dwell times)
2)     use of all rear carriages on trains for larger personal items,
luggage, parcels, bikes, even extra wheel chairs not able to fit in the
front carriage. Where appropriate fitting of bike hooks in rear carriages to
permit bikes to be off the floor and allow more to be carried ( in an area
where they can be loaded and unloaded quickly-such as you see outside some
bike shops and bike café’s)
3)     All bans removed on bikes on Trains.
4)     Booking system introduced on V-Line trains for carriage of bikes to
ensure certainty for long distance commuters with bikes.
5)     Removing V-Line peak ban altogether
6)     Removing Connex peak ban altogether and offering “suggestion” only
that riders consider to park & ride if possible and use rear carriages in
peak “if necessary” to have bike with them
7)     Permit folding bikes in bags on all trains at all times in any
carriage
8)     In the interim, (whilst they consider a review of the ban) offer
permits to those commuters who out of necessity must take a bike on trains
in the peak direction…(DOI can administer this easily)
9)     Minister clearly come out and make positive statement that Bicycle
use is a vital component of our transport solutions and is to be encouraged
for all the community, but especially commuters to integrate into their
daily commute wherever possible to reduce burden on roads, car parking and
deliver environmental and economic return to our State.
10) Increase number of secure bike lockers at V-Line & MetLink Stations and
Transport interchanges from 600 to 4,500 within 12 months. Noting that
currently Vic spends $18,000 per station car parking space ( MR of Dept of
Premier & Cabinet July 07)- this money can be better used for less polluting
more sustainable oriented infrastructure like lockers and reconfiguring
train carriage seating.
11) Do not install cages at stations, as Melbourne’s experience with them
proves they are unpopular as cages & are not secure, they do not offer
weatherproofing or protection from pilfering and suffer bottlenecks in peak
periods, and they cannot offer sufficient security even when monitored by
CCTV to prevent damage, theft and mischief.
12) Introduce Bike racks on Buses on Interurban routes ( same as the ACTion
bike system in Canberra ACT).

I would however caution on rego for bikes, this has been covered a lot by
Cycling Promotion Fund in their resources  and I encourage all to review the
CPF’s web site and study the free advocacy resources which are well
researched and balanced.
I quote their introduction on consideration for and against bicycle
registration as follows ( with a link to the full document) :-

 “There is a view that if cyclists want to be taken seriously and be
provided with first class bicycle infrastructure,  they ought to pay
registration fees like motorists. By placing registration fees on bicycles,
governments would be losing far more than they gain in registration revenue”

see their paper here:-
http://www.cyclingpromotion.com.au/content/view/213/147/  .

I understand the view that registration may, and I repeat may, reduce the
perception that bikes are not legitimate road users unless they pay
registration, but that is widely considered misconception as verified by the
CPF paper, and one which is still not going to be accepted by hard headed
drivers who reject vulnerable road users at all times. It is considered a
solution that won’t make any difference to those to whom it is pitched.
Bikes are a legitimate normal mode of human powered transport which offers
less risk to the public and less demand for infrastructure than motorised
vehicles, offer efficiency and environmental benefits and deliver health and
lifestyle improvements at a direct community level with minimal government
need to support fiscally. This is to be encouraged, not discouraged. Any
registration will add to discouragement and restrict bicycle usage.
Certainly there is no reason why it should not be discussed, even if not
widely regarded as a solution to the issues of acceptance by motorists.

We all need to think through the desires we have for a better fully
functional Public Transport System to deliver outcomes which are workable,
sustainable and acceptable.

Communicate these (with supporting argument & references) to the Minister.
The figureheads, bean counters and back room advisors whose necks are on the
line will do so as well and will counter all arguments that run against
their preferred line to save their necks, unless the argument is compelling
and indisputable. That group includes a certain member’s group in this State
which is now being forced by its vocal dissenting members to publicly assert
a different view than one it proffered when this ban was being considered.
So pressure is bringing fruit on that group, we will see how long they hold
this new “enlightenment”.

Cheers and everyone keep up the fantastic pressure, sense will prevail as
long as we communicate it !

Rob Eke
Member YarraBUG
Wheels of Justice CoConvenor
Committee - Bicycle Federation of Australia 2007-2008
Ride of Silence (Melb.) CoConvenor 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
rob at woj.com.au <mailto:rob at woj.com.au>



-----Original Message-----
From: publictransport-bounces at yarrabug.org
[mailto:publictransport-bounces at yarrabug.org]On Behalf Of Kerry Tait
Sent: Tuesday, 22 January 2008 9:04 AM
To: lynn.kosky at parliamant.vic.gov.au; moreland at leadernewspapers.com.au;
letters at theage.com.au
Cc: publictransport at yarrabug.org
Subject: [publictransport] Open Letter to Lynne Kosky

Dear Ms Kosky,

I am very heartened to read in this morning's Age that you are reconsidering
the bike ban on trains.

The Department of Infrastructure website states that you are responsible for
the $10.5 billion strategy 'Meeting Our Transport Challenges' strategy which
includes major upgrades to key train stations and the TravelSmart program
which  "aims to reduce people’s dependency on cars and encourage them to
choose sustainable travel alternatives such as cycling, walking and public
transport".

But are you really serious, or are these websites just PR fluff?

A lot of Victorians are already serious about this issue and are way ahead
of the government.  We have rearranged our lives to combine public transport
with bicycle.  We have sold that extra car and found housing, employment and
education that is a bicyle ride away from a train station at each end;

You are in a position to encourage this trend and to structure it formally
into your public transport planning.

Overturn the bike ban immediately and then include us properly in your
strategies.  A couple of ideas I can think of straight away are:
1.  treat train stations like proper transport hubs. Cage at Elthan station?
What about bike cages at those stations which are major hubs like North
Melbourne?  This could help the VLine commuter?

2.  a lot of bike tracks are great.  But the signage is terrible.  It's
missing, old and tatty or completely impractical.  Most of the signage
treats the cyclist like a Sunday rider when in fact most of us are
commuters.  We need proper, reflective metal signage  that indicates train
stations, major roads and distances.

3.  a small rego fee so that our bikes can be insured, and so can we if we
have an accident.  This is a major problem for cyclists.  Rego is a formal
acknowledgement to the community at large that we have every right to be on
the road.

The trick is being able to make easy connections between one form of
transport and another.   That is what truly keeps people out of cars.

Climate change and the cost of living are serious problems.  The community
expects leadership and practical solutions from you, not PR.

I look forward to a postive response to solving this problem.

Yours sincerely,


Kerry Tait
Purple Ute Photography
ABN 96 943 249 981
ph 03 9388 9739 or 0427 144919
kerrytait at internode.on.net <mailto:kerrytait at internode.on.net>
http://www.purpleute.com/





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