Newsletter August 2010
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Newsletter August 2010 Boroondara BUG meetings are normally held on the 2nd Thursday of each month except January. Our next meeting is on Thursday 12 th August. It will be held in the function room at the Elgin Inn, cnr Burwood Rd and Elgin St, Hawthorn (Melway 45 B10). Optional dinner at 6.30pm, meeting starts at 7.30pm. The Boroondara BUG is a voluntary group working to promote the adoption of a safe and practical environment for utility and recreational cyclists in the City of Boroondara. We have close links with the City of Boroondara, Bicycle Victoria, and other local Bicycle Users Groups. Two of the positions on the Boroondara Bicycle Advisory Committee, which meets quarterly, are assigned to Boroondara BUG members. Boroondara BUG has a website at http://www.boroondarabug.org that contains interesting material related to cycling, links to other cycle groups, recent Boroondara BUG Newsletters and breaking news. Our email address for communications to the BUG is [email protected] We also have a Yahoo Group: Send a blank email to: [email protected] to receive notification when the latest monthly newsletter and rides supplement have been placed on the web site and very occasional important messages. All articles in this newsletter are the views and opinions of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of any other members of Boroondara BUG. All rides publicised in the Rides Supplement are embarked upon at your own risk. Trail Notes Works on Moonee Ponds Creek/Jacana Wetlands Area The works involve constructing a new pedestrian crossing over the Moonee Ponds Creek on the south of the M80 Ring Road bridge. These works were to take place from 3 August and were expected to take one week to complete, however rain has led to an extension of the time frame. During these works, the team will be onsite directing pedestrians and cyclists safely around the works underneath the bridge. Temporary closure of the path is now scheduled for Thursday 12 August between 9am and 2pm., pedestrians and cyclists will not be able to access the shared user path on the east of the Moonee Ponds Creek in the south to north direction under the M80 Ring Road. Path users are encouraged to seek alternative routes on the 12 th August between 9am to 2pm. Punt Hours to be Extended in October The Punt is extending its hours in October to suit commuters, see http://www.themail.com.au/news/local/news/general/owners-take-punt-on-weekday-trial/1890960.aspx http://www.westgatepunt.com/ Cafes Leaping Lizards Closed Leaping Lizards café at Brimbank Park is currently closed and awaiting new tenants. Thanks to Jacques Fievez for passing on this information. Events Walk Against Warming 2010 - The Great Suburban Walk The Alternative Technology Association is supporting Walk Against Warming and will organise ATA groups at each location. Pull on your ATA t-shirt and join us! When : Sunday, 15th August 2010 Time : 12:30pm Where : 3 locations - Melbourne City Square, Boronia or Mitcham RSVP : Wendy Clarke on email [email protected] or 9631 5407. If you don’t already have an ATA t-shirt, let Wendy know your size and you will be provided with a free t-shirt on the day. Walk Against Warming is Australia's biggest day of community action on climate change! It is a day for individuals, families, community groups and people of all ages to join together and call for a safe climate. This year we are sending a message that we’re all doing our bit on climate change and it’s time for our leaders to do theirs. The Great Suburban Walk will take place in Victorian marginal electorates and the ATA will arrange for members to meet in Melbourne, LaTrobe and Deakin. There will be a quick rally followed by letterboxing (in pairs). The leaflet will advise voters what actions our leaders must take on climate change to ensure a safe climate. For more information on Walk Against Warming go to www.walkagainstwarming.org Revolving REVOLVING is a new concept designed for cyclists to explore Melbourne’s network of bike paths. This is not a race – more like a ‘treasure hunt on wheels’ and the safety of competitors and members of the public is paramount. REVOLVING is a socially oriented event and is aimed at families and recreational cyclists. The goal is to have a fun and adventurous experience, while challenging your navigation and communication skills as a team. REVOLVING competitors are given instructions to help them determine the correct route to take on the map provided. First proceed to Checkpoint 1 then head to Checkpoint 2, then Checkpoint 3 and so on. Between checkpoints you may be required to find additional information or find answers to specific questions. Points are awarded for following the instructions accurately. At the completion the results are calculated and the winning REVOLVING team will be announced. The next scheduled REVOLVING event is Sunday 22nd August, starting outside Gate 1 of the MCG. Competition commences at 10.00am so you need to be there by 9.30am to sign in and receive your instructions. The course is about 25kms long and can be completed in 2-3 hours. Grade – Easy. The entry fee for a team of 2 or 3 riders is $30. All maps and instructions are included. Entries are strictly limited to 40 teams. If REVOLVING sounds like something you or anyone you know would enjoy, call Tim on 0401 905 777 to book-in or have your questions answered. Alternatively, email [email protected] 2010 Ogden Transport Lecture: Towards Sustainable Urban Mobility: Insights from Portland's Journey Date: Tuesday, 24 August 2010 Time : 6–7 pm Venue : Village Roadshow Theatrette State Library of Victoria Corner of Swanston and La Trobe Streets (Entrance 3) Melbourne For : Policy makers and advisors, transport and urban planning professionals, researchers and students, academics, general public Format : Public lecture Overview : The Institute of Transport Studies (Monash) Ogden Transport Lecture is a free public lecture initiated in 2001 to recognise the key role which Ken Ogden played in the formation and development of the transport program at Monash University. The lecture reflects the commitment of ITS (Monash) to 'progress transport knowledge and practice' through its activities which span education, research, community and professional service. This year's lecture focuses the spot light on Portland, Oregon, a US city that has built an international reputation for its achievements in developing a more sustainable urban transport system. Portland's mixture of trams (both on the ground and in the air), buses and bicycles, along with 2 innovative approaches to urban land use, distinguish it from most North American cities. What factors have contributed to Portland's success? What challenges lie ahead? What lessons can we learn from Portland's journey? The 2010 Ogden Transport Lecturer, Professor Jennifer Dill, will draw insight from her research in Portland to provide answers to these questions. Speaker : Professor Jennifer Dill, (Director, Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium (OTREC) and Faculty member in the Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning (USP) at Portland State University). Professor Dill is currently the Chair of the US Transportation Research Board committee on Bicycle Transportation. Her research interests focus on the interactions of transportation planning, travel behavior, health, the environment, and land use, as well as transportation finance. Prior to entering academia, she worked as an environmental and transportation planner. General News Two Cycling Surveys in Progress 1. Melbourne City Council survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com:80/s/9GKP882 Note that Melbourne City Council now covers Docklands and also includes the Westgate punt. 2, Port Philip survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SSLB7G8 Many readers no doubt ride in one or other of these municipalities and can think of improvements needed for cyclists. Both surveys offers prizes as incentives to participate. Mobile Bicycle Servicing by Fixbikes. FIXBIKES offers a convenient way of servicing your bike at a time and place that suits you. By booking online at www.Fixbikes.com.au or calling 0411 396 368 you can arrange to have your bike serviced or repaired at home or work - no drop off or pickup involved! Let us know any parts or accessories you might need and Fixbikes can supply and install them onsite. Group or multi-bike bookings are welcome and FIXBIKES offers a 10% discount on service prices for 3 or more bikes in one booking. Regular customers get every 6th primary service free or advanced service at half price. All of our workmanship is guaranteed for a month. All work is fully insured, as are the bikes in our care. Stop putting off that winter service, get in touch with Fixbikes now and have a smooth and reliable ride home! News from Neighbouring BUGs and Clubs Launch of Box Hill to Ringwood Rail Trail Proposal On Monday 2nd August Mike Symon MP, federal member for Deakin launched the Whitehorse Cyclists Inc’s, Box Hill to Ringwood Rail Trail (BHRRT) proposal. A very well attended meeting was chaired by Whitehorse Cyclists’ President Michael Wellard with David Simms giving an excellent overview of the proposal. Michael Hassett followed with interesting detail of their probono work. The BHRRT is supported by the City of Whitehorse and is included in the 2007 Whitehorse Bicycle Strategy The support and interest from City of Maroondah officers present was also acknowledged at the meeting. Whitehorse Cyclists Inc (WCI) has been developing and has now published a detailed costed proposal for this project. Whitehorse Cyclists see this as a vital piece of cycling infrastructure and hope to engage the support of local representatives at all three levels of government.