Cycling in Melbourne Australia
Victorian Cycling Strategy (finally) released
Here 'tis:
$115M PLAN PAVES THE WAY FOR VICTORIA’S CYCLING FUTURE Monday, 23 March 2009
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/premier/$115m-plan-paves-the-way-for-...
Encouraging Victorians to ride their bikes and integrating new and existing cycling infrastructure into the transport network are key features of the $115 million Victorian Cycling Strategy, launched today by Premier John Brumby.
Mr Brumby released the strategy today with Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas at North Fitzroy where a new bike and pedestrian bridge will be built over the Merri Creek, linking two important cycling routes.
“The Victorian Government is taking action now to keep Melbourne moving, improving our transport network and providing more sustainable and accessible travel options for Victorians,” Mr Brumby said.
“This $115 million cycling strategy seeks to further establish cycling as a viable, sustainable, affordable and safe transport option, investing in projects to reduce congestion and better integrate bike infrastructure into our transport network.
“Since 1999 the Government has built 926 kilometres of paths and on-road facilities – that’s further than Melbourne to Sydney. This plan builds on that with infrastructure works to begin this year on projects across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.”
Mr Brumby said cycling infrastructure projects across the state included:
• Federation Trail Extension off-road path from Altona to Yarraville;
• Merri Creek Pipe Bridge linking the Merri Creek and Capital City trails;
• Mount Alexander Road on-road bicycle lanes;
• Bridge over Maroondah Highway connecting the Lilydale Warburton Trail
with the Lilydale Railway Station;
• On-road bicycle lanes in Mooroopna, Shepparton, Strathdale, Kilmore
and Ballarat; and
• Off-road paths in Bright, Wodonga, Ballarat and Geelong.
Mr Pallas said the Victorian Cycling Strategy delivered on the Government’s commitment in the Victorian Transport Plan to invest $115 million in cycling infrastructure and initiatives.
“It sets out a blueprint to increase cycling levels across Victoria by building a better bike network, developing a cycling culture, separating cyclists and other road users where possible, better integrating cycling with public transport and in land use planning,” Mr Pallas said.
Priority actions in the strategy include:
• Significantly improving the network within 10km of the CBD;
• Establishing a public bike hire scheme for Melbourne;
• Installing bike cages at 33 train stations by the end of 2009;
• Completing cycling networks in Central Activities Districts and
regional centres;
• Developing safe cycling programs in Victorian schools and launching a
“look out for cyclists” campaign to educate road users about cyclist
safety; and
• A review of cycling accident patterns to develop appropriate counter
measures.
Mr Pallas said developing cycling was not just about tackling congestion, but promoting greener, more sustainable and more affordable transport options.
“This cycling strategy aims to deliver a greater willingness among Victorian’s to use a bike for every day travel – to get to work, the shops and to visit family and friends,” he said.
“It’s not about replacing trains, buses, trams and cars, it’s about adding cycling to the list of viable transport options available to all Victorians.
“The benefits of cycling are numerous, including easing congestion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and encouraging our communities to use travel options that keep you fit and healthy.”
The Government’s ongoing cycling investment goes well beyond the $115 million commitment in the Victorian Transport Plan. This is on top of funding for new bike paths to be built along new road projects and upgrades, and a dedicated $4 million each year in the VicRoads budget.
The Victorian Cycling Strategy can be viewed at www.transport.vic.gov.au
$115M PLAN PAVES THE WAY FOR VICTORIA’S CYCLING FUTURE Monday, 23 March 2009
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/premier/$115m-plan-paves-the-way-for-...
Encouraging Victorians to ride their bikes and integrating new and existing cycling infrastructure into the transport network are key features of the $115 million Victorian Cycling Strategy, launched today by Premier John Brumby.
Mr Brumby released the strategy today with Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas at North Fitzroy where a new bike and pedestrian bridge will be built over the Merri Creek, linking two important cycling routes.
“The Victorian Government is taking action now to keep Melbourne moving, improving our transport network and providing more sustainable and accessible travel options for Victorians,” Mr Brumby said.
“This $115 million cycling strategy seeks to further establish cycling as a viable, sustainable, affordable and safe transport option, investing in projects to reduce congestion and better integrate bike infrastructure into our transport network.
“Since 1999 the Government has built 926 kilometres of paths and on-road facilities – that’s further than Melbourne to Sydney. This plan builds on that with infrastructure works to begin this year on projects across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.”
Mr Brumby said cycling infrastructure projects across the state included:
• Federation Trail Extension off-road path from Altona to Yarraville;
• Merri Creek Pipe Bridge linking the Merri Creek and Capital City trails;
• Mount Alexander Road on-road bicycle lanes;
• Bridge over Maroondah Highway connecting the Lilydale Warburton Trail
with the Lilydale Railway Station;
• On-road bicycle lanes in Mooroopna, Shepparton, Strathdale, Kilmore
and Ballarat; and
• Off-road paths in Bright, Wodonga, Ballarat and Geelong.
Mr Pallas said the Victorian Cycling Strategy delivered on the Government’s commitment in the Victorian Transport Plan to invest $115 million in cycling infrastructure and initiatives.
“It sets out a blueprint to increase cycling levels across Victoria by building a better bike network, developing a cycling culture, separating cyclists and other road users where possible, better integrating cycling with public transport and in land use planning,” Mr Pallas said.
Priority actions in the strategy include:
• Significantly improving the network within 10km of the CBD;
• Establishing a public bike hire scheme for Melbourne;
• Installing bike cages at 33 train stations by the end of 2009;
• Completing cycling networks in Central Activities Districts and
regional centres;
• Developing safe cycling programs in Victorian schools and launching a
“look out for cyclists” campaign to educate road users about cyclist
safety; and
• A review of cycling accident patterns to develop appropriate counter
measures.
Mr Pallas said developing cycling was not just about tackling congestion, but promoting greener, more sustainable and more affordable transport options.
“This cycling strategy aims to deliver a greater willingness among Victorian’s to use a bike for every day travel – to get to work, the shops and to visit family and friends,” he said.
“It’s not about replacing trains, buses, trams and cars, it’s about adding cycling to the list of viable transport options available to all Victorians.
“The benefits of cycling are numerous, including easing congestion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and encouraging our communities to use travel options that keep you fit and healthy.”
The Government’s ongoing cycling investment goes well beyond the $115 million commitment in the Victorian Transport Plan. This is on top of funding for new bike paths to be built along new road projects and upgrades, and a dedicated $4 million each year in the VicRoads budget.
The Victorian Cycling Strategy can be viewed at www.transport.vic.gov.au
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Cory on -
"Mr Brumby released the strategy today with Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas at North Fitzroy where a new bike and pedestrian bridge will be built over the Merri Creek, linking two important cycling routes."
And how did they get to North Fitzroy? eh?
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Permalink Reply by ChrisS on -
I was at the Transport and Livability launch thingo in May 2006 and can report that the peloton of pollies simply 'appeared' from around the bend past where Clarke Street meets the Main Yarra Trail near the Collingwood Children Farm in Abbotsford.
Spot the bonehead
How they all got to the intended destination this morning? I'm willing to lay bets, but as one is obviously off the invite and Christmas card list I can't really confirm or deny what form of transport was actually involved. Although it's fortunate we all missed out on the recent Reservoir Dogs photo shoot on Johnston Street. That one was an absolute howler.
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Permalink Reply by ChrisS on
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Seriously tho, are both the traffic and ped lights red? Have closer look in the upper lefthand corner.
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Permalink Reply by RobE on
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lots of good points in the MR, but one seriously bad point from Tim Pallas, which seems in legal terms "obiter" (ie mindless ramblings of the adjudicator) , it's this little gem from our este
(a)emed Roads Minister and I quote " “It sets out a blueprint to increase cycling levels across Victoria by building a better bike network, developing a cycling culture, separating cyclists and other road users where possible, better integrating cycling with public transport and in land use planning,” Mr Pallas said. "
the words of concern are underlined.... if we allow this or any Roads Minister to think that the solution to any cycling issue is separation we are doomed... the safest place for riders on bicycles is on the roadway, not paths, not shared paths, not dedicated paths, but on the road... Mr Pallas should be talking about building skill levels and developing a better approach from all road users to one another than by aiming to surrepticiously move bicycles onto dangerous paths where they won't bother his precious motoring voter who clogs the roads, causes pollution , demands expensive infrastructure for parking and travelling along and is happy to use a motorised vehicle for unnecessary short trips, for single use personal transport, as a lethal weapon and object of assault, and as a defence mechanism...
...
a full copy of the strategy can be downloaded here
the following image represents how many bicycle riders would prefer separation to be stated, putting cars only lanes in perspective, because this is how it seems to riders ( with thanks to the Bicycle Alliance of Washington)
A neat summary on separation is made by Nat at Chainguard in her view :-
" I always wonder what bikelane--especially separated bikelane--and sidepath advocates see as the eventual end state.
Because unless they're angling for an eventual complete network of "bike roads" that go everywhere--literally, not just approximately--that regular roads go, and yet somehow without having many--or any--intersections with those
regular roads, I just don't see how it can possibly be an improvement over just using the existing roads, and educating motorists to behave themselves. And even if that's what they're angling for, is there any reason to believe that we could ever get there?
-Nat "
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Permalink Reply by Angus on -
I agree, the answer is not building more bike paths, how many of us actually use them to get to work. As long as money is being spent on bike paths and not on 'on road' facilities some motorists will believe that cyclists do not belong on the roads and will abuse us and tell us to get on the bike paths where we belong. After all the majority of cyclists use the on road facilities so making these safer, more clearly separated and prominent would surely have a greater impact on the commuter set. However ANY money that is being spent on cycling facilities is money well spent!
Angus
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they left out a definitive statement on Monitoring and review, just a waffle that they will one day do it... ech...
Is it because they are scared of the results?… will it will be another nail in the coffin of the car industry, the oil industry, the coal fired power station industry? Will it end HG transport as they want us to know it, and force a dramatic rethink on infrastructure for cars used for single occupant personal mobility? Will it add to the pressure to force them to actually do some good for this state and move on from dinosaur
mentality and develop new sustainable industry that is the elephant in the room… For sensible transport and sustainable living folk, bicycles are their flagship, and the outcomes from cycling are staggering on public health, environmental benefit and saved expenditure on beaurocracy, industry propping and some militant union appeasement..
the sensible people see the future and it doesn’t include dinosaurs who hide behind denial or a repressed reality. R
© 2012 Created by DamianM.
