Cyclists call for V/Line ban to be lifted
14 January, 2008 – 12:16 am
Geelong Advertiser: Cyclists call for V/Line ban to be lifted
Bike riders want City Hall to fight a V/Line bicycle ban. Convener of Geelong Greens Bruce Lindsay said he used to ride to Geelong station when he commuted to Melbourne and would cycle to his workplace from Southern Cross Station.
“Far fewer greenhouse emissions. No stress of driving. No parking hassles,” he said.
He said a move to rid peak trains of bicycles would further congest overflowing station car parks and smacked of decision making made on the run to fix a strained public transport system.
“Rather than fundamentally fixing the system, there is instead a series of ad hoc actions and decisions (or non-actions or indecisions),” he said.
Convener of Barwon Bicycle Users Group Russell Lindsay has written to councillor Barbara Abley asking her to protest the crackdown on cyclists to Geelong MP Ian Trezise and Minister for Public Transport Lynne Kosky.
Mr Lindsay said the ban on bikes would force cyclists to drive to rail stations rather than ride.
But Cr Abley said any response needed to be a whole of council approach and that the group should write to City Hall.
Mr Trezise said yesterday he would be happy to speak to bicycle users and raise their concerns with Ms Kosky.
As of January 1, V/Line passengers have been forbidden from travelling with bikes on weekday trains that arrive in Melbourne before 9am or leave Melbourne between 4pm and 6pm.
V/Line internal communications manager Rebecca Cusack said passengers had until February 1 to become aware of the new rules, after which passengers with bikes would be asked to get off at the next station but would not be fined.
3 Responses to “Cyclists call for V/Line ban to be lifted”
The office of Greg Barber MLC has done some research about the regulations which can be found at http://www.gazette.vic.gov.au/Gazettes2007/GG2007S362.pdf (Go to page 58)
It is worth noting that at this stage, while transport officers can refuse to take your bike on-board, they do not have the power to fine you for carrying a bicycle on a train. For this to happen, another executive order must be given (by the Director of Public Transport) and tabled in the Gazette. This will no doubt occur in time, but at this stage there is no ability of transport officers to fine you.
Unfortunately these regulations are NOT of the type that can be disallowed by parliament. It is purely up to the discretion of the Director of Public Transport to make these rules.
There is a cloud of confusion surrounding these new regulations, because V-line are saying they will not take bicycles, but according to the Gazette, it is only on V-Line COACHES that this restriction applies. There has yet to be a coherent message presented to the public by the Brumby government.
Greg has indicated he is keen to speak on this when parliament resumes and to take part in any public protest events. I therefore encourage people involved in campaigns regarding this issue to keep his office informed on any developments. (details are below)
Greg Barber Victorian Greens MLC
Northern Metropolitan Region
Suite G-01 60 Leicester Street Carlton VIC 3053
P: 03 9348 2622
F: 03 9348 2699
E: greg.barber@parliament.vic.gov.au
Alternatively you can contact the Victorian Greens State Office by emailing office@vic.greens.org.au or phoning 9602 1141.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Gabrielle Alexander
Office Coordinator
Australian Greens Victoria
By Gabrielle Alexander on Jan 15, 2008
I learned a new word to describe this the other day: adhocracy, AKA “making it up as we go along”.
By pfctdayelise on Jan 17, 2008