From Hansard on October 26, 2011 (PDF):

Moreland Bicycle User Group

Ms CAMPBELL (Pascoe Vale) — Congratulations to the Moreland Bicycle User Group (BUG) for its great work in promoting healthy and clean-energy transport. Its work assists all Moreland cyclists, from those for whom it is their principal transport to those who enjoy being recreational cyclists. Its website and email communication keeps everyone informed of current and future events. Thanks to Julia Mischke, whose emails keep us informed, and to all those at the Moreland BUG committee for their commitment. Thanks to those who work at Moreland City Council and dovetail in with local cyclists, particularly the infrastructure team headed by Nerina di Lorenzo, who has completed the ‘shovel ready’ plan for the final link of the Upfield shared pathway. Thanks to Sebastian Motta, whose work has addressed safety width and beautification around the Western Ring Road, which has been widened. When partnership, hard work and a comparatively small amount of funding all combine, sustainable and healthy cycling transport occurs.

The next big project is the Craigieburn rail corridor bike path, which is the next project for the Moreland BUG. The Moreland BUG, Moreland City Council and the Department of Transport all require action to bring this great idea to fruition. Because of the work by Moreland
City Council’s infrastructure team, detailed designs are available for Department of Transport staff when they are ready to action a rail corridor project. Congratulations to Cr Kathleen Matthews-Ward, whose vision and persistence taught us that it was possible, and to Paul McKay and Rod Overall, who showed up the pitfalls and solutions.

Banksia Gardens Community Centre in Broadmeadows is seeking enthusiastic community members to form a small sociable volunteer team to establish a bicycle recycling and repair hub.

The Broadmeadows Bicycle Hub is a volunteer-run bicycle recycling and repair centre. As well as teaching and supporting local residents to repair and maintain their own bicycles, it will also recycle old bikes and sell them at heavily discounted prices. The aim is promote cycling in the Broadmeadows community to provide more access and mobility options as well as healthier lifestyles.The initiative will rely on forming a small sociable volunteer team to manage and run the hub.

Full training will be given and ongoing support will be provided by the CERES Bike Shed and Banksia Gardens Community Centre. We will be hosting a Volunteer Information Evening on Wednesday 9th November from 6:30-8pm at Banskia Gardens Community Centre (71-81 Pearcedale Parade, Broadmeadows). We will provide food and drink on the evening as well. Everyone welcome.

To acknowledge the day, Moreland City Council is hosting a Ride to Work Day community breakfast in Victoria Mall, Coburg (Melways 29, H1) between 7:30 and 9:00 am on the day.

If your commute to work doesn’t get you past Victoria Mall, check out the BV website to find a Ride to Work Day breakfast near you.

And don’t forget to register at https://ride2work.com.au/rtw/. One lucky registrant can win a signed and framed Cadel Evans BMC jersey as a reward!

If you are thinking about riding to work into the city on that day but are not sure how to do it you can meet up with BUG member Ross Millward who is happy to accompany you. Just send an email to committee@lists.morelandbug.org to take up his offer.
]]> http://www.morelandbug.org/2011/10/665/feed 0 http://www.morelandbug.org/2011/04/568 http://www.morelandbug.org/2011/04/568#comments Sat, 02 Apr 2011 03:05:03 +0000 gcross http://www.morelandbug.org/2011/04/568 This weekend marks the end of daylight savings.
It will be getting darker earlier, which means your ride home from work will soon be in twilight or at night.
When the clocks go back, its time to put the bike lights on.

This weekend is an ideal time to do a quick check to see if you are ready to ride at night.

• Do you have front and back lights?
• Do they work?
• Are they still bright after they’ve been on for a few minutes? – An LED light with flat batteries will start out bright but quickly fade.
• Do you have reflectors?

To meet road rules for riding at night your bike will need to have bright front and rear light visible from 200m and a rear reflector.
If your bike lights aren’t up to scratch and new batteries don’t do the trick … its time to pop into your local bike shop and get some new lights.

To make it easy, Moreland City Council, in partnership with Avanti Superstore (Brunswick), Lygon Cycles, Rays Bicycles (Brunswick), Commuter Cycles, and Velo Cycles is offering you a huge 20% off selected bike lights during the month of April in the ‘Clocks Back, Lights On” bike lights promotion.

Simply print out the attached voucher and take it to a participating bike shop to claim your discount.

It’s also a good idea to wear bright clothing when you ride to make it easier for other road users to see you.
I keep a hi-viz vest in my pannier and pop it on over my day clothes when I ride home, but there are many more stylish options. When you’re at the bike shop have a look at the range of fashionable reflective wristbands or trouser cuffs.

See you out on the road

Simon Stainsby
Sustainable Transport Officer
Moreland Council
9240 1168

Submissions are due by the March 25th and are restricted to residents of Moreland city council, sorry. Good luck.

We are in need of some people who would like to help us out on the day!

If you want to give a hand (as little as one hour is enough) please email Julia and let her know your preferred time you would like to help and also if you would like to help with the stall or the bike parking.

It’s that time of year when we start pulling together the cycling count. We did it last year with the Moreland council and it was hoot so we are saddling up again.

Paul has updated the website, so if you can spare a couple of hours on the morning of Tuesday March 1 (between 7am and 9am), that would be just fabulous.

We need 30 counters — click here to register!

You can find out more about the Bike Count at the BV website.

The BUG will be submitting a response, so if you have any comments could you either post them to the list (MorelandBUG@googlegroups.com),
send them to the committee (committee@lists.morelandbug.org) or come to the next meeting where we will be discussing the Strategy.

The next meeting, which will be the last BUG meeting for this year, will be on Thursday 25 November at the Edinburgh Castle Hotel (681 Sydney Road, Brunswick – in the back meeting room).

The meeting starts at 7.30 pm and will finish around 9.00 pm. Food and drinks can be purchased there and members and guests are welcome!
]]> http://www.morelandbug.org/2010/11/512/feed 0 http://www.morelandbug.org/2010/10/506 http://www.morelandbug.org/2010/10/506#comments Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:58:55 +0000 gcross http://www.morelandbug.org/2010/10/506 News from Simon Stainsby, the Sustainable Transport Officer at Moreland Council:

The Moreland Bicycle Strategy 2010 is now available for public comment.

Copies are available for download from the council website.

A copy of the strategy, along with all the appendices (in .doc format) is available as a .zip file upon request.

Please have a look, and let me know what you think.
Formal responses can be submitted via email (to info@moreland.vic.gov.au) or via mail (locked bag 10 Moreland 3058) before 1 December 2010.
]]> http://www.morelandbug.org/2010/10/506/feed 0 http://www.morelandbug.org/2010/10/496 http://www.morelandbug.org/2010/10/496#comments Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:55:02 +0000 gcross http://www.morelandbug.org/2010/10/496 Spring is finally hear, daylight savings is upon us and it’s a great time to be riding.
It’s also time for Ride to Work Day, that annual celebration of commuter cycling.

This year Ride to Work Day falls on Wednesday 13 October (Next Wednesday).

Moreland Council is hosting a Ride to Work Day community breakfast in Victoria Mall, Coburg (Mel 29, H1) between 7:30 and 9:00 on Wednesday 13 October.

Everyone who attends goes in the running to win:

• One of ten bike light sets – Thanks to RoadSafe Inner North West and
• A full bike service (labour and parts to the value of $200) – Thanks to Commuter Cycles.

There will be free food – and free coffees thanks to the Coburg Traders Association.

Ride to Work Day is always a lot of fun, so drop by, grab a feed and enjoy the talk bike stuff with fellow cyclists and Council staff.

Don’t forget to register.

By registering you go in the running to win a bike worth over $2000.00. You will also be counted as being a part of the big day, and will help make the event a success.

Regards

Simon Stainsby
Sustainable Transport Officer
Moreland Council
9240 1168

PS: If you can’t make it to the Coburg breakfast, Click here to find the ride to work day breakfast near you.
For example, East Brunswick residents may wish to check out the Nicholson St / Capital City Trail breakfast hosted by Velo Cycles.
]]> http://www.morelandbug.org/2010/10/496/feed 0 http://www.morelandbug.org/2010/08/458 http://www.morelandbug.org/2010/08/458#comments Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:14:37 +0000 phuong http://www.morelandbug.org/?p=458 Meet State Election Candidates – Brunswick & Pascoe Vale
Meeting # 1 – ALP Candidates – Jane Garrett & Christine Campbell
7:30pm, Thursday 26th August 2010
Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Brunswick
(in the private dining room out back)
RSVP: ms.phuong.l@gmail.com

Dear Moreland BUG,

Come hear from your state political candidates on their stance on cycling issues.

At the Moreland BUG we believe there is a lot that can be achieved for cyclists and cycling infrastructure by state government. We have therefore invited the candidates from the major parties contesting the upcoming November state election to come and meet with the BUG.

It will be an opportunity to hear from each of the candidates and to put questions and raise issues of concern.

As the Moreland local council area is largely covered by two state electorates we have asked the candidates from Brunswick and Pascoe Vale to come and meet with us.

On Thursday August 26 Jane Garrett and Christine Campbell, ALP candidates, will join us at the Edinburgh Castle at 7:30pm.

We have also invited candidates from The Greens and the Liberal Party to meet with us during proceeding months and more information will follow as the parties confirm their availability.

The response to the Local Council draft budget was fantastic in achieving better outcomes for Moreland cyclists. This is another great opportunity to demonstrate to our state government the importance of cyclist issues in our area. So please put the date in you diary and come along.

For those that have not come before we meet in the back meeting room at the Edinburgh Castle from 7:30 to 9pm.

Yours Sincerely,
Stephen & Phuong

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

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.

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

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

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.

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 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.