Bin the bike ban!

Opponents of bike ban gear up for protests

The Age: Opponents of bike ban gear up for protests

Cyclists across Victoria are stepping up a gear to overturn the bike ban on trains. Connex and V/Line travellers are at loggerheads with transport operators, who say the ban is needed to ease overcrowding across the rail network. Some cycling groups believe the ban was a knee-jerk reaction by the State Government to placate train travellers fed up with cramped conditions.

And the latest Department of Infrastructure figures from a recent passenger survey found that fewer than 100 cyclists carried their bikes on board peak hour trains each day.On Wednesday morning, about 100 cyclists are expected to arrive at Bendigo station to protest against the ban.

Protest organiser Jill Gibson said the ban had already begun to affect regular commuters. She called on Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky to allow bikes back on trains. Ms Gibson said cyclists would take cardboard bicycles on to the train from Castlemaine to Bendigo in a “symbolic gesture”.

“We figure that the number of people wanting to commute and bring their bikes is increasing … there are no limitations on the number of prams allowed on trains,” Ms Gibson said.

On Friday, the City of Greater Bendigo voted to push for Ms Kosky to dump the ban and to initiate and lead a delegation of central Victorian councils to meet with V/Line management to highlight the negative implications the ban will have on regional train travellers. Read the rest of this entry »

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Flickr fun

We now have a Bin the Bike Ban Flickr group.

If you already have a Flickr account, you can join and post images directly to the group pool. If not, you can still email them to us and we will put them up. The 6 latest images from the pool will have little thumbnails at the bottom of the menu on the right. If you use feeds (like RSS) you can subscribe to the latest images feed.

You could put up

• Slogan-like images
• Images showing the peaceful coexistence of bikes and train passengers
• Any other creative variations you can think of etc.

Any offensive images or text will not be permitted, so keep it nice!

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Tuesday 12th Feb: planned Melbourne action

Let this post be planning central for Tuesday 12th Feb. If you want to help, leave a comment on this post.

How can you help? Let us know:

• Creating cardboard props [beforehand]
• Disseminating information via email/phone (eg. press releases) [beforehand]
• Disseminating information in person (eg. leaflets) [beforehand]
• Using cardboard props [on the day]
• Disseminating information in person (eg. leaflets) [on the day]
• Taking photographs, providing moral support [on the day]

What are your preferred times and places for taking part?

Estimated requirements

• Active partipants: at least a dozen?
• Supportive types: at least 10?
• Press releases: released at least Friday 8th??
• Prop construction: weekend 9-10th

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Castlemaine: Bin the Bike Ban – Important Gathering, THIS Wednesday 23rd Jan, from 7am

PLEASE NOTE: Geelong and Melbourne actions are planned soon, so check this site for updates or subscribe to the public transport list to stay informed.

From Mount Alexander Sustainability Group
Bring your symbolic bike made from cardboard to Castlemaine station and tell your cycling story with others. Come share a cuppa and then board the 7.49am peak hour train service to Bendigo to get the message across to V/line that they must withdraw the ban.

We expect 100 or more cyclists and supporters to be gathering in Central Victoria! See link for ideas. Cardboard can be found at bike shops or the tip. Go recycle to cycle!!!!!! Read the rest of this entry »

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Badges, Badges, Badges

No, not those ones, these ones! >>>

Courtesy of Eve, we now have badges.

No self-respecting campaign isn’t complete without these stylish little beauties.

These are just the perfect fashion accessory for any crumpler, pannier or favourite item of attire.

If you want some of these must-have cycling accessories, please contact us to arrange posting, drop off etc.

Hopefully stickers and more Bin the Bike Ban propaganda will be available soon.

Stay tuned!

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City of Greater Bendigo: Media Release

City of Greater Bendigo: Media Release – City To Express Disappointment Over Train Bike Ban (17 January 2008)

The City of Greater Bendigo will write to the Minister for Public Transport the Hon Lynne Kosky to express concerns about the State Government’s intention to ban bicycles from peak hour train services.

City of Greater Bendigo Strathfieldsaye Councillor Keith Reynard said the City will also initiate and lead a delegation of Central Victorian Councils to meet with V-Line Senior Management to highlight the negative implications the ban will have on rural and regional train travellers.

“The City of Greater Bendigo is keen to promote cycling as an alternative mode of transport and the proposed ban goes against this aim.”

“We are working hard to promote cycling as a preferred and viable transport option and have recently appointed a Sustainable Transport Officer.”

“We are also working in partnership with the State Government to introduce a TravelSmart program in Bendigo which encourages people to substitute some of the trips that they would normally make in a car with more sustainable, cheaper and healthier transport options like walking, cycling and public transport.”

“There are many rural and regional people who work in the city or other regional areas who rely on their bicycles to get to their workplaces.”

“Banning bicycles on peak hour trains is not the way to go and we want to express our disappointment and if possible help come up with an alternative solution,” said Cr Reynard.

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Bendigo keen to fight bike ban on trains

ABC Online: Bendigo keen to fight bike ban on trains (17 January 2008)

The Bendigo Council wants to lead a campaign against a ban on bikes on peak-hour country train services. V/Line announced the ban earlier this month, to combat overcrowding and it is set to come into effect within a fortnight. Councillor Keith Reynard says the council last night voted to write to the Public Transport Minister expressing serious concern and disappointment with the ban.

Meanwhile new figures show that in December, more than 200 train services on the Bendigo line ran more than five minutes late. Read the rest of this entry »

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Bike ban blow to cyclists

The Melbourne Times, Golding cartoon, 16 January 2008

Ferntree Gully, Belgrave Mail: Bike ban blow to cyclists (15 January 2008)

A Knox City councillor has labelled a bicycle ban on peak-hour train services as a Band-Aid treatment for the overcrowding of the public transport system. Tirhatuan Ward councillor Mick Van de Vreede said the ban would force Knox cyclists back into their cars.

“Many Knox residents are doing the right thing by combining riding to work with a trip on pubic transport,” he said.

But under a State Government ban, from 1 January, bicycles are not be permitted on train services travelling through Zone One and arriving in Melbourne between 7am and 9am and on trains departing between 4pm and 7pm.

Cr Van de Vreede said that for many residents it was not practical to ride the whole way to work and that it was especially difficult for those who worked in the city. He said all the ban would do was force riders back into their cars and would again increase traffic congestion.

“This ban really seems at odds with the Government’s support for increased use of public transport,” Cr Van de Vreede said.

“It’s little more than a Band-Aid solution to peak hour overcrowding.”

Read the rest of this entry »

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MP calls for more transport

Cranbourne News: MP calls for more transport (18 January 2008)

South Eastern Metropolitan Region MP Inga Peulich believes the State Government must urgently provide public transport infrastructure to the City of Casey to reach lofty travel targets.

Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as part of the 2006 Census of Population and Housing: Method of Travel to Work show only 5.95 per cent of respondents used a form of public transport to get to work.

The Brumby Government wants to increase that figure to 20 per cent. But Ms Peulich said the State Government’s failure to deliver key public transport projects in the City of Casey will make that target impossible to reach.

“The State Labor Government has suggested that public transport travel should be 20 per cent, that target will never be reached without upgrading the Casey public transport facilities,” Ms Peulich said.

“How can Casey residents take the State Government seriously when they promise both Cranbourne East and Lynbrook Railway Stations, get elected, then either cancel or delay the projects.”

Read the rest of this entry »

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Why cages are not the answer to the ban

Station tries cages to ease peak bike ban (2008-01-15), The Age:

The cage [being trialled at Eltham] will allow cyclists to store their bikes in a secure area protected from the elements and will be easier to use than the large metal bike lockers found at other metropolitan stations.

The department has bought cages from Transperth — Western Australia’s public transport body.

More than 10 of the cages operate in Perth and findings show increases in the number of cyclists riding to stations and then catching the train to work.

Transperth’s cycling integration manager Jim Krynen said a car park survey found 60% of motorists drove less than two kilometres to their preferred station. And 40% had driven less than 800 metres to the station.

Mr Krynen said the cages had increased the rates of cycling to the station as “that short two-to-three-kilometre trip to the station is not a sweaty activity. It’s convenient and it adds to sustainability and the rider’s health.”

This is all very well and good, but it’s almost not even the same issue. The people who are affected by the bike ban will be a different set to those that start cycling because of new station storage facilities. Read the rest of this entry »

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