[publictransport] Debate and Dis(unity)- slightly OT but important-Insurance for Bike & Rider as opposed to Rego.

Wed Jan 23 10:54:27 EST 2008

Thanks Rob,

That info is a big help!

The bike lockers sound great, lets ask for that!

I'm happy to be a bit OTT ;-)
Kerry.

On 23/01/2008, at 10:41 AM, Rob Eke wrote:

> Hi Kerry, all
>
>
>
> Addressing rego and insurance for bikes (and ins for riders).
>
>
>
> Insurance for bike and rider
>
>
>
> is a strong consideration for all riders. It isn’t solved by  
> registration.
>
>
>
> Bikes can be insured easily, it is a matter of premium, but they  
> are a high risk item, and when left in a public place invariably  
> get stolen, vandalised or parts pilfered.
>
> That is why it is difficult to get cover for your bike when left a  
> public place on your home policy.
>
> The risk is high.
>
>
>
> The stats on bikes stolen from stations around Melbourne are  
> horrendous and the only solution to limit theft is secure out of  
> sight lock up storage. I mean lockers, not cages.
>
>
>
> Cages have been trialled before in Melb and elsewhere, even in  
> Perth they aren’t all that successful, I trust their new methods  
> may have addressed the issues of weather, access to a wider number  
> of people and vandalism, plus access in peak items through a single  
> door.
>
>
>
> These issues are not new, they have proven impossible to address in  
> trials in Melb in the past and have been rejected by users.
>
> Only secure lockers are viable to encourage Melbourne riders to  
> leave bikes at stations, unless the trial can prove the problems  
> have been addressed to the satisfaction of users.
>
>
>
> I have seen massive open air bicycle parking station in Tokyo where  
> thousands of bikes are left all day by commuters catching the  
> subway to work, it is cultural for them, as a population they don’t  
> steal things. Similarly in parts of China, they as a population  
> they don’t steal, I’ve had things stolen when living there and by  
> expats, not the locals).
>
>
>
> Sadly in Melbourne people do steal, and its endemic. So we will not  
> address the cultural, we will only address the security, Lockers  
> are a success, as was proven in Brisbane.  I have a paper from Alan  
> Parker ( you can have a copy) on a submission for Federal Funding  
> for Brisbane’s lockers, it was successful and they got an extra  
> 1700 lockers. It addresses all the issues and the failed Melbourne  
> experiences.
>
>
>
> Based on Brisbane’s numbers, we need over 4,500 secure lockers here  
> in Melbourne, (we have around 700), Sydney needs 9,000 ( they have  
> around 500).
>
> When car spaces now cost between $15,000 and $18,000 each at  
> stations for all day parking by single driving commuters who drive  
> on average less than a Kilometre to their station it is criminal   
> that the Government announced in July 07 it has allocated $90M for  
> 5000 more car spaces in Melbourne, and we get a lousy trial of a  
> suspect system at two stations and no extra lockers.
>
>
>
> BV is pushing the cages as it wants to take over supply and running  
> them using the new MYKI card (another $500M expense by this govt).  
> They, BV, have left their taint on the introduction on the bike  
> ban, can we trust them on these cages?. Think about it!
>
>
>
> On personal riding insurance, (apart from existing cover under VTAC  
> and Workcover which I wont go into here,
>
>
>
> for rider’s personal injury insurance you can get that now for $45  
> a year from Cyclosportif, (http://www.cyclosportifvic.com.au/page/ 
> news.html  )it is part of Cycle Sports Victoria and Cycling  
> Australia’s Insurance for riders of Cycling Clubs.
>
>
>
> Cyclosportif is a recreational cycling club as opposed to a racing  
> club. They also offer lessons on skills and social rides and  
> activities.
>
>
>
> The cover is for 12 months  and covers you for all personal  
> injuries sustained if injured on a “logged training ride”, this can  
> cover you on rides anywhere as long as you regard them as part of  
> your training and you write them down, just like you might write  
> down a car mileage log for tax. You can keep this log on line on  
> many of the web sites (eg: Cycle2Max) or use the Facebook  
> application on BikeIT, and for the luddites an exercise book and a  
> pencil will do just as good. We don’t need BV’s scheme it is almost  
> twice the cost and isn’t any better.
>
>
>
> Hope these help you understand the alternatives. None of these  
> involve registration with a VicRoads type beaurocracy of the  
> Government, and that keeps them happy as one less thing to worry  
> about and fund.
>
>
>
> As for identifying a bike ,
>
>
>
> most bikes have a serial number, which you can record, but if not,  
> you can get an engraver from Police stations to engrave your  
> licence number under the bottom bracket, and on accessories of value.
>
> If your bike is stolen you can trace its ID back to you when it  
> turns up at Cash Converters or Bicycle Recycle, as they invariably  
> do. Again this doesn’t involve a registration and beaurocracy is  
> not in the mix.
>
>
>
> Meanwhile Bin The Ban and make PT accessible for all at all times.
>
>
>
> Cheers
>
>
>
> Rob
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: publictransport-bounces at yarrabug.org [mailto:publictransport- 
> bounces at yarrabug.org]On Behalf Of Kerry Tait
> Sent: Wednesday, 23 January 2008 9:11 AM
> To: publictransport at yarrabug.org
> Subject: [publictransport] Debate and Dis(unity)
>
>
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
>
>
> Reading people's contributions over the past couple of days has  
> been educative and interesting.
>
>
>
> As I suspected, there are lots of people on this list who know a  
> lot about public transport, cycling and Vic govt history around  
> these issues.
>
>
>
> I loved yesterday's Age editorial which said:
>
> "Operating a public transport system requires a visionary approach,  
> not a reactive spasm." You bet!
>
>
>
> To whit:
>
> As a prior bike cage user (in Brisbane where our Uni had one), I  
> can confirm that they totally work. It was a total relief to know  
> that my pushie/lights/tires were not going to be nicked or  
> vandalised in an area where that happened a lot to the unwary.
>
>
>
> I also got a pasting from my hubbie about my rego idea! However, I  
> think it is our right to be properly insured on the roads and  
> currently we are not. Our bikes are a precious resource are they  
> not? And too many of us limp away from accidents without being able  
> to do anything about it.
>
>
>
> So I think we should embrace all options which make it easy for  
> cyclists to use train stations. Giving people choices relieves  
> stress and encourages "well yes, maybe I can ride to work/uni/school"
>
>
>
> BV issue lovely maps, organise fun events and have a great website.  
> However we clearly need a proper lobby group. Are we it? We have a  
> prime opportunity to have our say with Lynne Kosky.
>
>
>
> The writers who've said that the whole process is up the creek, DOI  
> are petrol heads, new Transport Act etc are almost certainly correct.
>
>
>
> However, we have a new Minister in Lynne Kosky. She currently feels  
> a bit of pressure to do the right thing. There are some practical,  
> doable things she can have done without too much fuss, which we  
> need done. I think we should remember that this is not just about  
> us. It's about attracting new people to commute on their bike as well.
>
>
>
> Overall, thematically a transport strategy needs to acknowledge:
>
> 1. that cyclists are regular commuters.
>
> 2. that train stations are commuter hubs.
>
>
>
> Here are the things I think we should ask for straight up:
>
> 1. we need bikes back on trains, all trains at all times, immediately.
>
> 2. we need to know that we can put our bike in the back carriage or  
> whatever. And any rules need to be simple.
>
> 3. good bike lock up facilities at as many train stations as possible.
>
> 4. Metlink website should show us proper bicyle connection to train  
> stations and if there is a bike cage there. The Metlink journey  
> planner is a good resource already.
>
> 5. we need proper signage on bike tracks which indicates train  
> stations, major roads etc.
>
> 6. we sure as hell need a LOT more street parking U shaped thingys  
> in the city (and elsewhere) to lock our bikes up to.
>
>
>
> And then in the long term.
>
> 7. we need more on road bike lanes and bike tracks planned and built.
>
> 8. being able to load bike onto front of bus is also a great idea
>
> 9. bringing over an expert from WA to help out sounds great. There  
> is no faster way to get good things done than to acknowledge great  
> work others have done and use those great ideas.
>
> 10. we need proper insurance which formally acknowledges us a road  
> users.
>
>
>
> Are there people in the group who are able to get together to lobby  
> Lynne Kosky?
>
>
>
> I hope this helps - I am happy to help out in any way I can so  
> please get in touch if you need,
>
>
>
>
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Kerry
>
> 0427 144919
>
>
>
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