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Hi Rob,<div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>Below my letter to the Business Age.</div><div>Note that the Dutch system is much more complex than the simple references below and very few cycling organisations </div><div>know anything about it. </div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>Bye Alan </div><div>---------------------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div> Dear Sir,</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Train stations with secure bicycle parking are needed in outer suburbia</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">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 outer suburbs where rail stations are too far away to walk, too insecure to park a car and have no convenient feeder bus services. The real problem for Connex is not the few cyclists who put their bikes on trains but the much greater number of cyclists who are choosing to drive because their is no secure bicycle parking at all at unstaffed stations and not enough parking spaces at staffed stations. The problem for the state government is that these long car commutes by cyclists are a major source of road congestion.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">One solution is based on science. Riding a bike uses the ergonomic advantage of pedaling over walking to go 3.5 times as far (2 to 4 km) for the same physical effort as walking. It increases the catchment area of many stations five fold because 70% of potential rail users are within easy cycling distance 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. Indeed, if a bicycle is 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 of all rail lines.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">In the Netherlands only folded bicycles with smaller wheels, that take up little space, can be taken on with the flow peak hour trains for free; a system that is appropriate for Melbourne. The integration of bicycles and the public transport system has the potential greatly reduce carbon dioxide emissions, air pollution and road congestion but neither the Public Transport Division of DoI or Connex has any coherent plan to realize these benefits.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Alan A. Parker </div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div><br><div><div>On 05/01/2008, at 10:42 PM, Rob Eke wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"> <div class="Section1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="EmailStyle18"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">In my discussion with DOI they let slip they do not want “discretion” to be a factor ( on V-Line trains), claiming that the cyclists has to have certainty they will get their bike carried, so they “feel” certainty is provided by a “Ban”.. great thinking and tells you what they want.. in spite of the motherhood rhetoric about encouraging bicycling in the community ( on paths) it is clear their view is slanted towards bikes off trains, buses and trams for good and certainly confined to paths if they can, meaning off roads too if they can get away with it…<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="EmailStyle18"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="EmailStyle18"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">This is a clear thin edge of the wedge attack and has serious implications for cycling as a normal transport option and a normal community activity…and Bicycle Victoria has laid down with it…they need condemning by mass member resignations and serious public outcry… you don’t need them anyway you can get your riding insurance cheaper now through Cyclo Sportif Cycling Club at Cyclesports Victoria for $45 a year.( see <a href="http://www.cyclosportifvic.com.au/page/news.html">http://www.cyclosportifvic.com.au/page/news.html</a> )<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="EmailStyle18"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="EmailStyle18"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">So this needs to be a multifaceted campaign with a variety of outcomes determined by priority in an ordered and logical fashion. Some vital aspects could be:-<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="EmailStyle18"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p> <ol style="mso-margin-top-alt:0cm" start="1" type="1"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color:navy;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list 36.0pt"><span class="EmailStyle18"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Minister revoke this absurd ban to provide access for those in necessity ( riders use their discretion, not the system operator)<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color:navy;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list 36.0pt"><span class="EmailStyle18"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">This government act to proscribe cycling as a normal transport option and a fundamental part of the transport system & integrated into mainstream.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color:navy;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list 36.0pt"><span class="EmailStyle18"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Bicycle Victoria be reminded in no uncertain terms it must act for its member base and not it’s private internal clique of business partners and commercial interests and forgetting its core reason for being, providing member services. ( see its 2007 annual report and financial statement and you will see the mess it got itself into in 2007, it needs a shake up starting with its key officers, as much of its good work in the past has been shattered by its absurd current politics.)<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color:navy;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list 36.0pt"><span class="EmailStyle18"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">a proactive plan for a multifaceted campaign to ensure cycling remains a mainstream, normal community transport option and a valuable necessary health and environmentally friendly activity and is not maligned or marginalised by Government Policy and Commercial practices and media interests.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color:navy;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list 36.0pt"><span class="EmailStyle18"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">some might say free public transport too, that would certainly remove one major headache , Connex, and save the State $500M on myki…. It has merit<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></li> </ol><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="EmailStyle18"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="EmailStyle18"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">cheers<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="EmailStyle18"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="EmailStyle18"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Rob<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;color:black"> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt"><font size="2" color="black" face="Tahoma"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black">-----Original Message-----<br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">From:</span></b> publictransport-bounces@yarrabug.org [<a href="mailto:publictransport-bounces@yarrabug.org">mailto:publictransport-bounces@yarrabug.org</a>]<b><span style="font-weight:bold">On Behalf Of </span></b>Nicholas Dow<br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b> Saturday, 5 January 2008 9:52 PM<br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b> <a href="mailto:publictransport@yarrabug.org">publictransport@yarrabug.org</a><br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b> [publictransport] examples of overseas best practice</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:36.0pt"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><br> </span></font><font size="2" color="black" face="sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:black">Alex was kind enough to refer me to:</span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black"> <br> </span></font><font size="2" color="black" face="sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:black"><a href="http://trimet.org/howtoride/bikes/bikesonmax.htm">http://trimet.org/howtoride/bikes/bikesonmax.htm</a></span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black"> <br> </span></font><font size="2" color="black" face="sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:black">example of bike racks on rail vehicles in Portland, Oregon, USA.</span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black"> <br> <br> </span></font><font size="2" color="black" face="sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:black"><a href="http://www.bvg.de/index.php/en/Bvg/Detail/folder/759/id/2909/nb/1/name/Accompanying+persons%2C+etc.+%26+conditions+of+carriage">http://www.bvg.de/index.php/en/Bvg/Detail/folder/759/id/2909/nb/1/name/Accompanying+persons%2C+etc.+%26+conditions+of+carriage</a></span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black"> <br> </span></font><font size="2" color="black" face="sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:black">has details of Berlin. Note those "rule-bound" Germans allow discretion!!!</span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black"> <br> </span></font><b><font size="2" color="black"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:black;font-weight:bold">Bicycles</span></font></b><font size="2" color="black"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"><br> <br> Passengers can travel with their bicycles on the S-Bahn (urban railway) and U-Bahn (underground railway) lines, on regional rail transport and on trams in the designated carriages, provided there is sufficient space (if necessary, the personnel will decide).<br> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break"> <br style="mso-special-character:line-break"> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt: windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" align="left" width="100%" style="width:100.0%; mso-cellspacing:1.5pt;margin-left:36.0pt;mso-table-anchor-vertical:paragraph; mso-table-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-table-left:left"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"> <div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> <hr size="2" width="100%" align="center"> </span></font></div><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Nik Dow </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">NIKDOW P/L</span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Support: 1300 645 369 </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">trading as CBDWeb</span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt: windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Office: 03 9650 0136 </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">6/165 Flinders Lane</span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black; mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">mobile: 0412 703 483 </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><tt><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; color:black"> ,-_|\</span></font></tt><font color="black"><span style="color:black"> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black; mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Melbourne</span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><a href="mailto:nik@nikdow.net" target="_blank">nik@nikdow.net</a> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><tt><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; color:black"> / \</span></font></tt><font color="black"><span style="color:black"> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Australia 3000</span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt: windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><a href="http://www.nikdow.net/">www.nikdow.net</a> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><tt><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; color:black"> \_,-. /</span></font></tt><font color="black"><span style="color:black"> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black; mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"> <font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-color-alt: windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Theatre is Life </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><tt><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; color:black"> *</span></font></tt><font color="black"><span style="color:black"> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><--- Melbourne </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Cinema is Art </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><tt><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; color:black"> v</span></font></tt><font color="black"><span style="color:black"> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Radio National is Intelligence </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Television is furniture </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> <td colspan="2" style="padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:36.0pt"><font size="3" color="black" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> </span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">_______________________________________________</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">publictransport mailing list</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="mailto:publictransport@yarrabug.org">publictransport@yarrabug.org</a></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://yarrabug.org/mailman/listinfo/publictransport_yarrabug.org">http://yarrabug.org/mailman/listinfo/publictransport_yarrabug.org</a></div> </blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>