Melb: Message from Beach Road Cyclists
Posted by admin on 06/16/06 in Campaigns & Initiatives
To all Cyclists - Clearway on the World’s Premier Cycling Route
On any given weekend – even in the middle of winter – thousands of cyclists use Beach Road for training and social rides. For the past three years Beach Road Cyclists (BRC) – a group of racing, training and general cycling enthusiasts – has led a strong campaign to have the views of on-road cyclists voiced.
Finally, following many reports and discussion groups involving Vic Roads, Victoria Police, BRC and the local councils, Port Phillip Council has approved a clearway on Beach Road during weekends between the hours of 6:00am – 10:00am.
The Council has agreed that the establishment of a clearway is the best solution to safely accommodate all Beach Road users during peak cycling times over the weekend.
A fantastic result for BRC and its Supporters! However …
Port Phillip Council has stated that the implementation of its clearway would be much more viable if Bayside and Kingston Councils follow its lead and vote for their own clearways. Bayside and Kingston are still considering whether to jump on board with Port Phillip’s initiative and have requested input from the local community and users of Beach Road before they make their final decisions.
As things stand the current clearway could only operate from the Port Melbourne end of Beach Road through to St Kilda Street (Port Phillip’s jurisdiction), but to be effective it also needs to run through Bayside and Kingston as far as the Mordialloc roundabout – so here’s where you come in…
If you live in either Bayside or Kingston:
- Write to the local newspapers
- Contact your MPs and local councillors
- Lobbying for the extension of the clearway through to Mordialloc from 6:00am – 10:00am on weekends.
If you don’t live in Bayside or Kingston, contact your friends who do and ask them to lobby on your behalf. All riders should contact Port Phillip council to express their appreciation and support of the initiative.
This is a very important issue that affects all Beach Road cyclists, from social through to professional, and we need to take action now to create a safe environment for ALL road users. Further information will be on www.beachroadcyclists.com or ring Marcel Lema: 0421 003 033
________________________________________
Also see our Letter Writing Guide page
Bayside Council: General contact page Email: enquiries@bayside.vic.gov.au Postal Address PO Box 27 Mail: PO Box 27 Sandringham Vic 3191. Phone: (03) 9599 4444
Kingston City Council: General contact page Email: info@kingston.vic.gov.au Postal Address: PO Box 1000, Mentone Vic 3194. Phone: 1300 653 356
Sphere: Related Content
Home
WoJ RSS Feed
Contact/Submit a article
Click here for email updates
Click here to join WoJ email list
Rob Eke | Sep 28, 2008 | Reply
This is such an important issue, it is now beyond the local Councils’ and it is now up to the Premier of Victoria who must act to provide sense and safety to Beach Rd. This high profile attraction for recreation and tourism is an International venue of great significance to this State in terms of profile, it has been the site of International events with the Commonwealth Games Time Trial Course and other International events are scheduled. The current dangerous conditions present hazards to hundreds of motorists and thousands of cyclists every weekend. The Bayside Council and Kingston Council have abrogated their responsibilities to decide on this roadway. They failed to implement the will of the people following extensive public consultation and positive recommendations from their own staff, VicRoads and the Police. All stakeholders want this clearway, a few Counillors have let their personal interests place lives at risk and refused to be transparent in their deliberations behind closed doors after all public consultation and discussion was done. We do not want another Swanston Street where Council inaction and self interest of business has contributed to the tragic death of a 33 year old pregnant cyclist due to choke points between trams and parked buses. That cannot be repeated or forgotten.
I call on the Premier Mr Brumby to instruct relevant State officers to implement a clearway strategy for weekends on Beach Rd, and to remove dangerous choke points from Beach Road (Route 33). The health and well being of thousands of Victorians, and visitors depends on it. Mr Brumby, do not fail your State on this.
Beach Road Cyclist has been the primary motivator for this important life saving initiative since 2003, other stakeholders are working with Beach Road Cyclist to encourage commonsense and a positive outcome before any more lives have been lost. There have been fatalities and serious injuries here, and with Summer of 2008/9 afoot, we expect 20-25,000 cyclists to be using this roadway in both directions from Port Melbourne to Mordialloc every weekend.
Does Mr Brumby want to see 20 or so riders go under a semi trailer because a parked car forces riders closer to the right hand lane?. Riders massively outnumber cars on weekends and it is mainly parked cars, and unnecessarily parked cars at that which are the major cause of the problems, added with bad road design on several choke points which can easily be remedied by removal to provide a clear passage in the left lane for the full length of Beach Rd. This allows all riders to safely stay within the lane. As it stands riders can legally ride on the right hand lane for the bulk of Beach Road, due to parked cars. Do drivers want that to be the case and slow to 20klm per hr?, if more and more riders use this road, that is the only solution and no car, bus or truck will be able to use Beach Road. Vehicle speed will be limited to 25-35 kph both ways.
Riders do not want to slow down cars or cause any obstruction , just as much as drivers do not want to run over anyone. The death of any road user is a tragedy for all concerned and stays with the driver for the remainder of their life.
Do not let this happen Mr Brumby!.
Implement a clearway on Beach Rd on weekends. You owe it to your State and it is past time it was done.
I call on all who ride Beach Road to write to Mr Brumby, Premier of Victoria to respond with action to do so.
Ride safe, Ride with Visibility and Ride to obey the Law. Cheers
Rob Eke, CoConvenor, Wheels of Justice Cycling Safety Advocacy Group