Merri-bek BUG

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

The Teddy Bear’s Picnic Ride is on this Saturday (March 19).

Meeting point: 11:30am at CERES Café (Lee Street, Brunswick East). The ride departs CERES at 12 noon.

Description: Bring a bike, picnic goodies, good weather and a teddy bear mascot. We will ride 5 km at a meandering pace from CERES to Coburg Lake via the Merri Creek Trail and enjoy a picnic by the lake.

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In case you haven’t already noticed, there are works happening along the Upfield Bike path at the corner of Park Street and the Upfield path on the north side along the shared path. Works commenced at some point yesterday and is still in progress.

Please take care when travelling through this area as there is only enough space for one cyclist or pedestrian to pass at a time.

The Moreland Energy Foundation is running a sustainable transport ideas competition, prices include vintage bicycles, a folding bike, car share vouchers and a bike trailer… check it out here.

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

Part of Moonee Ponds Creek Shared Path near Strathmore Primary School will be closed from 21 February to end of May 2011 to improve the path.

The alternative route for walkers and cyclists will be the Strathnaver Reserve Access Road, Mascoma Street and Odin Street. Please refer to the
Moonee Ponds Creek Shared Path Detour Route Map (PDF).

Please be advised this route is also shared with motorists and is busy at the start and end of the school day, approximately 8:30 to 9 am and 3:15 to 3:45.

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For anyone using the Merri Creek or Capital City trail near Dights Falls:

Cyclists and pedestrians should be aware that the bike path between Dights Falls and Turner Street in Abbotsford will be closed until early next week.

Increased river flows which covered the riverside path after heavy rains have recently subsided, leaving behind significant amounts of debris.

The bike path has been blocked in a number of places by fallen trees, branches and even a stray boat.

Work began to start clearing the path on Friday 11 February.

The path is expected to be closed until early next week.

Other sections of the bike path along the Merri Creek and Yarra River, while not closed, are heavily covered with silt and mud so cyclists and pedestrians should be mindful of the slippery conditions.

http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/Dights-Falls-bike-path.html

The first BUG meeting for 2011 will be held on Thursday, January 27 at the Edinburgh Castle Hotel (681 Sydney Road, Brunswick).

The meeting starts at 7.30 pm and will finish around 9.00 pm. Food and drinks can be purchased there. Members and guests are welcome!

If you have any questions you would like Nicholas or Simon from council to answer at the meeting please send them your question via email prior to the meeting so they can prepare themselfes better. Their email adresses are nelliot@moreland.vic.gov.au and sstainsby@moreland.vic.gov.au.

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Dean is missing his brew bike/trike — last seen at his house which is near the corner of The Grove & Nicholson St. in Coburg.

If you see anything that looks like this (fairly distinctive) three wheel keg mover, please email Dean at edeano77@gmail.com.

Apologies for the late posting of this detour news!

There will be a road closure at the intersection of Bakers Road and the Upfield Railway line in North Coburg (Melway 17 G8). Cyclists using the bike path will be detoured around the site.

Duration: Melbourne Water advises the works could last up to 12 weeks

Start: 5 November 2010

Council regrets the late notice. Council was only informed that the works would be going ahead 2 weeks ago. The late notice is due to coordination issues with the rail operator and/or VicTrack.

If you have any questions, contact Kirsten Lingard at Melbourne Water on 1800 096 546.

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