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

YarraBUG Meetings for 2007
Yarra Council Bicycle Advisory Committee Meetings for 2007
Gipps Street Steps Update
Video Ezy Site
The Steinbecks Host Melbourne’s First Bike Only Gig
Celluloid Cycles - A Festival of Bicycles on Film
MBTC Mad Ride - April 1 2007
Palm Sunday Ride
Bicycles in the News: Modern Mechanix: The Bicycle Comes Back

ISSUES

YarraBUG Meetings for 2007
Our meetings are held 7.30pm every 3rd Tuesday, at Suede Bar, 284 Smith Street, Collingwood. Meeting dates for 2007: 20 March, 17 April, 15 May, 19 June, 17 July, 21 August, 18 September, 16 October, 20 November, 18 December. All welcome!

Topics for our next meeting tomorrow night will include YarraBUG administration, banking, incorporation and a draft submission for the Clifton Hill Rail Project. Also we’ll do a review of recent events that YarraBUG has been involved with, including the Sustainable Living Festival, Celebrate Yarra Festival, Bicycle Victoria Bike Counts and Bike Path Discovery Day (see pic above!)

Yarra Council Bicycle Advisory Committee Meetings (BAC) for 2007
Next meeting dates for 2007: 27 June, 29 August and 31 October. The April meeting is cancelled due to Anzac Day and December TBA. The City of Yarra’s Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) meets six times per year. The BAC’s role is to provide advice to the Councillors and Council staff about the development of bicycle infrastructure in the City of Yarra. The BAC is chaired by a Councillor, currently Kathleen Maltzahn and resourced by the Council’s Transport Unit. Most meetings are held at 6.30pm, Meeting Room 1, Richmond Town Hall, although these are subject to change. Please contact Richard Smithers (Transport Coordinator, City of Yarra) for further details: ph (03) 9205-5739, mob 0437 355 821, email: smitherr@yarracity.vic.gov.au

Gipps Street Steps Update
At the February Yarra Council BAC meeting, it was discussed that further action was required to prompt further development for plans of the proposed ramp and bridge construction by Parks Victoria and local government. YarraBUG will contact relevant state government ministers and Parks Victoria to this effect.

Video Ezy Site
This site on the Linear Park shared path has been subject to much community consultation and action by MorelandBUG and YarraBUG. (See YarraBUG October News) YarraBUG has received correspondence from Moreland Councils mayor that states the area is now under “review”. Along with Moreland BUG, we will monitor any further developments that affect shared path access.

EVENTS & RIDES

The Steinbecks Host Melbourne’s First Bike Only Gig
31 March 2007 4pm, Brunswick Velodrome (Just past CERES on the Merri Creek Bike Path) Usually when you think of Rock & Roll on the road it’s trucks and roadies and denim and bulging mid riffs. Time to think again. Ahead of the April release of their new album Far From the Madding Crowd, Melbourne pop disciples The Steinbecks will play this bike access-only, free gig at the Brunswick Velodrome, past CERES heading North on the Merri Creek Bike Path. Everything will be transported by bikes! To provide inspiration to others and to publicise bike events the ride, set up and performance will be filmed for editing into a later Steinbecks/bike promo video clip. The band will play a 45-minute set. It’s BYO picnic and drinks. There will be a free bike repair stall, staffed by the good folk from Bike Fix, and other fun bike related stuff. For more information contact Joel Meadows 9429 2193 or info@thesteinbecks.net.au
www.microindie.com/steinbecks

Celluloid Cycles - A Festival of Bicycles on Film
From Tim: We’re back for 07 with a barrow-load of new films about bicycles and the people who ride them. The 2nd Annual Celluloid Cycles Literary Award, some drinks, some food, some tunes, kindred spirits. In the heart of Melbourne town. Date: March 26 - April 1 2007 Where: Kaleide Theatre, RMIT University, Swanston Street, Melbourne (b/w La Trobe St and the City Baths) The Kaleide Theatre is located diagonally opposite Melbourne Central Station. Trams travel along both Swanston St and La Trobe St. There is space galore to lock bikes out the front.

MBTC Mad Ride - April 1 2007
The Melbourne Bicycle Touring Club hosts the 2007 Melbourne Autumn Day Tour! This is a day tour - not a race! Early entries have closed but you can still enter online to save the hassle of doing it on the day. You will need to collect your rider information sheet from the Buffalo Sports Stadium in Woodend before you leave on the ride. Why not come along and join the fun? Choose one of 3 delightful routes. All are within the Macedon Ranges region, an easy hour’s drive from Melbourne. Where do you start? Buffalo Sports Stadium, Tylden Rd, Woodend (Melway 509, G 9) strictly from 8:30am – 10am.

Palm Sunday Ride
From Jessica Morrison ICAN Director - Australia: Palm Sunday is the traditional day for peace and anti-nuclear events, and this year we are inviting people and groups to ride to the events. This year Palm Sunday falls on April Fools Day – Sunday 1st April - so we are using the theme “Nuclear Fool Cycle”. We invite your group to join and support us by meeting and cycling together to the Treasury Gardens. You may consider decorating your bikes with “nuclear fool cycle” themes. For more information see www.nuclearfoolsday.org, please contact Jessica on Jessica.morrison@mapw.org.au or 0431 519 577

Bicycles in the News
Modern Mechanix: The Bicycle Comes Back. This article was first published in Popular Science in July, 1936. Actually, the bicycle never went away and is gaining in popularity everyday in 2007! Check the Wheels of Justice site for more bicycle advocacy news.

Comments(0)

As previously mentioned in YarraBUG November 2006 news, the Department of Infrastructure (DoI) are conducting public consultations into the rail duplication between Clifton Hill and Westgarth Station to improve the Hurstbridge & Greensborough lines.

Last year YarraBUG was consulted by DoI regarding the new bridge and it’s impact upon cyclists in the area, as part of the Merri Creek shared path will be closed during construction.

During the Community Display Evening last week at Northcote Town Hall, the suggestion of provision for a shared pedestrian/cyclist bridge was received very favourably by local residents, representatives from DoI and Yarra Council and local member MP Fiona Richardson.

As a proposed shared ped/cyclist bridge is *not* currently included in the existing plans, we need as much public assistance and lobbying as possible to bring this proposal to the table for consideration.

A basic outline of our YarraBUG submission for shared ped/cycling access would include a similar construction to existing infrastructure at Gardiners Creek Bridge, to be constructed between Westgarth St (Northcote) and John Street (Clifton Hill) Steve & I am currently working on a detailed submission to DoI and would appreciate any input and suggestions from anyone who would benefit from improved access to this area, as for one example, it would create an safer alternative to the pitchpoint at High St/Queens Parade.

Please refer to the DoI link here if you are not familar with the Clifton Hill Rail Project. You can also view the concept designs at the Collingwood Leisure Centre in Hoddle Street, Clifton Hill.

I have three spare feedback forms from the Community Display Evening if people would like to have a copy, but please ensure you view the concept designs first. The forms need to be completed and returned by Friday 23 March.

In addition to the community consultations - DoI have organised a Community Site Tour *this* Thursday, 15th March from 6.30pm. Meet at the corner of Urquhart Street and High Street in Westgarth.

Due to safety reasons, DoI require prior registration from anyone who is planning to attend this site tour. Please register via calling 1800 724 500 or email: railprojectenquiries@doi.vic.gov.au

cheers,

Chris

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