News — September – October 2002
Feature: Cycle Lane Design
Here is a photo of Hannan's Rd Riverwood, CAMWEST's preferred design for on-road cycle lanes. (Hover over the green numbers to see an explanation).
This design is a much improved solution and addresses a number of the issues raised in our report on cycling issues in the Parramatta LGA.
Rides Coming Up
There are two exciting events coming up: the very first Ride to Work in Parramatta's CBD, and CAMWEST's very popular Bay to Mountains ride. Don't miss out!
Ride to Work Day - Parramatta
Date: 24th
September
Time: 7.30 - 8.30am
Place: Banks of Parramatta river outside Riverbank
Cost: Free!
More info: call Eva Martinez at Parramatta Council on 9806
5000. (Please note the number in other places may have been
wrong)
Bay to Mountains Ride
Saturday 19th
October
Free lunch (you must register)
Contact Ian.
More Info
Free Breakfast - Ride to Work
CAMWEST in conjunction with Parramatta Council will be
promoting the inaugural Parramatta CBD Ride to Work
day in Bike Week on Tuesday, 24th September. Commuters to
Parramatta CBD will be encouraged to pick up their bikes and
discover the joys of cycling to work. To encourage them,
the
Riverbank Centre on the banks of Parramatta River will supply
free breakfasts for the first 60 participants with
bikes.
For more information, call Eva Martinez at
Parramatta Council on 9635 5000.
New CAMWEST Email Address
We have a new email address: cycling (AT) camwest.org.au. Please use this with your correspondence with us from now on. Many thanks to PPS for their continued support and hosting of our website.
Child Obesity Symposium at Westmead
A symposium on adolescent obesity was held at Westmead Hospital recently, the Parramatta Advertiser reported (Fast Food puts Death on the Menu, 28/8/02). The article quotes Dr Michael Booth stating that "there has been a four-fold increase in childhood obesity between 1985 and 1997". Some of the issues involved are:
- Concern for children's safety outdoors, especially traffic dangers.
- More car ownership, fewer short trips taken on foot.
CAMWEST thinks cycling could play a great role in addressing this very serious issue. Increased physical activity, together with a healthy diet, are the way to go. Incidental activity, such as cycling and walking, work well because they are integrated into children's everyday activities. Imagine children cycling safely to school and sport. They would have the freedom to explore their neighbourhoods, while parents would be freed from being full-time taxi drivers!
Parramatta Council and the RTA need to continue to introduce improvements to make cycling safer for our children. Our report on Parramatta features a number of these. Our community bike rides often involve children and parents for a day of fun.
Tizzana Ride A Hit!
This year's Tizzana bike ride was a great success yet again, with many riders coming. Make sure you don't miss out next year! More info. This is a social ride along quiet and picturesque roads with many views over the Hawkesbury River Valley, a few challenging hills, a couple of ferry crossings and short stretches of good gravel road to arrive at Tizzana Winery by 12:30 pm for a catered and very social lunch.
Rouse Hill Ride Also a Success
The ride in May was again a great success with particular thanks going to Peter Gilbert and extended family for once again playing the major lead in this ride. However, it was a good team effort with a high number of CAMWEST members participating and assisting. Make sure you join us next year!
New Blacktown Bike Plan
Blacktown City Council has finalised a new Bike Plan prepared by consultants PKK. The purpose of the plan was to review existing cycleways & re-prioritise proposed cycelways over the next 10 years. The schedule of works is designed to link in with works planned by the RTA. All plans are for off road facilities.
There have been 10 routes planned:
Route 1 Mt Druitt - connecting two existing
cycleways
Route 2 Marayong / Quakers Hill - extension of the existing
Breakfast Creek Cycleway into Quakers Hill CBD
Route 3 Rooty Hill - Extension of Minchinbury to Rooty
Hill cycleway from School of Arts building to Rooty Hill
Railway Station.
Route 4 Oakhurst / Plumpton / Mt Druitt - A link from
Richmond Rd Oakhurst to Woodstock Ave Mt Druitt
Route 5 Kings Langley / Lalor Park / Seven Hills - Commencing
near the proposed Orbital in Kings Langley and travels via
nature reserves to Prospect H'way at Seven Hills
Route 6 Minchinbury - Extension of existing Rooty Hill
cycleway to Minchinbury and a proposed industrial estate at
rear of Wonderland
Route 7 Mt Druitt - maintenance work to existing cycleway
from Lethbridge Park to Mt Druitt.
Route 8 Mt Druitt / Plumpton / Glendenning - generally to
follow Woodstock Ave through to Nurragingy Reserve
Route 9 Rooty Hill / Mt Druitt - Cycle route along service
road between Nurragingy Reserve & Rooty Hill railway
station.
Route 10 extension of existing Breakfast Creek Cycleway to
Western Railway line at Lyton St Blacktown
Route 11 new cycleway from Quakers Hill Station to Rouse Hill
Regional Park
Proposed Route Prioritisation & Year
2003 / 2004 Route 6
2004 Routes 1 & 3
2004 / 2005 Route 7
2005 / 2007 Route 5
2007 - 2008 Route 4
2008 / 2009 Route 8
2009 / 2010 Route 10
2011 & beyond Route 2,9,11
The Bike Plan is still being analysised by CAMWEST and a submission will be made to Blacktown City Council.
Blacktown cyclists would have noticed the increase of bike logos denoting cycleways painted on a number of popular routes.
Hawkesbury Happenings
The Bell's Line of Road off road cycleway is proceeding towards Kurmond. Council Officers seem confident that the cycleway will reach Kurmond Primary School before crossing the road and continuing towards Kurrajong Village.
The proposed bridge across Rickaby Creek from Howe Park to Deerubbin Park has been deferred while Council apply for a Government grant to make up the shortfall from the Section 94 funds of $60,000; the cost of the bridge has increased by approximately $40,000 because of technical problems.
The other proposed bridge across Rickaby Creek from South Windsor/Bligh Park to Clarendon in the original Bike Plan and shelved because of cost is to be re-examined by the Committee. This connection would be of great benefit to many cyclists as it would allow easier access to the Showground, the Racecourse, Equestrian Centre, the UWS and Clarendon Cycleway.
The Committee have allocated $10,000 to the Council Road Safety Oficer for promotion of safe cycling in the Hawkesbury which will include an education programme targeting all schools, new pocket size maps and the installation of one metre square maps of the cycleways at prime sites throughout the district;approximately 18 in total.
Bicycle Cops are currently undergoing training and will commence work during Bicycle Week. We expect a vast improvement in the conduct of many locals especially the wearing of helmets.
Holroyd Area
We have prepared a submission for the Merrylands Urban Redevelopment Program. We also had a member speak to a council meeting and there was apparently considerable interest in cycling matters from a number of councillors.
A letter was sent to Holroyd Mayor requesting a meeting to discuss the idea of forming a bicycle steering committee. There was interest in the idea, and we will work on a submission to council especially regarding the model of steering committee.
Baulkham Hills Area
Baulkham Hills Shire Council cycleway plans and construction are progressing well. We are hoping the following two projects can be funded this financial year:
- Upgrading the Crestwood Reserve section of the Parramatta to Rouse Hill Regional Cycleway.
- Fred Caterson Reserve, a bridge across Cattai Creek linking Mario Vargas Way and Wrights Road, Kellyville
New cycleways are under construction in Fred Caterson Reserve and works are currently progressing with a bridge crossing to be installed soon linking the cycleway with Cedar Grove and King Road Kellyville.
Several needed links are also completed or under construction.
Leone Ave to Windsor Rd, Baulkham Hills, from the Toongabbie Creek Regional Cycleway at Seven Hills Rd through Michael Simpson and Sophie Doyle Reserves to Jasper Rd which then links through Tory Burn Reserve to Roxborough Park Rd Cycleway and Castle Hill. The link from Castle Hill at Castlewood Dr through to Highs Rd in the West Pennant Hills Valley is also ready for construction.
Volunteers are continuing the construction, with Council paying for the materials, of the Glenhaven Cycleway along Old Northern Road, between Glenhaven Road and Round Corner Dural.
As part of Section 94 developer contribution works, numerous cycleway links are being constructed in the Kellyville/Rouse Hill precincts.
There are several issues that are still being reviewed, barriers across cycleways and walkways, poorly or inappropriately placed bollards, poorly designed or coloured bollards, and poor design of some parts of cycleways and placement of children's play areas adjacent to or across cycleways. We are also concerned about the level of communication between the different sections of Baulkham Hills Shire Council that deal with cycleways, particularly between the relevant sections of Council and the Cycleways Coordinator and the Baulkham Hills Shire Council Cycleways Management Committee.
However, Baulkham Hills Shire Council should be congratulated for it's progressive attitude to cycleway development, the creation of a full-time Cycleways Coordinator position, and the official Council Cycleways Management Committee.
Oil Prices on the Increase
Oil prices have increased dramatically recently, approaching the U$30 mark, due to fears of a US attack on Iraq and potential disruptions.
This is a reminder that we need to minimise Australia's dependence on foreign oil. Instability in the Middle East could cause big swings in the oil price, which in turn could have a detrimental impact on our economy. The government needs to further fund and encourage cycling and public transport. If it can fund road projects such as the Western Orbital (which will only generate more traffic and make us more dependent on oil), it can also fund the Parramatta-Chatswood Link train line. As another example, the government could require State Governments to spend just 2.5% of the Roads to Recovery funding on cycling infrastructure and initiatives.
Bike Lockers Available
There are a number of bike lockers available at
Parramatta, Blacktown, and Seven Hills stations and
Parramatta wharf. These lockers are a great deal from Bicycle
NSW. Save money on the car or bus, while getting fit!
More
Info
Quick News
Parramatta City Council has confirmed they will provide $500 towards our Bay to Mountains ride on 19th October. Thank you to Ian MacIndoe and Cr Chris Worthington for their help. Council's support is a great way to promote cycling in the Parramatta area, something councils are meant to do under the RTA's BikePlan 2010. Well done council!
In the Media Lately
US jeered, Australia targeted at Earth Summit (ABC Lateline, 4/9/02)
Environmentalists unhappy with 'green energy' agreement (ABC, 3/Sep/2002)
Leaders accused of hypocrisy in plea for planet (SMH, 3/Sep/2002)
Struggling to agree (The Economist, 2/9/02)
Man
killed for holding up traffic (September 2 2002)
Road rage at its worst.
Law
may force 4WD owners to fit new bullbars (SMH,
31/7/02)
Thousands of four-wheel drive owners across Australia may be
forced to fit smaller bullbars to their vehicles as
governments face increased pressure to enforce design laws
because of safety fears.
US turns up pressure on allies to back war on Iraq (SMH, 28/Aug/2002)
Do We Still Need the Saudis? (Time Magazine, Sunday, Jul.
28, 2002)
"Oil has sustained the alliance between the U.S. and Saudi
Arabia for decades. But extremism in the kingdom is putting
those ties to the test"
How to Save the Earth (Time Magazine, 26/8/2002)
A survey of where we are up to in our treatment of our
planet.
Oil prices (The Economist, Aug 23rd 2002)
War fears jangle
CAMWEST Needs You
We need more members to achieve better bike facilities in Western Sydney. There's a number of projects we'd like to get involved in. Join us and make a difference. We're especially looking for people in the Penrith area.
Action Corner!
Write/Email to Parramatta Council and ask them to implement CAMWEST's preferred cycle lane design.
Mayor of Parramatta City Council
P.O. Box 32
Parramatta 2124
Dear Sir/Madam,
Thank you for your recent efforts to improve cycling in Parramatta. Please adopt CAMWEST's preferred cycle lane design as the standard design for the Parramatta LGA. I feel it is a significantly better and safer solution.
Sincerely,
<Your Name>
CAMWEST's Action Corner is where we include one or two suggestions of something simple and concrete that you can do: write an email, letter, representation, turn up for a ride, etc. Join us in making a difference!
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