Merri-bek BUG

Merri-bek Bicycle User Group

Archive for the 'Advocacy' Category

Next meeting and the Moreland Bicycle Strategy

Don’t forget that the Draft Moreland Bicycle Strategy is available and comments and feedback are due to the Moreland Council on Wednesday
1 December.

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!

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The Moreland Bicycle Strategy 2010 is now available for public comment

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.

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Ride to Work in Moreland

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.

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Meet State Election Candidates – meeting # 1

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

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Moreland Council Proposed Budget

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
.

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Moreland Council: ‘Be Safe, Be Seen’

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

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Integrating cycling with public transport

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.

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The Brunswick East Shimmy works description and map

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:

Shimmy works plan.jpg

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Bike counters wanted for Super Tuesday

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

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Spokes in the Wheel: refugee bike program looking for volunteers

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

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