The Editor PO Box 719 Gladesville NSW 1675 Chain Mail Nº 19, Dec. 2001 Editors: Kin-Yat Lo, Doug Stewart, http://galifrey.triode.net.au/bikenorth/ Michael Chow [email protected] Why we must advocate for cycleways Carolyn New, Advocacy Officer, [email protected], 9438-1903, 0427-018-516 Contents Introduction is not a cycleway but a cycle lane. Last issue, Wayne Spencer argued that However, if the lane is separated by a Why me must advocate for advocacy is about more than cycleways. narrow median strip or barrier from the In this issue Carolyn New responds that traffic then it would be considered a cycleways 1 cycleways are important to get more cycleway. This type of cycleway can provide the safest and most efficient Great opportunity for cyclists 3 people to cycle. usage with separation from cars, Cycleways provide far more than a pedestrians and also contra-directional Lane Cove Tunnel EIS 3 pleasant place to ride recreationally. The cyclists. provision of more and better quality How do traffic signals know cycleways is necessary to getting more Who uses cycleways? you are there? 4 Sydneysiders to use their bikes as transport although it is not the complete Nearly all cyclists use a cycleway at some Working group reports 5 solution. We also need to show people time. Many vulnerable cyclists and those where they can ride safely, work for only interested in a recreational ride may Events special facilities on targeted roads and use cycleways almost exclusively. ensure all roads provide a safe cycling Experienced cyclists will sometimes use Cycle Sydney 6 environment. All road users – especially cycleways as a far less stressful alternative ‘Gong ride 6 motorists, but also cyclists, need to negotiating a series of highly trafficked education on sharing the road. But, if we streets. The degree to which more Bike bits 7 are ever going to make any significant experienced cyclists would use cycleways increase in the numbers of people cycling depends on the road environment with Building custom touring bicycles 9 for transport, first and foremost we need respect to car speeds, volumes, the a network of quality cycleways, lanes and existence of dedicated lanes and/or other Rumour has it that Santa quiet roads that link the places people live cycle facilities, the need to make to the places they need to go. is bringing lots of bikes "interesting" merges, as well as the cyclists own skill, their time pressures, and and bike bits this year, so What is a cycleway? confidence on busy roads. let’s hope we all get to It's important to define what we mean by a "cycleway". Strictly speaking, a Why do we need cycle- take advantage of this cycleway is a path or road that is ways? dedicated for the sole use of cyclists. The views expressed in Chain Mail There are very few of these in Sydney, GETTING STARTED articles are those of the authors only with the Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway There is a widespread perception among and do not necessarily represent either being the prime example. Pathways non-cyclists that cycling on the roads is the common views shared by a majority designed and built for pedestrians and dangerous. Anyone who has served on of Bike North members or Bike North cyclists to share are the more common. our stalls at local fairs can report that policy as formulated by the Bike North A lane on a road with nothing but a white there are many who say they would love Executive Committee. line separating the cyclist from the traffic to use a bicycle but its just too dangerous Number 19 December 2001 Page 1 Chain Mail on our busy roads. These people believe Turramurra within minutes of Marsfield, the inclusion of high-quality cycleways that it's only safe to ride on cycleways. impossible by car but a just a short pedal running parallel. away by bicycle. Surveys also back up the anecdotal BIKEPLAN 2010 evidence. For example, in a recent pilot Are cycleways safe places The RTA's BikePlan 2010 is not the sum survey of 41 women in Sydney who had to ride? total of cycleways and lanes in Sydney, access to a bicycle but who did little or no rather it is merely a plan for the regional cycling, 80% of respondents said that the Accidents can happen anywhere – routes – the ones that link the regions of provision of safe cycleways was the major walking, riding or driving your car – so Sydney. These should be the highways of deterrent to cycling. However, 36% said nobody can guarantee that there won't cycling that serve both vulnerable and that a lack of bicycle facilities and 32% be any accidents on a cycleway. experienced cyclists. When they are off- said that a lack of on-road safety were the Certainly, if they are of poor quality (or road cycleways, they need to be of the major deterrents. (Source: Women and narrow with tight, blind corners), there is highest quality to meet all needs, Cycling in Sydney – Determinants and a high risk of collisions or even "single although there are places where Deterrents, Results of Pilot Survey by bike accidents". But speeds are likely to dedicated, separated cycle lanes would Cycle Planning) be low in these situations and, as a result, meet all needs far better. The network of In addition, most parents believe it is too accidents are generally not serious. routes in BikePlan 2010 is inadequate, but dangerous for their children to ride to that's not because we can't find good A high quality cycleway should be school and some schools even encourage places to plan and build cycleways. There designed to eliminate most of the risks this perception by banning their students are plenty of other opportunities, with and would be a far safer place to ride. The from cycling to school! their establishment dependent on a safest cycleways of all are those that higher budget allocation and the will to There is no way these people are going to effectively separate cyclists from build them. get out their bikes and ride on the roads; pedestrians and are one-way traffic only, the only way we can change these particularly important in hilly terrain LOCAL ROUTES perceptions and encourage people to where the variations in speed can be It is council's responsibility to plan, design choose to cycle is to ensure there is a enormous. Contrary to popular belief, a and build the local bicycle routes to network of cycleways and lanes linked to painted white line does not effectively integrate with the RTA's regional routes. quiet local streets. This allows people to separate cyclists from pedestrians. These will be a mixture of cycleways and experience the pleasures of cycling quiet back roads where all that is needed Shared footpaths with many driveway recreationally on cycleways and progress is a signpost to major destinations. If the crossings are also dangerous because they gradually into adjoining quiet streets or provision of cycle routes is integrated into give a perception of safety – while they bike lanes. The more cycleways we have, the planning process, opportunities will actually increase the risk of conflict with the better integrated they are into quiet continue to present themselves. In older cars. Unexpected and badly placed road systems and the closer these areas urban consolidation is increasingly obstacles such as poles, trees, signposts, cycleways are to their homes, the sooner creating new redevelopment, providing people realise that they can use these and letterboxes can also result in a high opportunities for safe stress-free cycling. pathways and routes for useful purposes, risk of accidents. To increase safety New housing developments provide a not just recreationally. crossings, intersections and obstacles good opportunity to build the cycle should be kept to an absolute minimum infrastructure along with the housing and LOW STRESS ALTERNATIVES on shared footpaths. roads. While there will always be "road warrior" cyclists prepared to ride any road at any Can we build enough cycle- Why do people cycle for time, many cyclists do not find it pleasant ways? transport? to ride on busy streets. Many will always The opportunities for more cycleways are There are lots of reasons why people prefer to use bike routes that are a all around us. choose to use a bicycle as transport: combination of cycleways and quiet back streets. With increasing skill and With new urban developments the • It's a cheap form of point to point confidence, cyclists may take on more potential is high, provided we are vigilant, transport – It overcomes problems in challenging roads and broaden their creative and possess the will to demand parking. choice of route(s) but many will always them from among those with the power • You can get around traffic jams. prefer these lowest stress routes. to do so. Corridors such as along railway lines, power lines and drainages, through • It is an environmentally-friendly CRITICAL LINKS parks, along harbour and river foreshores sustainable form of transport – Even the most hardened "road warrior" provide excellent opportunities for Cycling can keep you healthy while would not be ashamed to use a cycleway pleasant and stress-free cycling. you're just getting places, saving which provides access where no car can another trip to the gym! [And the go. Shorter cycleways can provide those While the building of new vehicle exorbitant gym fees – Ed] important short cuts or links between motorways is not promoting sustainable roads, and even between suburbs! These transport, the upside is that cycleways can Bicycles are an ideal form of transport for critical links add to the attractiveness in also be provided within that transport short journeys, where the overheads in choosing a bicycle for transport.