SuzieB
March 21st 06, 12:17 PM
There is a positive piece in The Herald Sun today about bike riding!
'
http://tinyurl.com/on4wh' (http://tinyurl.com/on4wh)
Back on yer bike!
21mar06
OVER the past few years I've got back into bike riding. I rode a
bike as a kid, but once I was allowed to drive old Holdens, the bike
was forgotten.
It's now making a comeback. I sometimes go riding with
my kids, but mainly I ride for health and fitness reasons. You can
often see me early in the morning, battling my way around the inner
northern suburbs.
I'm afraid I don't cut a particularly dashing figure on my bike. People
with incredibly muscly legs and bikes with really narrow tyres keep
zooming past me as if I'm standing still.
Fortunately, there are all kinds of bike riders. It's not compulsory to
look like a king parrot on steroids, like the couriers you see in the
city.
There are heaps of daggy middle-aged pedallers like me out there.
Style is not a huge issue for most cyclists.
These days, you can buy a really good bike for three or four hundred
dollars.
There are plenty of fantastic bike trails in Melbourne, and a lot more
bike lanes than there used to be.
Avoiding cars can be a bit tricky, but on the whole I've found most
drivers to be pretty considerate.
If you ride cautiously, you've got a pretty good chance of staying
alive.
Bike riders need space, and they can't accelerate like cars and
motorbikes.
The State Government is slowly building the metropolitan Trail Network
throughout Melbourne. The Yarra Trail and Bay Trail both carry over a
million riders every year.
It's great riding alongside the Yarra through beautiful parkland, or
beside the bay with the city skyline as a backdrop.
Not many people ride their bikes to and from work.
Many live too far away. Most don't have the option of taking a shower
when they get there.
Some, like me, have to travel around a fair bit during the day and
can't afford the extra time required.
Until recently, bike riding has been largely an inner-city affair. Most
of those who do ride to work travel into the city from the inner
suburbs.
Most of the best bike trails are in the inner-city area, although
there's a great trail heading through the outer eastern suburbs.
Thankfully, new trails are going to be built next to Geelong Road and
the Eastlink Freeway.
There's plenty of great places to cycle in outer Melbourne and country
Victoria, but not many that are built for the purpose.
A recent Newspoll found that less than half of those living in
Melbourne's outer suburbs felt they had access to a safe place to ride
a bike.
While the State Government deserves credit for expanding the trail
network, increasing bike lanes on major roads and requiring cycling
facilities in new buildings, there's a lot more to be done.
We're going to be reminded this week that Australia is a great cycling
nation.
After the swimmers, cyclists are probably our best performers at the
Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
We can't all be superfit and streamlined like the professionals, but we
can very easily join in.
After a brisk 30-minute bike ride you'll feel a million dollars.
And while I'm not citing my own as evidence, if you want to improve
your rear appearance, cycling's perfect.
Cycling isn't just good for your health. It's also good for local
businesses.
Shops in Warburton get a lot of business from cyclists because it's
strategically located on a major trail.
Petrol is getting dearer, we're getting fatter and the planet is
getting warmer.
Cycling means saving money on petrol, living longer and protecting our
environment.
It doesn't suit everyone, but with petrol heading back towards $1.30
per litre, and climate change threatening, it's a great way to help
yourself and help our community.
So, if you're thinking about doing something different, I'd suggest you
follow the famous advice from one of Margaret Thatcher's ministers.
On yer bike!
LINDSAY TANNER is Labor finance spokesman and federal member for
Melbourne
P.S. Had a great day at the TT and then at the Boxing tonight. Get
down and see the fish on the Yarra for 10 minutes on the hour between
8pm and 11pm - very cute and free. The kiddies will love them. :D
--
SuzieB
'
http://tinyurl.com/on4wh' (http://tinyurl.com/on4wh)
Back on yer bike!
21mar06
OVER the past few years I've got back into bike riding. I rode a
bike as a kid, but once I was allowed to drive old Holdens, the bike
was forgotten.
It's now making a comeback. I sometimes go riding with
my kids, but mainly I ride for health and fitness reasons. You can
often see me early in the morning, battling my way around the inner
northern suburbs.
I'm afraid I don't cut a particularly dashing figure on my bike. People
with incredibly muscly legs and bikes with really narrow tyres keep
zooming past me as if I'm standing still.
Fortunately, there are all kinds of bike riders. It's not compulsory to
look like a king parrot on steroids, like the couriers you see in the
city.
There are heaps of daggy middle-aged pedallers like me out there.
Style is not a huge issue for most cyclists.
These days, you can buy a really good bike for three or four hundred
dollars.
There are plenty of fantastic bike trails in Melbourne, and a lot more
bike lanes than there used to be.
Avoiding cars can be a bit tricky, but on the whole I've found most
drivers to be pretty considerate.
If you ride cautiously, you've got a pretty good chance of staying
alive.
Bike riders need space, and they can't accelerate like cars and
motorbikes.
The State Government is slowly building the metropolitan Trail Network
throughout Melbourne. The Yarra Trail and Bay Trail both carry over a
million riders every year.
It's great riding alongside the Yarra through beautiful parkland, or
beside the bay with the city skyline as a backdrop.
Not many people ride their bikes to and from work.
Many live too far away. Most don't have the option of taking a shower
when they get there.
Some, like me, have to travel around a fair bit during the day and
can't afford the extra time required.
Until recently, bike riding has been largely an inner-city affair. Most
of those who do ride to work travel into the city from the inner
suburbs.
Most of the best bike trails are in the inner-city area, although
there's a great trail heading through the outer eastern suburbs.
Thankfully, new trails are going to be built next to Geelong Road and
the Eastlink Freeway.
There's plenty of great places to cycle in outer Melbourne and country
Victoria, but not many that are built for the purpose.
A recent Newspoll found that less than half of those living in
Melbourne's outer suburbs felt they had access to a safe place to ride
a bike.
While the State Government deserves credit for expanding the trail
network, increasing bike lanes on major roads and requiring cycling
facilities in new buildings, there's a lot more to be done.
We're going to be reminded this week that Australia is a great cycling
nation.
After the swimmers, cyclists are probably our best performers at the
Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
We can't all be superfit and streamlined like the professionals, but we
can very easily join in.
After a brisk 30-minute bike ride you'll feel a million dollars.
And while I'm not citing my own as evidence, if you want to improve
your rear appearance, cycling's perfect.
Cycling isn't just good for your health. It's also good for local
businesses.
Shops in Warburton get a lot of business from cyclists because it's
strategically located on a major trail.
Petrol is getting dearer, we're getting fatter and the planet is
getting warmer.
Cycling means saving money on petrol, living longer and protecting our
environment.
It doesn't suit everyone, but with petrol heading back towards $1.30
per litre, and climate change threatening, it's a great way to help
yourself and help our community.
So, if you're thinking about doing something different, I'd suggest you
follow the famous advice from one of Margaret Thatcher's ministers.
On yer bike!
LINDSAY TANNER is Labor finance spokesman and federal member for
Melbourne
P.S. Had a great day at the TT and then at the Boxing tonight. Get
down and see the fish on the Yarra for 10 minutes on the hour between
8pm and 11pm - very cute and free. The kiddies will love them. :D
--
SuzieB