[YarraBUG-list] Fwd: Proposed path ban in Carlton Gardens - between Gertrude Street to Queensberry Street

[Yarra Bicycle Users Group]

Hi all,

Apologies for the old emails the list just received - mailman (email list) seem to be on the fritz this morning.

See below - Article from Melbourne Times Weekly - City of Melbourne's Cr
Ken Ong has proposed to ban riders from the path in Carlton Gardens
between Gertrude Street to Queensberry Street.

Yes, seriously.

Read below - please add your comments. Play nice, be constructive.

BTW - here's Cr Ken Ong contact details:
http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutCouncil/MayorCouncillors/Pages/CrKenOng.aspx

And here's all the Cr's details:
http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/aboutcouncil/mayorcouncillors/Pages/Mayorandcouncillors.aspx

cheers,

Chris

****

Carlton Gardens bike path block vow
BY GENEVIEVE GANNON
29 Mar, 2011 01:00 AM

http://www.melbournetimesweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/carlton-gardens-bike-path-block-vow/2117538.aspx

WHAT DO YOU THINK? SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY TO POST A COMMENT.

A TURF war over paths in Carlton Gardens is set to ignite again after
one Melbourne City councillor vowed to block the use of a bike path that
would link Gertrude and Queensberry streets.

The proposed east-west link would enable cyclists to cut through the
park south of the Royal Exhibition Building.

In May, the council passed a resolution to allow a bike link between the
gardens from Gertrude Street to Queensberry Street.

The decision was part of a move to update the 2005 Carlton Gardens
master plan. The land is controlled by Museum Victoria, which previously
objected to cyclists using the path due to safety concerns.

Museum Victoria spokeswoman Lynnette Foo said the path to the south of
the Royal Exhibition Building was shared space regularly used by
cyclists. She said the museum supported its communal use. She said it
was only restricted when there were events in the Exhibition Building.

But Cr Ken Ong said he would move an amendment to ban all cyclists from
Carlton Gardens - including the path south of the Exhibition Building.

Bans already applied to the path, he said, but the council had not been
issuing fines this year.

He said Melbourne City Council was spending a lot of money to ensure
cyclists had adequate paths and some areas should be left for
pedestrians. "There are just too many people in that area. Gardens are
basically off-limits to cyclists."

But Bicycle Victoria spokesman Gary Brennan said the link through the
gardens was a key piece of inner-city cycling infrastructure.

"Queensberry Street has already had major investment and the other side
will be a major link up to the Yarra River," he said.

"Local parochial political concerns are not going to stand in the way of
that development."



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http://www.yarrabug.org

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