Moreland BUG

The Moreland City Council – Proposed Budget 2010/11 recommends a disappointing $3.49 per head expenditure on bike infrastructure. This is a significant decrease on previous years and much less than the modest $5 per head recommended by Bicycle Victoria.

If you think that the Council should spend more on cycling, now is the time to send a submission to the Council.

Details are available on the council website.

Note that submissions are accepted until Friday 9 July 2010.

It would be a good idea to send a copy of your submission to your local Councillor. Their contact details and profiles are available here.
It might be worth reminding them of their personal commitments to the environment, sustainability, climate change and healthy living and the Council Strategic Focus Areas of “A Sustainable & Just City, a Proud City, a Healthy & Educated Community, and a Responsive Organisation”.

Council will receive and hear all submissions at a Special Council meeting to be held on 12 July 2010 at the Municipal offices, Bell Street, Coburg commencing at 6pm. If you wish to be heard by Council
in support of your written submission, please state this clearly in your submission.

If you need ideas for your submission, you can see the 2009 Moreland
Bicycle Users Group submission.

Dear Moreland BUG members,

More people than ever are riding in Coburg, Brunswick and throughout the inner north of Melbourne. It’s great to see so many cyclists on the road. However, with the days getting shorter it’s time to check your batteries and upgrade your bike lights so you can ‘Be Safe, Be Seen’ cycling this winter.

To legally ride at night, your bike needs a bright front and rear light (visible from 200m) and a rear reflector.

Moreland Council and local bike shops are working together to make it easy for you to upgrade your lights.

Throughout the month of May you can get a massive 20% of a range of bike lights from Commuter Cycles, Lygon Cycles, My Mountain, Rays Bicycle Centre Brunswick and Velo Cycles.

Simply print attached voucher and take it to a participating store to claim you discount. Everyone who takes advantage of this offer also goes into the running to win a $300.00 cycling gift voucher. That’s just the thing for a new spray jacket, a complete bike service or maybe a new set of panniers.

Having trouble deciding which lights you need? Check out the Bicycle Victoria Bike Lights review http://www.bv.com.au/bikes-&-riding/91258/

Be safe and be seen on the road this winter.

Regards
Simon Stainsby
Sustainable Transport Officer
Moreland Council
9240 1168

The Victorian Department of Transport are looking to improve the carriage of bicycles on regional public transport. They have commissioned the Institute for Sensible Transport to carry out a technical evaluation of the current situation and suggestions for improvement.

To help the Government make improvements in this area, please take 5 minutes to fill out this survey. It is an opportunity to put forward your suggestions for making it easier to combine cycling with public transport.

The deadline for responses is the 24th April.

Courtesy of Chris Anderson and Nicholas Elliot, here is the route for the Brunswick East Shimmy, and work that needs to be done to improve the route:

Dear Moreland BUG bods

Bicycle Victoria will soon be going live with their registration page to sign up as a counter for Super Tuesday, their annual bike count, this year to be held on March 2nd.

They’re always looking for more counters and it’s a good thing to do. You need to be at your nominated spot from 7–9 am, and count away, watch the sun rise, and support cycling through recording the ever-increasing bike numbers. You can also help the Moreland BUG, if you nominate it for the $50 reward that can go to a club or school. This is Moreland BUG’s most important source of revenue, and keeps the group free from pesky membership fees.

This year when you register, you can chose which of their locations you want to count at – so first in, best positioned. The registration page goes live in early Feb.
Check it all out at http://www.bv.com.au/bike-futures/91111/.

Plus you get a very brightly coloured T-shirt.

If you can’t help out with the counting, at least look out for counters and give them a wave, ring your bell.

Happy cycling
Alisa

A program called Spokes in the Wheel, which operates out of Engineers Without Borders, is running a bike program for kids from Sudan living in Melbourne.

The program includes fixing up second hand bikes for the kids, and running learn to ride sessions. Spokes in the Wheel is looking for people who want to be involved in the program, either as bike fixers or learn to ride trainers; people are needed for the upcoming EWB conference on Friday 27th Nov, as well as in an ongoing capacity on Saturdays (bike ed in Dandenong and Braebrook) and Sundays (bike fixing at CERES Bikeshed).

For more info contact: spokesinthewheel@gmail.com

News from Kylie Huard, the Strategic Transport Planner at Moreland City Council:

Just wanted to let you know that we’ve been successful in our application for a $160,000 grant for the East Brunswick shimmy. This brings our bicycle budget to over $1 million this year! The route links Canning Street to Barrow Street via East Brunswick, and consists of a variety of treatments including refuges across Brunswick Road and Glenlyon Street, contraflow lanes, path widening and surface improvements and wayfinding. I just wanted to thank the BUG for their support with our submission.

Hume City Council is helping to facilitate the establishment of a Hume Community BUG.

The BUG will organise rides and social events, campaign and advocate for cyclists needs, and work to improve the local cycling network and generally promote cycling in the community. It is also a great way to meet other cyclists and make new friendships

The inaugural meeting of the Hume BUG will take place:

7pm, Wednesday 11th November 2009

Hume Global Learning Centre, 1079 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows (opposite the Broadmeadows train station)

A light dinner and refreshments will be served (please RSVP for catering purposes).

For more info and to RSVP, please email: cycling@hume.vic.gov.au

The City of Yarra has released their Draft Yarra Bicycle Strategy 2010-2015.

The deadline for submissions to the strategy ends this Thursday 22 October 2009. Please forward your comments to Council’s Co-ordinator Transport Mark Kulyk c/o Yarra City Council, PO Box 168, Richmond 3121 or at mark.kulyk@yarracity.vic.gov.au.

Wednesday 14 October 2009 is National Ride to Work Day, a day to celebrate cycling.

Across Australia, work places and community groups will host Ride to Work Day breakfasts to reward people who choose the healthy commute.

Last year Moreland City Council hosted a community breakfast in Victoria Mall which attracted around 100 cyclists. This year is going to be even bigger with community breakfasts in three locations across Moreland.

1. Capital City Trail: Velo Bike Hub – Cnr Nicholson Street and Capital City Trail

If you head down Nicholson Street or the back streets of Brunswick East, be sure to stop at the breakfast by Moreland City Council and Velo Bike Hub on the Capital City Trail, just near the intersection of Nicholson Street.

Stop for a muffin and coffee and chat to Council staff or one of the friendly Velo Bike Hub crew.

Over 700 cyclists pass through the Capital City Trail and Nicholson Street intersection on their way to work each day so this breakfast is bound to be a big one.

2. Commuter Cycles: 14 Prentice Street, Brunswick

If you live in Brunswick and head down the Upfield path to get to work, the closest breakfast site is at Commuter Cycles, on Prentice Street between Victoria and Albert Streets, just behind Brunswick Railway station.

Enjoy breakfast, chat to the staff about upcoming bike events and have your bike looked at by one of their mechanics.

If you need to leave your bike for a full service, ask about one of their courtesy bikes.

3. Victoria Mall, Coburg

If you live in Coburg or head down the Upfield path north of Bell Street, visit the main Council breakfast site in Victoria Mall.

We’ll be serving up a healthy breakfast and expect around 100 cyclists to stop, enjoy a pastry, fruit and a cup of coffee.

Come chat to Council staff about how we can improve cycling in your area. We are particularly interested in what Council can do to help encourage cycling in the northern parts of the municipality and want to include your suggestions as part of the Moreland Bike Plan Review

All sites have Moreland TravelSmart Maps available and information about choosing the right bike.