[YarraBUG-list] YarraBUG May Newsletter 2009

Wed May 6 00:01:25 AEST 2009

*In this months newsletter:*

    * YarraBUG Newsletters
    * YarraBUG Advocacy Committee
    * YarraBUG Radio on 3CR 855AM Community Radio
    * Melbourne City Council: Swanston Street redevelopment consultation
    * St Georges Roundabout Upgrade
    * Yarra Council News - Proposed Amended Road Management Plan
    * Cycling & Transport News
    * Rides, Courses and Events

*
1. YarraBUG Newsletters*
YarraBUG Newsletters have been noticeably thin on the ground this year 
due to our organising committee being too busy than is humanly possible! 
We plan to make these newsletters monthly from now on to keep you up to 
date & informed. The deadlines for sending material, local news, heads 
up, reviews, events, ride ideas etc are as follows: May 25, June 25, 
July 25, August 25, September 25, October 25, November 25, December 20. 
Your contributions are most welcome.

*
2. YarraBUG Advocacy Committee*
The BUG is forming a new Advocacy Committee and we want to know your 
thoughts and feedback about issues and ideas that interest and concern 
you. We want to hear from riders who travel, work and especially cycle 
through the suburbs of Abbotsford, Alphington, Burnley, Carlton North, 
Clifton Hill, Cremorne, Collingwood, Fairfield, Fitzroy, Fitzroy North, 
Princes Hill and Richmond.

Cycling encompasses many aspects, including cycling for transport, 
cycling for recreation, cycling for sport and sustainable transport when 
mixed with other modes like public transport. Is there a local road 
issue you want something done about? Are there sustainable transport 
issues that concern you? Are you interested in writing submissions and 
correspondence to help cycling become even more popular and accessible? 
If this interests you please contact us at YarraBUG, 
enquiries at yarrabug.org or send a note via our contact page: 
http://www.yarrabug.org/contact-us/

*3. YarraBUG Radio on 3CR 855AM Community Radio*
After six months onair YarraBUG Radio is now podcasting, you can see 
that we also have a nifty audio-player on our web site so you can listen 
to podcasts when they are uploaded to 3CR's website.And we're also on 
iTunes! Go to Podcasts > Audio Podcasts > News & Politics > 3CR > YarraBUG.

So listen in, you can hear about local cycling news and views and also 
we have the occasional giveaway every couple of weeks! Your feedback is 
welcome, so call us at 3CR on 03 9419 8377 when you can let us know your 
thoughts, we welcome your contribution, after all YarraBUG Radio is here 
for you to help you make your cycling safe, fun and infectious for others.
More details + weekly podcasts: http://www.yarrabug.org/radio/

Recent programs: Yarra Bicycle User Group Radio Show #34 - May 4th, 2009
http://www.yarrabug.org/radio/?p=233

Yarra BUG Radio Show #33 - Monday April 27th, 2009
http://www.yarrabug.org/radio/?p=226

*
4. Melbourne City Council: Swanston Street redevelopment consultation*
 From Melb City Council: The community is invited to comment on seven 
design options for the redevelopment of Swanston Street. Your feedback 
and comments will help Melbourne City Council make an informed decision 
about the street's future use. The consultation concludes at 5pm this 
Friday, 8 May 2009.
More details: 
http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info.cfm?top=192&pa=1323&pg=4460

The YarraBUG committee have chosen to support Option 2 (Managed Service 
Delivery) as it seems the most pragmatic and viable option avaliable out 
of the seven, although you're entitled to choose any of the options as 
long as it's obviously NOT Option 7! (Remove bicycle access)

MelbourneBUG have also supported Option 2, visit 
http://www.melbournebug.org/ to read Melbourne BUG's analysis of the 
Swanston St options on offer from Melbourne City Council. Go to
http://www.petitiononline.com/melbug/petition.html to sign their 
petition if you wish.

*5. St Georges Roundabout Upgrade*
 From VicRoads: VicRoads advises that road safety improvement works 
along St Georges Road/Merri Parade/Charles Street in Northcote will 
commence by late April 2009. Works are scheduled for completion by end 
August 2009. These works include the removal of the roundabout at the 
intersection of St Georges Road/Merri Parade/Charles Street, 
installation of new traffic signals and installation of an additional 
lane on St Georges Road and Merri Parade. In addition the existing 
footpath on St Georges Road will be widened and built as a shared footpath.

Further details: 
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/RoadsAndProjects/RoadProjects/InnerCity/StGeorgesRdMerriPrdeIntersection.htm

*Melbourne Times: Roadworks get green light at notorious roundabout 
(April 29, 2009)*
Work has started on a $5.1 million upgrade to a notorious Northcote 
roundabout.The roundabout, at the intersection of St Georges Road, Merri 
Parade and Charles Street, will be removed and replaced with traffic 
lights. Residents have been lobbying for a safety upgrade at the site 
for years. Northcote MLA Fiona Richardson said the intersection was 
notorious for congestion
and safety problems. Traffic queues on Merri Parade have reached up to 
400 metres during peak hour. Bicycle Victoria figures show the St 
Georges Road roundabout is one of the
city's top five crash sites for cyclists, with an average of 1.67 
collisions involving cyclists each year. A Bicycle Victoria audit in 
March found more than 600 cyclists use St Georges Road
to travel south-bound to the city each day, an increase of more than 15 
per cent since 2008.

Read the rest of the Melb Times article here: 
http://www.yarrabug.org/images/MelbTimesB29April09.gif

*6. Yarra Council News - Proposed Amended Road Management Plan*
Read the following two articles - What do you think? Should Yarra 
Council downgrade road maintanance to discourage vehicle use? How do you 
think this could affect  general access, pedestrian and cycling in 
Yarra? Let us know and also contact Yarra Council with your opinions.
*
 From Yarra Council:  Victorian regulations require councils to review 
their Road Management Plans by 30 June 2009.*
The review must ensure that the standards of road maintenance are safe, 
efficient and appropriate for community use. Council is proposing to 
amend its Road Management Plan and Road Register, which would both apply 
for the following four years. The amendments build on Council's Road 
Management Plan that established a management system for Council for the 
discharge of its duty to inspect, maintain and repair its public roads 
based on policy and operational objectives and available resources. 
Council invites interested members of the community to read the 
documents and provide written submissions, which should be received by 
29 May 2009.

Further details: http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/Consultation/index.asp#rmp

*Melbourne Times: Councillor: roads to hell too well-paved (April 29, 2009)*
Yarra Council is considering a proposal to downgrade its roads 
maintenance funding to discourage residents from driving. The plan won 
early approval last week and will be considered in more detail next 
month. Greens councillor Alison Clarke, who proposed the change, said 
the council should downgrade its roads rating from their current average 
of 84 out of 100 to 75 out of 100.
"I think having good roads rather than excellent roads is something we 
should achieve," Cr Clarke said.  "It does concern me that our roads 
rate 85 - I really think that's a little bit too good. I
think we can afford to ease them back down a bit, because we don't want 
to be encouraging everyone to drive with Ferrari-grade roads."

The council must renew its road management plan by the end of June, but 
several councillors are flagging a fight over the priority given to 
roads maintenance funding. Yarra allocated $10.9 million to roads 
expenses in 2007-08, but Cr Clarke said the council would discuss 
"shaving a bit of money off the roads budget next year". She said the 
council was also considering reducing the space allocated to roads over 
the next four years.

Read the rest of the Melb Times article here: 
http://www.yarrabug.org/images/MelbTimes29April09.gif

*7. Cycling & Transport News*

*Common Bike Launched*
What would bike sharing be like in Melbourne? You can experience it in 
May 2009 as we run a pilot demonstrating the possibility of a small 
community based bike sharing venture. This pilot will only run for three 
weeks. As a simple and scalable community based concept, it can be the 
starting point for a bright bike sharing future in Melbourne.

Common Bike has hubs in the CBD and Melbourne's inner Northern and 
Eastern suburbs, identified as existing areas with a culture of high 
bike use. The sites for the pilot project will be Human Powered Cycles 
(Thornbury), Rent-a-Bike (Federation Square), Commuter Cycles 
(Brunswick), Lentil as Anything (Abbotsford), Abbotsford Cycles 
(Abbotsford), and Crumpler (Fitzroy); with the potential for more to be 
added later. More details: http://www.commonbike.com
*
The Age: $5m bike hire plan (May 3, 2009)*
Melbourne will soon have a Paris-style network of cheap public bike hire 
stations in the inner city, with the State Government committing $5 
million to the scheme in Tuesday's budget.
Roads Minister Tim Pallas will call this week for tenders to run the 
network, which will supply 600 bikes for hire at 50 docking stations, 
including Parliament House, Federation Square, Southern Cross Station 
and Melbourne University. The scheme is due to start next year. Further 
details: www.theage.com.au/national/5m-bike-hire-plan-20090502-aquq.html
*
Bicycle Riding Survey*
Message from Damien: I am a final year Industrial Industrial design 
student studying at the University of Technology Sydney in NSW. I am 
currently doing my final year dissertation paper on 'Cycling in 
Australia', the purpose of the paper is to identify design needs in the 
recreation industry of cycling, and to develop it into a design project 
based on my research for my major project next semester. I'm a cyclist 
myself, and the reason I have sent this email to you, is to ask for your 
help! Im hoping to somehow improve cycling in some way shape or form, 
and if I am going to understand what cyclists needs or wants are, then 
I'll need to get feedback from cyclists. I'm hoping you will be able to 
help me get some feedback from Victorian cyclists. My research relies 
heavily on the kindness of others to spare me some of their time.

This is the Survey Link: 
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=TBQgmKPJ8v2NtgzCe_2buAoA_3d_3d
*
A Green New Deal for Victoria*
 From Friends of the Earth: an integrated response to the triple crunch 
of recession, climate change, and peak oil: 
http://greennewdeal.wordpress.com/

*Cycling Resource Centre*
Keep up to date with Australian and international cycling news, 
initiatives, sustainable transport news and government news.
http://www.cyclingresourcecentre.org.au/

*Bicycle Federation of Australia E-News*
The April 2009 edition of the BFA E-News is available to view at:
http://www.bfa.asn.au/emaillist/?IntCatId=31&IntContId=7701

*Centerlines - April 2009 (USA)*
CenterLines is the bi-weekly e-newsletter of the National Center for 
Bicycling & Walking. CenterLines is our way of quickly delivering news 
and information you can use to create more walkable and bicycle-friendly 
communities.
http://www.bikewalk.org/cl/2009/apr/0429b.html

*Institute for Transportation & Development Policy - April 2009*
ITDP's eBulletin is the free news brief that is emailed to subscribers 
four times a year. It includes ITDP project updates, policy critiques, 
advocacy highlights, and event announcements.
http://www.itdp.org/index.php/information_center/ebulletin-detail/number_27/

*8. Rides, Courses and Events*

*
Also see our combined Rides and Events calendar:*
http://www.yarrabug.org/events-and-rides/

*FixMyRide*
FixMyRide provides a personalised, one-on-one mobile bicycle repairs 
service to customers in Melbourne CBD, from the back of the FIXMYRIDE 
bike and trailer. No wasted time detouring to the bike shop on your 
commute or waiting for your bike to be serviced. I come to you, repair 
and replace what is necessary. Contact Sholto Allbrook M: 0428 552 741 
Email: fixmyride.vic at gmail.com

*Human Powered Cycles Training - Bike maintenance training calendar*
The registration fee for regular introductory and intermediate training 
sessions all include a copy of Save My Bike: A Beginner's Guide to Bike 
Maintenance (Jordan Wilson and Chris Southwood, 2007). More details: 
http://www.humanpowered.com.au/tiki/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=309

*CycleSMART Skills Program - New Dates Announced*
Are you a recreational cyclist looking to enhance your cycling skills, 
knowledge and ability? If so then an extensive 4 week CycleSMART Program 
proudly brought to you by Cyclo Sportif Victoria & Echelon 1 Cycling 
Coaching is for you. The next 4 week CycleSMART Skills Program will kick 
off on Saturday 23rd May. For more, look for "CycleSMART Skills Program" 
at: http://www.cyclosportifvic.com.au
*
Bike Fun Melbourne: Full Moon Ride - Friday 8th May*
Shankland Valley Trail and Moonee Ponds Creek Path to Docklands
Catch the 6:49 or 6:58 from Flinders St Platforms 6&7. Ride down the 
Shankland Valley Trail and Moonee Ponds Creek Path to Docklands. There 
are easy exits @ Pascoe Vale Station or Flemington Bridge Station if you 
don't have the time or legs for 35 Km. Bring something to share and 
we'll picnic at Gowanbrae or Boeing Reserve. The ride is mostly down 
hill and a north wind is perfect. See BikeFun Melbourne for more: 
http://www.bikefun.org

*Yarra Climate Action Now General Meeting - Wednesday 13th May*
7.30pm, Wednesday 13 May, Kindness House, 288 Brunswick St, Fitzroy. 
YCAN is an independent community group based in inner-city Melbourne 
made up of individuals who are concerned about climate change. We are 
pushing for the urgent worldwide action needed to avoid runaway climate 
change and the associated impacts. We are interested in making a 
difference in the community through education, lobbying, workshops and 
other activities. We are part of the Climate Emergency Network and a 
national network of grassroots climate action groups. YCAN general 
meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month. All welcome. For 
further information call Pablo: 0421 011 182
More details: http://yarraclimateactionnow.blogspot.com/

*North Melbourne to Abbotsford Convent - Sunday 17th May*
Starting at North Melbourne Town Hall, North Melbourne, 3051, Melway 43 
E5.  Sunday morning ride along quiet streets to Abbotsford Convent/ 
Collingwood Children's farm, where we will stop for coffee, admire the 
animals and checkout the glassblowing studio. Return via Yarra, Merri 
and Capital City trails. In case of bad weather ring Helen 9329 9757 
after 08pm on 17 May for last minute changes/ cancellation

*Ride2Power - 23rd June*
Ride2Power is a bike journey from Melbourne to Power Shift in Sydney 
through not only the amazing Australia countryside but also their minds, 
bodies and souls. Along the way they will meet with people from all 
walks of life and hear the stories that make the Power Shift mission all 
the more poignant. Spanning over 18 days and 950 kilometres, they will 
meet and chat with Power Shifters in many inland centres to gauge the 
levels of concern and awareness for the government's carbon emission 
goals. They will meet with politicians, activists and the general 
public. If you'd like wish a bon voyage to Michael Crowe and the team 
when they leave Melbourne on 23 June, please contact him at: 
crowy23 at hotmail.com.
More information at: http://www.youthclimatecoalition.org

-- 

Yarra Bicycle Users Group
PO Box 253
Clifton Hill VIC 3068
http://www.yarrabug.org

Listen to YarraBUG Radio
Every Monday morning 10-10.30am on 3CR Community Radio
http://www.yarrabug.org/radio/
------------ --------- --------- --------- ---------
Abbotsford, Alphington, Burnley, Carlton North,
Clifton Hill, Cremorne, Collingwood, Fairfield,
Fitzroy, Fitzroy North, Princes Hill, Richmond
------------ --------- --------- --------- ---------

-

-- 

Yarra Bicycle Users Group Inc.
PO Box 253
Clifton Hill VIC 3068
http://www.yarrabug.org

Listen to YarraBUG Radio
Every Monday morning 10-10.30am on 3CR Community Radio
http://www.yarrabug.org/radio/
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- 
Abbotsford, Alphington, Burnley, Carlton North,
Clifton Hill, Cremorne, Collingwood, Fairfield,
Fitzroy, Fitzroy North, Princes Hill, Richmond
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- 

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