News — May 2004
Oil Prices Hit $40 - Deputy PM Confirms Peak Oil Risks
The deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport, John Anderson, acknowledged that "at some stage in the next few short years global [oil] production may very well peak" in an interview with the ABC's Barrie Cassidy from the Insiders show. The issue has also been covered in the SMH and National Geographic.
As of 20.5.04, oil prices have been above $40 for several days, despite a much stronger US dollar. Australia is sorely hit with a weaker Aussie dollar, and petrol prices above $1/litre. The issue of 'Peak Oil' is growing widely in awareness, with many 'mainstream' media outlets running articles on it. See our Peak Oil Watch page. Australian governments need to prepare us for a world with more expensive petrol - much better cycling infrastructure plays a big role in that.
There's been a new book on Peak Oil by another respected
scientific authority:
Out of Gas: The End of the Age of Oil, by David
Goodstein. Goodstein is a professor of physics and vice
provost of the California Institute of Technology, one of
America's headiest institutions. He's been interviewed about
it:
Dried Up? Are We Running Out of Oil? Scientist Warns of
Looming Crisis (Special to ABCNEWS.com, )
Crude
Awakening (Newsweek, 17.2.04)
A prominent physicist warns in a new book that the world is
running out of oil and we’re not doing anything to
stave off the coming crisis.
Another book is looking at the financial/investment
dimension of Peak Oil:
The
Oil Factor: How Oil Controls the Economy and Your Financial
Future, by Stephen Leeb, Donna Leeb: "A storm is coming -
an inflationary "perfect storm" whipped up by skyrocketing
oil prices that will lay waste to millions of portfolios if
investors don't prepare. Renowned financial analyst Stephen
Leeb asserts that in this perilous period, oil prices will
drive all other economic indicators.This book will show you
how to diversify yourself away from potential disaster!".
Amazon Page.
Rides and Events Coming Up
Come ride with us! Our rides are easy and friendly.
Date of ride: 16/5/04 |
Day of week: Sunday |
Grade: Easy |
Name of ride: Parramatta Heritage Ride |
Distance: 20km |
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Contact: Paul Bowyer |
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Group: CAMWEST |
Starts at: Tudor Gates, George St entrance to Parramatta Park, 9am |
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Description of ride: A gentle ride around the historical sites of Parramatta on quiet streets with commentary. |
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Date of ride: 19/6/04 |
Day of week: Saturday |
Grade: Med |
Name of ride: Chipping Norton Lakes |
Distance: 35km |
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Contact: Rob Catford |
Phone H: 9633 9185 |
Group: CAMWEST |
Starts at: Station St entrance to Parramatta station 9am |
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Description of ride: Ride the Parramatta- Liverpool rail trail then ride the paths around Chipping Norton lakes and return to Liverpool to train back. |
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Farewell to Bill Brewer
Bill Brewer, a long serving member of CAMWEST and many other cycling groups, passed away on 1st Feb this year. A memorial service was organised at the Hill Pavillion in Bicentennial Park by Bicycle NSW, Bike North and some other prominent cyclists. It was a stiflingly hot morning, but that didn't stop many cyclists turning up — Bill would have been proud. Danny Hannan spoke on behalf of CAMWEST, with some fond memories of some of Bill's many idiosyncracies.
It seems that Bill had been in poor health for at least a month prior to his death but hospital staff were apparently surprised by his sudden death. Bill was a very active cycling volunteer. He'll be missed by us and many other Sydney cyclists.
Greystanes Canal Reserve
The Greystanes Canal Reserve was officially opened on 15th February, 2004, with CAMWEST attending. About a dozen novice riders were given a short tour from Boothtown bridge (Gipps Rd) along the canal to the aqueduct led by CAMWEST. There a NPWS person gave a 10 minute talk on the flora and fauna in the area, followed by the Water Board's heritage advisor with a short talk on the history of the Canal scheme.
Upon returning to Boothtown Park the occassion was marked by an aboriginal smoking ceremony, with the mayor of Holroyd officially acknowledging the traditional owners of the entire area. The Canal Reserve was then officially handed over for management to Holroyd Council and a ribbon cutting ceremony held.
We then went for a short ride on the officially open cycleway.
Council had a bike mechanic from a local shop to check bikes, and the RTA had a small display with a person who seemed very pro-cycling. CAMWEST have a formal invitation to do a safety audit of the cycleway.
Holroyd Happenings — Open Days
The Holroyd Bicycle steering committee has started functioning, with a CAMWEST member involved.
1. Canal Cycleway
The cycleway has been handed over to Council, with an Open Day and BBQ held at Boothtown Reserve, Gipps Rd on Feb 15th. A highlight of the ceremony was an aboriginal smoking of the crowd and dignatories. Mayor and Deputy mayor attended. The 24 hour deviation around the Reservior through Wetherill Park is still not completed, though ridable with about 500 metres of dirt track. Canal-Prospect-Horsley Park, Bossley Park, Wetherill Park, Fairfield makes a nice loop.
2. Prospect to Fairfield cycleway
Holroyd Council hosted an Open Day on Feb 7th. Activities included jumping castle for kids, tree planting. CAMWEST had the opportunity to call for cycleway centerlines, signage on keeping left, etc, and a north-south route through Fairfield LGA linking with this cycleway. The loop back from under the Cumberland Highway Bridge is still not complete and we are working with Council to move this forward. Fairfield St now has an underpass and work should progress on the link to the Rail Trail. Fairfield Council have been asked by Mr. Scully to design; we will ask if design is available for us to see shortly. An alternate safe footpath route exists and will be used in our September ride.
3. CSIRO site/Inter Transitway link
Bicycle NSW have been informed of the concept. BORAL site is open for house construction but no cycleways completed yet.
4. Merrylands to Fox St
New residential development called Holroyd Gardens in Walpole St contains a cycleway link from Walpole St Park through Holroyd Sports Centre to the M4 cycleway near Fox St. The March ride followed the completed part of this new development. CAMWEST will be asking Holroyd Council how they intend joining this to their cycleway network.
5. Roadside cycleway on Horsely Drive, Wetherill Park
It is now completed, Victoria St is well under way but roadworks here are a cycling nightmare.
7. Holroyd Steering Committee has not yet had first meeting.
Hawkesbury Happenings - Windsor Road Upgrade
The Mayor asked me to arrange for a ride by our group to ride to the Battle of Vinegar Hill Memorial at Rouse Hill on 7 March and then to Rouse Hill Regional Park for the re-enactment of the battle.
The Steering Committee chair has left as she did not stand for the March Council elections.
The Windsor Road upgrade is behind schedule especially the offroad cycleway. CAMWEST had on onsite inspection of the two sections with an RTA engineer and the two engineers from the contractors.
We have been campaigning for three years for the RTA to provide a safe pedestrian and cyclist path across Buttsworth Creek Bridge on Singleton Road at Wilberforce. After more lobbying this week the RTA have announced that they will fund half of the total cost ($300k) of adding a hang on section on each side.What we are not sure of, is if Council refuse to pay their half is the deal off or do we only get one side done.
News in Brief
The Central Sydney Area Health Service's Health Promotion Unit is running a number of cycling skills courses, for beginners and intermediate. More Info
Postcard from the Future - Cycle Tourism
Here is a wonderful example of a shared path beside a road. Instead of having the path right up against the fences, there's a gap so that any cars reversing out of driveways have the opportunity to see cyclists, and the cyclists can see the cars.
Because cycle touring is an immediate mode of transport, people come to know the little towns which would be ignored by people speeding by on the highway. It is slow, and it encourages more stops at country towns to either have a meal and a rest, enjoy the locals, or stay the night. Tours are combined with trains to cover vast areas.
As a result, many understand better regional and rural Australia, and regional towns are thriving again with a welcome economic boost through tourism.
In the Media Lately
New blueprint to turn city green (SMH, 23.4.04)
The new Los Angeles? (SMH, 27.4.04)
Sydney has been warned that it could become another Los
Angeles, driving people away, if transport links and
environmental protection are not improved.
Why we're reaching our limits as a one-hour city (Peter Newman- SMH Opinion, 26.4.04)
Road traffic deaths (The Economist, 15.4.04)
Every year over a million people die in road accidents and
as many as 50m are injured. Over four-fifths of the deaths
are in developing countries. This dismal toll is likely to
get much worse as road traffic increases in the developing
world. As third world countries move from bicycles to cars,
people die. Add the risks of Peak Oil to this, and it makes
the shift to car transport in places like China and India
really dumb.
A Fresh Wind From the South: Cuban Bike Revolution
(Culture Change, )
At a time where most third world countries are trying to
hit the eight- lane highway of automobilisation," Cuba is
presently undergoing a real revolution in the field of
sustainable and efficient transport. For an island which
had virtually no cyclist culture until 1990, bicycling is
rapidly becoming a central tool of transport".
Carr rallies states to save the climate (SMH, 30.3.04)
Last chance to give our city a future (SMH,
30.3.04)
Some promising signs from the new Sydney Mayor: "The city's
future, given State Government paralysis, urgently needs
planning. An integrated transport and traffic plan will be
developed to drive government/private sector action, and
will include light rail extensions, and better cycling and
pedestrian access".
Fear less what shadows hide: our roads are killing fields (SMH-Paul Sheehan Opinion Piece, 21.3.04)
Carr joins taskforce to give Kyoto alternative the green light (SMH, 15.3.04)
Look to the future so we will have one (SMH Opinion by Caroline Pidcock, president of the NSW chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, 10.3.04)
Off your bike: the rider who did 212kmh in tunnel (SMH, 10.3.04)
Traffic Tax (ABC's Earthbeat, 6.3.04)
A look at the implications for traffic management in
Australia one year on from the introduction of the traffic
tax in London.
Air pollution 'bigger killer than road accidents' (SMH, 2.3.04)
Congestion Charging: What Sydney can learn from London (David Hensher, Online Opinion, )
Warning of global anarchy (SMH, 23.2.04)
A secret report prepared by the Pentagon warns that climate
change may lead to global catastrophe costing millions of
lives and is a far greater risk than terrorism, a British
weekly has said.
Our
fat future (SMH, 12.2.04)
Almost one million older Australians are obese, with signs
that the middle-age spread now extends into the autumnal
years, a new report suggests.
West sitting on obesity time bomb, warns UN (SMH, 12.2.04)
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.
Action Corner!
Why not write a letter to your State or Federal MP and ask for better funding of cycling? See our letter writing page.
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! More advocacy info
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