VeloSydney

This current NSW State Government is nothing more than a Boulevard of Broken Promises when it comes to cycling.

BikeSydney have published the following document, so you can read all about it.

The Critical Mass ride is on this Friday (30th June 06), and it is important that a good number of riders are there especially as it appears the State Government seems to be determined to take away the lanes in William St. So if you haven’t been on a Critical Mass ride for a while or have never been to one, come along and enjoy the ride.

Who knows it may be your last chance to ride up and down William St while the bike lanes exist!

Details are – Friday 30th June: Meet 5.30 pm Hyde Park Fountain (North Side)

Check out this fantastic article on a recent event in Portland (thanks Jonathon at BikePortland

Bike Summit taps energy and ideas for a bike-friendly future

There have been some small similar events here in the past (Fiona, Gabrielle Andrew?)

I think I’ll look into this next week. Any ideas on events? Who’d like to help?

Maybe for Bikeweek at the end of september? But i hate the rta association. Particularly now that they have cut virtually all bike funding. Hmm

Here is Phil’s very valuable comments. Everybody needs to read this one. Right on my wavelngth

There needs to be a major rethink about goals and objectives and how the current grand poobahs of cycling do business with Govt.

For example, we must abandon the big ticket cycling infrastructure projects that always end up on the cutting room floor (this just mirrors/shadows the automotive lobby groups roads growth fetish and proves that you become what you hate) in favour of smaller more entrepreneural goals.

I think the model needed is that based on something like the World Social Forum which was started and continues to be run opposite the World Economic Forum in Davos.

How about cyclists boycott Bike Week and run a series of counter events?

Given the nature of our current political environment I think the best way to register protest is to bring all stakeholders together outside of the formal governmental process.

Given the current state of play the timing could be right in making a political statement.

I continue to ask myself, why on earth would interested cycling stakeholders continue to deal with Govt/RTA when it’’s obvious that they are just transport’s favourite whipping boy?….unless of course they enjoy the constant pain, humiliation and sweet patitudes that mean nothing.

SHUN the Maya of Motorism!

Perform the Pedalpuja!

A nice article on the pedal taxis cruising around Sydney

and an article by Michael Duffy. It's interesting that they use portland as a city where public transport is declining. That's probably because Portland is such a fantastic place to ride your bike around, not because people are sitting in cars on freeways.

From Fiona Campbell

The RTA have now asked the Planning Minister for Approval for the changes, including the removal of the bike lanes on William St (and Craigend St & Kings Cross Road).

http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/register2006.asp#gma

Thanks to all of you who have written to the Premier, Roads Minister, or local member.  For those who haven't yet – see below, but you'd better be quick.

This Sunday there will be a ride from Premier Iemma's Electorate Office near Riverwood Station to William Street.  Please come along and spread the word.

Thanks
Fiona

Meet 9:30am for 10am departure, Iemma's Office, 48 Thurlow St, Riverwood (near station).
Get there by train on East Hills line from Central at 8:53 or from Wolli Creek at 9:07
Distance: 27km one way or 55km return
Contact: Paul Johnson 0438536458 or contact@bikesouthwest.org.au
Finish: At Kings Cross coke sign at approx 12:30 for lunch / approx 5pm in Riverwood for pizza

Waverley Family Bike Fair is a fun active, family event celebrating safe cycling in Waverley.

Come along and enjoy a day of fun activities including competitions, entertainment and stalls. Festivities in Bondi Park will start at 9am and continue until 2pm.

What’s on?

▪ Meet at Bondi Park for a leisurely 2.5km ride around the streets of Bondi Beach. “Bike Buddies” will escort the ride between 9am and 12 noon, leaving every half-hour. Children 12 years and under must be accompanied by a riding parent/guardian.
▪ Bike safety checks available.
▪ Expert bike maintenance and cycling advice.
▪ Cycling products and stalls.
▪ Bicycle hire available.
▪ Cycling circuit for the little kiddies.
▪ Prizes for the best decorated helmet on the day.
▪ Colouring-in competitions!
▪ Slow bike races.
▪ Test your cycling skills – games and competitions for all ages!
▪ Plus enter the raffle to win one of five great new Shogun bikes!
▪ And more…!

So come along RAIN, HAIL OR SHINE! Bring your bike, helmet, family and friends, water, sunscreen and plenty of enthusiasm!

For more information, please contact Alison Jones at Waverley Council on 9369 8176 email alisonj@waverley.nsw.gov.au

To follow on from last years successful BikeSydney Summer Solstice Ride a Mid Winter Ride has been planned for Friday the 23 June 2006. Not strictly a solstice which occurs on June 21st.
A Friday night was chosen as it was thought it would be easier for folk to prepare for.
Meet at the park Cnr Charles and Erskinville Road Erskinville (opposite the Rose of Australia) at 8:45pm for a 9:00 pm departure. Fancy dress for cycles and riders prefered but optional, give your cycle an animal makeover for instance.
Make sure you bring enough battery power for lights. Candle power – in the form of festoon lanterns would also be desireable.
About 3-4 hours of meandering before returning to Erko surrounds.
More info call 9560 0739 

Check out this cool all night event in london the Dulwich Dynamo .

The LA Midnite Ridazz are huge!!! 

Today, the main form of transport in Groningen is the bicycle, and 60 per cent of inhabitants travel by bike – compared with four per cent in the UK, and a national Dutch average of 25 per cent. But Groningen used to be anything but bike-friendly. The city's love affair with cycling began in earnest 16 years ago, when politicians backed radical proposals for digging up city-centre motorways to rid the city of traffic chaos and create a virtually car-free centre of green spaces, pedestrianised streets, more bike paths and separate bus lanes.

At first, the move was far from popular with the retail sector, which feared a mass exodus of shoppers to faraway shopping centres and a fall off in trade. But, in fact, the reverse has happened and businesses are clamouring for even more "cyclisation" of streets. According to city planners, the reduced congestion in the city has steadily benefited jobs and businesses. Faster journey times for employees have meant better productivity, and a nicer environment has brought in plenty of happy shoppers.

 Read the full article here

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