Yarra Bicycle Users Group: advocacy & awareness in Melb’s inner northern suburbs

Next YarraBUG Meeting
Yarra Trail Access in Alphington
Cyclovia this Sunday!
Introducing … Bikely

Next YarraBUG Meeting
The next YarraBUG meeting will be on 20th June. Our meetings are held 7.30pm every 3rd Tuesday, at Suede Bar, 284 Smith Street, Collingwood. All welcome for a friendly chat, meal and beverage.

Yarra Trail Access in Alphington
A local resident has raised concerns about the building of what appears to be fences which will block the walking and mountain biking track along the north side of the Yarra River immediately downstream of Chandler Highway Bridge. They write:

To my understanding there has been access along this section of the River for many decades. It affords a walking and cycling path from the bottom of Alphington Street all the way to the wetlands and up to LaTrobe Golf Course giving direct public access, via the land owner by AMCOR (who has in a public spirited way provided access and improvement to the public) and also the land at the bottom of Yarraford Avenue.

Has anyone cycled or walked through this area recently and can report back what activity or building work is taking place? Is this access now blocked or has it been resolved? Please contact us via yarrabug-owner@yahoogroups.com or call Chris: 0407 825 467

Cyclovia this Sunday!
Cyclovia means life to the street! Cyclovia Sydney Road - Moreland, the first of its kind in Australia, will be held on Sunday 28 May 2006 from 8:00am to 2:00pm. The Cyclovia Sydney Road - Moreland can be accessed by tram, train, walking, cycling or driving. Cyclovia: What is it? Sydney Road, between Bell Street and Brunswick Road, will be open to people and closed to cars and trucks for 6 hours. Cars can still cross Sydney Road at main intersections - trams will operate as normal.

From EV Transport Revolution news:
For all those of you who are planning to be on Sydney Rd for the TREMENDOUSLY EXCITING Cyclovia this Sunday, and would like to try to get your face on telly or in the paper, head to the Brunswick Town Hall at midday. This is where there’ll be the “official opening” and the organisers are hoping to have lots of smiling faces and bikes around at the time. If 15 minutes of fame isn’t enough enticement, there will be Colombian dancers at there from 11-12, and more entertainment after the opening.

Introducing … Bikely
What is Bikely? Put very simply, Bikely helps cyclists share knowledge of good bicycle routes. It can be quite tricky traversing a car dominated city such as Melbourne on a bike, particularly when you need to travel an unknown route to a new destination. But the chances are, someone has cycled that way before you.

Bikely makes it easy for him or her to show you the best way. Bikely is very young right now. What it needs more than anything is people like you to submit your favorite bike paths. As we collect more and more routes, Bikely can become an incredibly useful resource for the cycling community!

YarraBUG Meeting Tuesday 16th May

Gipps Street Update + Announcement this Sunday 14th May

Reconstruction of Main Yarra Trail – MacRobertson Bridge to Gardiners Creek

Uno Clothing Sales Position

Ride On Dinner - Friday 12th May

Melbourne Memorial Ride of Silence 20th May

Cyclovia on Sydney Road is coming - Sunday 28th May

Head for a Cure - Sunday 28th May

Great Western Cape Bike Ride 2006

Australasian College of Road Safety National Conference: Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety

YarraBUG Meeting Tuesday 16th May
Our next meeting is at 7.30pm Tuesday 16th May at Suede Bar, 284 Smith Street Collingwood. Back on this months agenda, we are looking at a ride calendar, membership & possible incorporation for the BUG. Don’t worry if these topics sound like a lot to discuss in one evening, but we have plenty of time to discuss and workshop at a later date. We will be also discussing the cyclist access issues to Mayors Park, the Pidgon / Canning Street Roundabout and reviewing the YarraBUG proposal to Yarra Council. Back to BUG adminstration, if you have any prior experience with community/sports organisations and would like to contribute your ideas, please contact us: yarrabug-owner@yahoogroups.com or call Chris on ph: 0407 825 467

Gipps Street Steps Update
As you can read in the April Yarra Council BAC Minutes (refer to link below), there’s been much progress made on Gipps Street Steps and Brewery Path. This Sunday at 11am there will be an important announcement at the site of the Gipps St steps. So feel free to come along and be part of a photo opportunity for the media throng and celebrate a big achievement for all local cyclists. See you there!

:: Yarra Council April Bicycle Advisory Committee Minutes

:: Leaflet used for Gipps Street Campaign at Bicycling Australia Show 2004 and YarraBUG Campaign Day on Sunday March 20th 2005

:: YarraBUG December ‘05 News

:: YarraBUG Campaign Review October ‘05

:: Bicycle Victoria: Yarra Trail behind CUB brewery

Reconstruction of Main Yarra Trail – MacRobertson Bridge to Gardiners Creek
Justin Hanrahan from Yarra Council’s Open Space area gave a update on this path redevelopment at the Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting on April 19. The new asphalt path will be 4m wide in places and 3.5m in others. Justin can arrange for ramps to allow riders onto the Boulevard and off again at the eastern and western ends of the path as part of the project. Some trees will be removed but overall gain in tree numbers and some poles to be removed. The path duplication to be rationalized and the badly weathered timber bridges are to be removed. The entire work will take 10 weeks and expect to be completed by mid July 2006. Contact Justin Hanrahan you require further information, Ph: 9205 5725 / 0418 397 430 Email: hanrahaj@yarracity.vic.gov.au

:: Bicycle Victoria Detours and path closures

Uno Sales Position
From Kim Stanton: Cycling & Sports Clothing Outlet is looking for a full-time sales assistant to run the Elwood shop. Cycling and Sports is the ‘home’ of Uno cycling clothing, which is good quality and value for money. This role is full-time, however it could be shared between two people. We are hoping to fill this role within the next two weeks. Email Kim: kim@cyclingsports.com.au or ph: 0408 513 891
Read the position description here.

Invite: Ride On Dinner 5.30pm this Friday 12 May
The second Ride On Dinner: 5.30pm Friday 12 May start at the Canning St northern end of Carlton Gardens. No matter the weather, grab your cycle, lights and jacket to join an adventure with a mass of cyclists served a 3-course meal over the duration of an evening inner-city ride. The meal is a no-fuss fine fare to suit the season and please the tastebuds (no-meat no-dairy), just BYO drinks and a donation for the food. To help us make enough food to feed you and avoid missing out, tell us you and your fellow pedallers are coming by emailing: rideondinner@gmail.com. See the last Ride On Dinner (sorry you can’t taste it) at: http://rideondinner.blogspot.com

Melbourne Memorial Ride of Silence May 20th
On Saturday 20th May, the Ride of Silence will take place in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Assembly: 10am Federation Square footpath corner Flinders St & St Kilda Rd. Route: City CBD streets approx 5-8km time permitting, several loops of Swanston, Collins, Elizabeth Street and Bourke Street. Protocol: Two abreast, stop at red lights, obey all traffic laws, no corking, move slowly at speed of funeral procession, wear black armbands, wear any signage you think appropriate to stop disrespect against cyclists. Invite: friends, family, to attend and speak at finish, we aim to have media, celebrities and cycling advocates address at beginning and conclusion. Authorities are advised this is an apolitical, peaceful memorial occasion. Other cities feel free to join us in this moving tribute to the memories of our cycling kin. An initiative of Melbourne Wheels of Justice, Melbourne Ride of Silence and various Bicycle User Groups of Melbourne.

:: US Ride of Silence

:: Melb Ride of Silence Leaflet

Cyclovia Sydney Road - Moreland
From Paul McKay: This will be the first of its kind in Australia on Sunday 28 May 2006 from 8:00am to 2:00pm. We traveled to Bogotá and brought back our favorite project. In Bogotá they close a heap of roads each Sunday and have an average of 1.8m people pedaling, roller blading, walking and having fun on them – that’s around ¼ of the population. The first one in Melbourne will be in Moreland with the City of Moreland (who have been amazing) – just come – its free If you are avaliable to volunteer on the day, please go to the Cyclovia website for registration details and help out our friends in BrunswickBUG. Cyclovia means life to the street.

Head for a Cure
Elio Di Risio is organising a fundraising event that entails a bike ride around the Capitol City bike trail in Melbourne. The event is on Sunday 28th May 2006. The start point is Princess Park and this is where it finishes. So when you get back there will be a free sausage sizzle and a live band. At this point there will be an opportunity to discover the support network that is available for people who are touched by cancer. How does it work…….decorate that bike helmet go out and get some sponsors then on the day register. Then spend a couple hours on a pleasant ride around Melbourne … and when you get back enjoy the sausage sizzle … or more details refer to the sponsor form which can be downloaded from the Head for a Cure website. All funds raised will be donated to the Cancer Council Victoria. This is not just about the money - it’s also about increasing the awareness of cancer and how it touches more people that you think.

Great Western Cape Bike Ride
Have a sense of adventure? The Great Western Cape Bike Ride South Africa, is the cycling experience you will never forget. Imagine 9 days pedalling through the Klein Karoo with a full support crew and a host of good cycling company. Enjoy attentive on-road support, luggage transport, security and seven camping villages including meals, facilities, entertainment and a sensational atmosphere. Anyone can enter. We’ll even give you a bike to ride and keep. Sat 4th November – Sunday 12th November 2006

Australasian College of Road Safety National Conference: Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety
9 June 2006, Parliament House, Melbourne. From the site: The well-being of a society is critically linked to the health and safety of its citizens. Both Government and non-government agencies urge communities to become more socially engaged and more active physically. As well as the individual benefits that accrue, the result is a healthier and more socially cohesive society. Cycling and walking are both excellent ways of improving physical capability and health. Unlike motorised forms of transport, they make no contribution to environmental pollution, free up available road space and provide opportunities for group participation. However with increased levels of cycling and walking, the potential risk of involvement in a serious road crash also increases. Each year on Australia’s roads, over 250 pedestrians and cyclists die in crashes involving motor vehicles and some ten times this number are seriously injured. Conference program information here.