Bicycle-Strategic-Statement-1996.Pdf
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August 1996 Reviewed June 2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 6.4 Yallambie to Heidelberg Route 1.1 Objectives 2 35 1.2 Overview 2 6.5 West Heidelberg to Banyule 1.3 Key Actions 3 Route 37 1.4 Implementation 4 6.6 Reservoir to Viewbank Route39 2. INTRODUCTION 6 6.7 Bundoora to Yallambie route41 2.1 Background 6 6.8 Darebin Creek Trail 43 2.2 The Six “E’s” Approach 7 6.9 Yarra River Trail 45 3. PREVIOUS STUDIES 9 6.10Plenty River Trail 48 3.1 Heidelberg Bicycle Strategy 6.11Montmorency to Watsonia Plan 9 Route 50 3.2 Diamond Valley Bicycle Study10 6.12Greensborough To Diamond 3.3 Eltham Bikeplan 11 Creek Route 52 6.13Greensborough To Bundoora 4. CYCLING ENVIRONMENT 12 Route 54 4.1 Summary of Previous Data Analysis 12 7. INFRASTRUCTURE 4.2 The Broader Picture 14 DEVELOPMENT 56 4.3 Opportunities 15 7.1 Arterial Road Actions 56 4.4 Constraints 17 7.2 Local Network 58 5. REGIONAL CONTEXT 19 7.3 Off Road Network 60 5.1 The Victorian Bicycle Strategy19 7.4 Maintenance 61 5.2 The Principal Bicycle Network19 7.5 Bicycle Parking 62 5.3 Neighbouring Municipalities20 7.6 Signs 62 6. BICYCLE ROUTES 22 7.7 BMX facilities for younger 6.1 Watsonia To East Ivanhoe cyclists. 64 Route 25 8. BEHAVIOURAL PROGRAMS 65 6.2 Macleod to Ivanhoe Route 30 8.1 Education 65 6.3 West Heidelberg to Fairfield 8.2 Enforcement 67 Route 32 8.3 Encouragement 68 MUNICIPAL BICYCLE STRATEGIC STATEMENT Review August 1998 8.4 Environment 69 9.2 Timing 72 8.5 Evaluation 69 9.3 Funding 72 9. IMPLEMENTATION 71 9.4 Required Actions 73 9.1 Bicycle Coordinator 71 10. BIBLIOGRAPHY 73 1. EXECUTIVE 1.2 Overview SUMMARY The bicycle strategies of the former municipalities which make he Banyule Municipal Bicycle up the City of Banyule, have been T Strategic Statement specifies reviewed in identifying the local the actions required to achieve a bicycle network. consolidated cycling network in accordance with the objectives of the Council’s corporate plan. Other factors influencing route selection have included: 1.1 Objectives provision of a safe and The aim of the strategic efficient cycling environment; statement is to: recognition that cyclists are establish a consolidated local, legitimate road users with on-road bicycle network special needs; which is safe, continuous, direct and convenient; ensuring continuity of the commuter and recreational create a safe system of networks; continuos, off-road recreational bicycle trails; providing “low stress” access to local schools, educational increase public awareness of facilities, commercial cycling and cyclist needs; and precincts, community and recreational facilities; and encourage cycling as an alternative form of road information contained within transport. the submissions received in response to the draft form of this statement. MUNICIPAL BICYCLE STRATEGIC STATEMENT 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS The high priority actions The following routes have been requiring immediate attention recommended to comprise the include: local cycling network: Appointing an officer (Bicycle Watsonia To East Ivanhoe Coordinator) to oversee the Macleod to Ivanhoe implementation of the West Heidelberg to Fairfield Municipal Bicycle Strategic Yallambie to Heidelberg Statement. West Heidelberg to Banyule Reservoir to View Bank Uniform sign posting of all Bundoora - Yallambie local bicycle routes; Darebin Creek Trail Yarra River Trail Linking the Plenty River Trail Plenty River Trail at Lower Plenty Road to the Montmorency to Watsonia Yarra River Trail; Greensborough To Diamond Creek Linking the Yarra River Trail Greensborough To Bundoora from Burke Road North to the Darebin Creek Trail (liaison The local bicycle network is to with the City of Yarra complement the VicRoads required); Principal Bicycle Network, which generally correlates to the arterial Upgrading the sections of the road network throughout the Plenty River Trail not City. conforming to the required minimum standards. Furthermore, the strategic statement identifies the Actively promote the local behavioural programs required to bicycle network and supplement the recommended encourage bicycle travel as an engineering measures, namely: alternative mode of road Educational programs, transport and for recreational encouragement and promotional purposes. strategies and legislation enforcement. Linking the bicycle network with tourism initiatives. 1.3 Key Actions Declaring the shared footways as specified, where the local 3 MUNICIPAL BICYCLE STRATEGIC STATEMENT bicycle network crosses the along the east side from main roads, viz: the crossing to Noel Street. • Lower Plenty Road east of • South side of Grimshaw Turnham Avenue to the Street from Gleeson Drive intersection; to the existing crossing and then along the north • Ruthven Street from the side to Sharpes Road; intersection with Waiora Road to the corner of Orr • Para Road from the Street; intersection with Station Road to the traffic lights. • The south side of Lower Plenty Road from St James • Grimshaw Street from Road to the intersection Oxford Street to Balaka signals at Upper Heidelberg Place. Road and then on the west side of Waiora Road south to Altona Street. 1.4 Implementation • North side of Lower Plenty The Municipal Bicycle Strategic Road between Silk Street Statement provides the policy and the traffic lights and mechanism to achieve a along the south side coordinated approach to cycling between the traffic signals within the municipality. and the path at Kambea Crescent; Successful implementation of the strategy will require: • Watsonia Road to Station railway bridge and through establishing a position (Bicycle carpark to Greensborough Coordinator) within the Highway traffic signals at Council; Elder Street; a commitment of the necessary resources to • West side of Upper undertake the engineering Heidelberg Road from St measures and initiate the Elmo Pde to the existing educational/promotional traffic crossing and then strategies; MUNICIPAL BICYCLE STRATEGIC STATEMENT 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS a strategic approach to physical works and funding applications; and an on-going review of programs in relation to the strategic statement objectives. 5 MUNICIPAL BICYCLE STRATEGIC STATEMENT 2. INTRODUCTION Furthermore, it is approaching key action of the Banyule ten years since the strategies A City Council Corporate Plan is were prepared for the former City to: of Heidelberg and the former Shire of Diamond Valley. “devise and adopt a bike and Accordingly, it is appropriate to trail network through the review both the progress and municipality.” effectiveness of these strategies. Moreover, the Municipal The purpose of this statement is Transportation Profile and Action to review and consolidate the Statement identifies bicycle travel previous strategies and in doing as a key transport issue. so, to set the framework to achieve the aforementioned The Municipal Bicycle Strategic objectives of the Corporate Plan Statement will form one element and the Transportation Plan. (of seven) of the Transportation Plan. The objective of this In undertaking this study, the element is to: Council has the benefit of “provide a safe network of bicycle hindsight: the original bicycle routes which encourage cycling strategies have laid the as an alternative to the other groundwork for implementing a forms of road transport and as a bicycle network throughout the recreational pursuit.” municipality. 2.1 Background The former strategy documents sought to encourage and The three former municipalities promote the perceived growth which now constitute the City of trend in bicycle usage; at a time Banyule have had bicycle when there were minimal strategies in place. It is apparent facilities or strategic planning vis that, to date, not all of the a vis bicycle travel. In effect, they actions that were identified in the were the starting point for recommendations of the coordinating cycling in what is strategies have been now the City of Banyule. implemented. The popularity of cycling has continued to gain momentum MUNICIPAL BICYCLE STRATEGIC STATEMENT 6 since the time of the initial number of regular commuter and strategies*, which in turn has led recreational cyclists.† to growing concerns towards cyclists’ safety. While all cyclists demand a safe and efficient cycling environment, The most fundamental initiative cycling strategies need to cater in this respect has been the for the varying needs of the introduction of legislation in July, different categories of cyclist: the 1990 making the wearing of recreational cyclist, the safety helmets compulsory for commuting cyclist (those cyclists. Further actions have travelling to work or educational included The National Bicycle facilities); the professional Strategy, Victoria for Bikes - (racing) cyclist and those using Cycling Strategies for Victoria, the bicycle as an alternative The Principal Bicycle Network, means of transport for specific cycling education programs at purpose journeys (eg. shopping). schools, the general promotion of cyclist needs on roads and the 2.2 The Six “E’s” Approach formation of Bicycle User Groups. To develop a comprehensive Moreover, local government has strategy for cycling, both the been increasingly addressing the engineering and behavioural safety concerns of cyclists programs need to be considered. through the provision of This approach to bicycle planning infrastructure and education is now well established and programs. encompasses the four “E’s” first initiated in the 1977 Geelong In addition to the increasing Bikeway Study, namely: demand