Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?

The Age: Cyclists still find their path blocked by bureaucracy
http://tinyurl.com/2ydjo8

It's time bikes were seen as an ally to help tackle congestion.

VICTORIAN cyclists have failed to win the State Government's
affections. While we have a minister for public transport and another
for roads, cyclists are rarely given much of a look-in.

This is in sharp contrast to the Government's rhetoric on the matter.

Roads Minister Tim Pallas, who has responsibility for cyclists, spoke
freely in Parliament one February night last year about the virtues of
cycling.

"Cycling is a wonderful undertaking, and it is increasingly becoming
not only a social and environmentally responsible activity but an
important way in which to deal with our congestion issues," he said.

He has also ridden from Williamstown to work at Spring Street to show
his support for bikes. But that's where the good news for cyclists
ends.

For example, Pallas scoffed at plans by Melbourne City Council to
transform St Kilda Road into a bicycle-friendly boulevard.

"People have a right to drive their cars, and they have a right to do
it without being impeded up on … for the purposes of looking after 2000
cyclists," Pallas said in March. He was likewise scathing of plans for a
car-free day in the city.

Most recently, the Government banned bikes on trains during peak hours.
Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky defended the ban as a "commonsense

approach", but it is not common sense to rectify a public transport
shortage by banning some people from using it. And it's not as though
we're talking about a small interest group: Bicycle Victoria says there
are 1.2 million bicycles in Melbourne, of which 70,000 are used each day
on average. That's a lot of people who could be adding to car congestion
or packed trains.

Bike riders shouldn't have to sneak around on back streets, through
parks and along footpaths at odd hours just to make sure no one is
inconvenienced.

The State Government's position suggests that it is a contest between
cars and bikes for space on the roads, between bikes and commuters for
space on trains. This is wrong. Bikes help relieve congestion on the
roads and on public transport — they should be the greatest friend to
the roads and public transport ministers.

It's not just the verbal support that is lacking for bikes in
Melbourne, which is losing ground as one of the world's most liveable
cities. Few dollars are being spent by the State Government encouraging
bike use.

Anyone who has visited Brussels, Amsterdam or Copenhagen recently would
know Melbourne's bike network is rudimentary at best.

When the Government announced its $10.5 billion 10-year transport plan
in 2006, less than 1% was allocated to helping cyclists.

With Melbourne's population expected to overtake Sydney within 10
years, courtesy of 1000 new arrivals each week, bikes will have to play
a bigger role in tackling congestion.

The Government should ensure there are uninterrupted "bike highways"
into the centre of the city from north, east and west — easier for motor
vehicles and bicycles.

Since 2001, 53 cyclists have been killed on Victoria's roads, another
5576 have been injured, 1702 seriously.

A Melbourne City Council study in October reported the number of
cyclists entering central Melbourne each day had doubled in the past
year, but less than half of cyclists felt safe.

Even if the State Government does nothing to encourage more people to
ride to work, health concerns, road congestion, booming petrol prices
and a cramped and unreliable public transport system will send people to
their local bike shop in droves.

It is time bikes were not treated as an adversary by the Brumby
Government and seen as an ally to help tackle congestion and improve
fitness and Melbourne's liveability.

Jason Dowling is The Sunday Age's state politics reporter.


--
cfsmtb

In aus.bicycle on Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:35:57 -0800 (PST)
wrote:
On Jan 13, 1:01 am, cfsmtb cfsmtb.332...@no-
mx.forums.cyclingforums.com wrote:

"People have a right to drive their cars..."

Oh, really?

Life, liberty, and convenient waterproof personal transport?

Makes about as much sense as "pursuit of happiness"...

Zebee

On Jan 14, 1:04 pm, Zebee Johnstone wrote:
Makes about as much sense as "pursuit of happiness"...

Yeh, I always thought that particular goal says a lot about the
nation. As far as I can see happiness is a symptom of a life well
rounded and productive rather than an end in itself.