[publictransport] What do we want? When do we want it?
Labyrinth
alanpar at labyrinth.net.au
Tue Jan 22 21:30:30 EST 2008
Hi Russell,
This nonsense about who represents cyclists has been going on for 25
years.
and failing to provide for secure access to rail. I dont agree with
your notion that
"Those suggesting foldup bikes & bike sheds/lockers are
representative of an elite few whom I suspect do not ride/train often
other than occasionally on weekends." RS
I have never used a car and have used bikes and trains for 20 y ears
working on contract as a mechanical engineering designer inMelbourne
and have been involved in meeting groups of cyclists totally pissed
off with having their bikes stolen or vandalized. My experience is
that once you get a group of cyclist victims together they suddenly
realise that what happenned to them was not some isolated incident,
but was a widespread problem, they get very angry indeed.
Think about it for over ten years over 700 bicycles where stolen
from stations each year and god knows how many more where vandalized
and nothing was done about it by petrol headed rail managers who
believed that the rail system was there to serve the needs of motorists.
Some of the clowns responsible for doing nothing in the 1980s and 1990s
are now employed by Connex at a very senior level. I have old letters
and
committee reports when I was either research officer or the President
of BV
with the names of rail bureaucrats and engineers on them and many of
them are still stuffing up. As for DoI what bunch of petrol headed
clowns they are.
You say "Bike lockers are nice and part of the overall improvement, but
not as a trade off." I could not agree more. What is needed in a
Vehicle
parking policy (Bikes and cars) however no one has even suggested
that the faulty overall Policy context is the key problem.
The only way to get the problem of cyclists rights of access dealt
with is to
consider what is the most important overall change that Kosky is
responsible
for that provides an opportunity to get a sensible and equitable
cycling policy.
The most important change is going to be the overall revision of the
Transport
Act which will determine future developments in all the transport
agencies and
could put some real commitments to cycling in Connex's contract.
The short article below states what the real problem is and what
needs to be
done about it.
Bye alan
------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------
The Transport Act now being reviewed needs to be changed so theft and
vandal proof bicycle parking is provided at all stations as an
integral part of a
vehicle parking policy ( bike and cars ) that provides better access
to the rail system.
By Alan A. Parker
By banning bikes on peak hour commuter trains before there are enough
theft proof bicycle parking spaces at stations Connex is encouraging
cyclists to go to work by car and failing to increase patronage in
many suburbs where rail stations are beyond easy walking distance,
too insecure to park a car and have no convenient feeder bus
services. The real problem for Connex is not the 100 or so cyclists
who put their bikes on trains each day but the the thousands of
cyclists who are choosing to drive because their is no secure bicycle
parking at unstaffed stations and very few secure bicycle lockers at
staffed stations. They know that car commutes increase road
congestion and carbon dioxide emissions but have no alternative open
to them. Regularly missing trains because it is too embarrassing to
wheel the bike onto very crowded train is not an alternative.
Why is this happening when the science of ergonomics tells us that
riding a bicycle uses the ‘mechanical advantage’ of pedalling over
walking to go 3.5 times as far for the same physical effort as
walking. The simple fact is that around 70% of potential rail users
are within easy cycling distance of a station but only only 12 % are
within easy walking distance. If there was secure bicycle parking at
all rail stations and the rail system was extended into outer urban
areas the potential of the existing rail system in Melbourne could be
extended by 50,000 bike/ rail commuters or more per day and justify
the purchase on more trains Indeed, if a bicycles are used at both
ends of a rail trip, as happens with 25% of the bike/rail commutes in
the Netherlands, the rail system would not only provide convenient
access to the CBD but to most destinations within easy cycling
distance (3 km) of all rail lines.
The integration of bicycles and the public transport system has the
potential to greatly reduce carbon dioxide emissions, air pollution
and road congestion. Sadly neither Connex nor the Public Transport
Division of the Department of Infrastructure has any coherent plan to
expand public transport in this low cost way. Instead they prefer
put in more car parking at an average cost of $15,000 for able bodied
commuters half of whom could easily walk or cycle to a station. Why
spend more on car parking when ten times as many cyclists could have
secure parking for the same price and half of the people who park
their cars at stations live so close to a station that they are
depriving people who drive a long way to station of a place to park.
We need a sensible vehicle ( bike and cars ) parking policy that
equitably provides better access to the rail system.
How railway systems contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions
I have put out several emails over the last five years stating the
bleeding obvious. If you have an efficient rail system which is
growing and reducing car use then there will be more trains and they
will fully loaded in the rush hours when travelling with the flow.
Therefore with exception of folded bicycle the most important most
requirement is secure bicycle parking at all stations whether they
are staffed or not. The current crisis was caused by bureaucratic
wankers who did not believe their own propoganda that by 2020 there
would be an increase in public transport to 20% of all trips to
work , over double than
what we have today.
Trains that are only 20% occupied are not energy efficient or
greenhouse friendly because much of the electricity they use comes
from dirtiest fossil fuel on the planet; brown coal. Fully loaded
trains are more energy efficient than cars and what we need is a
growing rail system that is expanded into the outer suburbs and
bicycles are used extensively as feeders to the station which have
theft and vandal proof bicycle storage facilities. This needed at all
stations because overseas experience shows that around 20 % to 25 %
of bike/rail travellers need to use a bike at both ends of their
journey.
This was documented in a detailed study made in 1986 “Bicycle
facilities at railway stations”Report to the Metropolitan Transit
Authority” by Loder & Bayly and Alan Parker Design , the report
includes sketch plans of secure bicycle storage (including bicycle
lockers) required at 106 staffed rail stations , 14 figures and 11
tables. This report was never implemented and the only copy still
held by any cycling group the PTUA or DOI is in my possession. The
PTUAs current policy supports my view of the need for secure bicycle
parking.
and the provision of bicycle lockers (see policy on their website)
However in the past under a different leadership (Mees's faction)
in the late 1990s the PTUA persauded the CEO of the rail authority
that the provision of 500 bicycle lockers I had spent a long time
getting him to support was not required. BV was not supportive
either of the need for lockers either it crapped on about lock up
sheds, sold leaning rails to the MET which where substandard
according to the SAA standard and in the end succeeded getting only
bike shed built which was dificult to use because it was not properly
managed as the Lock up sheds in Perth are.
Note that there are two types of lock up sheds in Perth one that
stores around 15 bikes on existing stations; the other is an
integral part of new stations built on the new rail line from
Freemantle to the the south. Information is needed on this because we
need new stations in Melbourne and the lock ups at new stations in WA
could provide an excellent model for what we need in outer suburbia.
If we could get Kosky to see these facilities on her next trip to
Perth it might be very useful. More importantly if we could get a
member of her staff to go over and see the lock ups and talk to Jim
Krynen the cycle coordinator for Department of transport in WA who
has long experience as a bicycle facilities planner in the
Netherlands. (Phone (08) 9326 2383 ) it could e very productive.
They do not need to trial them, they work in Perth they will work
here so we need a firm commitment to built them in current years and
to use lockers at unstaffed stations. We also need a full time
bicycle security coordinator in Connex and Jim Krynen the cycle
coordinator in WA should be invited over here to define the
necessary job description.
Last but not least how much money is there in the next financial
years budget (2008/2009) to build the secure bicycle storage
facilities we urgently need.
Alan Parker
On 22/01/2008, at 4:20 PM, russell lindsay wrote:
> Hey Kerry & everyone,
> Agree with every point in every way.
>
> Point 5: Payment for bikes...bah!
> Agree prams & wheelchairs are essential for some. However this
> seems like
> the same argument as to why bikes should pay rego...just 'cause
> they should.
> Gov'ts need to encourage as much people powered or public transport as
> possible, not impede it. Perhaps the day other 'luggage' is
> charged a fee
> then bikes should pay until then, no way.
>
> Point 6: Those suggesting foldup bikes & bike sheds/lockers are
> representative of an elite few whom I suspect do not ride/train
> often other
> than occasionally on weekends. Bike lockers are nice and part of
> the overall
> improvement, but not as a trade off.
>
> V/Line trains are obviously different from those in the metro area. We
> follow directions from the conductors as to where bikes need to go.
> Sometimes that means standing and holding your bike for the entire
> journey.
> But this is only in the two most recent type trains, The Sprinters
> and the
> Velocity's.
> Apart from these models being retrofitted, the only other thing is
> that the
> buyers/designers of the next model train, need to consider bikes
> and where
> to put them.
> I would never agree to a cyclist waiting for the next train, if
> there is no
> room for their bike. Most conductors are obliging, but occasionally
> a grumpy
> one emerges who would like any good reason to stop a bike boarding,
> whether
> the train is full or not.
>
> Russell
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: publictransport-bounces at yarrabug.org
> [mailto:publictransport-bounces at yarrabug.org] On Behalf Of Kerry Tait
> Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 7:53 AM
> To: publictransport at yarrabug.org
> Subject: [publictransport] Fwd: [The Age] Backflip likely on
> controversialtrains bicycle ban
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> This is great news. And it's a great time to step up pressure.
>
> So now could be a crtitcal negotiating time.
>
> I think that we should state that:
> 1. we want to be able to carry ALL bikes on the train, not just
> foldup ones.
> 2. we want to be able to take our bikes on the train at any time.
> 3. we need a simple system everyone understands. eg, bikes should
> go in the rear carriage at all times, but especially at peak hour.
> 4. if Connex want to enforce bikes going in the rear carriage that's
> ok.
> 5. why should we pay to take our bikes? Does anyone pay to take a
> pram or a wheelchair?? Not that they should pay either!
> 6. Bike cages at Eltham are nice, but who could care less if we
> can't get to work/uni/school?
>
> What do others think?
>
> Bike show on 3RRR FM is on tonite - is anyone on this list involved
> in the show? Let's ring up and keep the campaign going.
>
> Let's keep writing to Lynne Kosky: lynne.kosky at parliament.vic.gov.au
>
> Keep writing to Bicycle Victoria.
>
> Keep writing to the Age and especially to your local paper.
>
> Cool day everyone.
> Cheers,
> Kerry.
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>> From: "Brianna Laugher" <brianna.laugher at gmail.com>
>> Date: 22 January 2008 12:19:26 AM
>> To: publictransport <publictransport at yarrabug.org>
>> Subject: [publictransport] [The Age] Backflip likely on
>> controversial trains bicycle ban
>> Reply-To: Public transport access for all users
>> <publictransport at yarrabug.org>
>>
>> <http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/backflip-likely-on-
>> controversial-trains-bicycle-ban/2008/01/21/1200764171300.html>
>>
>> Backflip likely on controversial trains bicycle ban
>> Stephen Moynihan
>> January 22, 2008
>>
>> THE controversial ban of bikes on trains might be overturned by the
>> State Government, following growing anger from cycling advocates.
>>
>> On her first day back at work, Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky
>> ordered an immediate review of the rush-hour ban that started only
>> three weeks ago.
>>
>> The move to ban bikes on Connex and V/Line services sparked heated
>> debate, questioning the Government's own commitment to more
>> Victorians
>> using sustainable forms of transport.
>>
>> Ms Kosky told The Age the review would begin immediately, and she
>> would meet cycling groups to find some middle ground. "I've had a
>> chat
>> with Connex and V/Line, and we've decided to review the full
>> implementation of it," Ms Kosky said.
>>
>> "The last message I want to send is that we don't want people to
>> cycle."
>>
>> And the latest Department of Infrastructure figures from a recent
>> passenger survey found that fewer than 100 cyclists carried their
>> bikes on board peak-hour trains each day.
>>
>> A department source said the ban was not properly worked through, and
>> the backlash was unexpected. It is believed that Ms Kosky had already
>> expressed her frustration to senior officials about how the ban
>> proceeded.
>>
>> The facilities development manager at Bicycle Victoria, Jason den
>> Hollander, said the organisation recognised the problems of
>> overcrowding on peak-hour trains, but wanted the ban on V/Line
>> services to be dumped completely.
>>
>> Mr den Hollander said more secure bike parking at stations was
>> needed,
>> and folding bikes should be allowed on all public transport.
>>
>> The group is also lobbying the department to examine the use of
>> bike-only carriages, or to include carriages with foldable seats to
>> allow for more standing room.
>>
>> More than 100 cyclists are still expected to arrive at Bendigo
>> station
>> tomorrow to protest against the ban.
>>
>> Organiser Jill Gibson said she was ecstatic about the review, and
>> looked forward to meeting Ms Kosky.
>>
>> Ms Gibson said more had to be done to improve regional rail services
>> for all passengers.
>>
>> "I'm glad she's opening the book," she said. "There should be no ban,
>> there should be full access for everyone."
>>
>> A spokeswoman for the Bin the Bike Ban lobby group, Brianna Laugher,
>> said Ms Kosky's move was fantastic.
>>
>> "Maybe they should make real changes for carriages to hold bikes
>> properly, and we'd like to see more innovative interiors for new
>> trains," she said.
>>
>> Cyclists could also pay a small fare to carry a bike on peak-hour
>> trains.
>>
>> "If that was one solution to overturning the ban, we'd support it,"
>> she said.
>>
>> The new rules prevent cyclists taking their bikes on zone 1
>> metropolitan trains that arrive in the city between 7am and 9am, or
>> leave it between 4pm and 7pm. V/Line bans bikes on trains arriving in
>> Melbourne before 9am, and on leaving the city between 4 and 6pm.
>>
>> ------------------------
>>
>> GOOOOOOOOOOO COMMUTERS! :D
>> Excellent start...now to get *real* improvements for PT for *all*
>> commuters!
>>
>> (I was kind of in shock when Stephen told me Kosky was going to
>> review
>> the ban, so I apologise for using the word "fantastic" without the
>> promise of real action :))
>>
>> *happy*
>>
>> cheers,
>> Brianna
>>
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