17 February 2011

Cycling projects under threat - the letter that Pedal Power refused to print

| Leon Arundell
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To the editor, ‘The Canberra Cyclist’

Cycling projects under threat.

A magnificent Pedal Power effort, in the lead-up to the 2008 election, led to the ACT Government committing $9.3 million in the 2009 Budget for new capital cycling works.

At the first meeting of the Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Working Group, in November 2010, the ACT Government presented Pedal Power and other participants with a proposal to fund a small number of expensive projects, rather than a larger number of more cost-effective projects.

This proposal is likely to succeed, unless Pedal Power insists that the Government prioritise projects according to their cost-effectiveness rather than according to their “Multi-Criteria Analysis” (MCA) scores.

This is especially critical, given that the Government can only fund a small proportion of the $50 million of potential projects.

70% of the MCA score is determined by factors for which projects score higher simply by being larger: connectivity; demand; network enhancement; and strategic importance. Larger projects tend to be more expensive.

If the Government chooses more expensive projects, it can fund fewer of them.

Pedal Power needs to present its position to the Government by the February 2011 meeting of the Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Working Group.

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I really can’t understand why so many cyclists do not use protective head wear, what is worse, they get away with it, and just fly across zebra crossings, with no thought of the motorist.

Solution: get a mountain bike.

Letter is useless without examples.

thy_dungeonman said :

Perhaps they would save money if they didn’t build those stupid barriers that narrow down the path to one lane in some sections. It is supposedly some kind of safety thing but I don’t know why it is safer to bring pedestrians and cyclists closer together at some points.

The barriers are to stop idiot drivers from using the paths. Agreed, better if we could simply eliminate them.

thy_dungeonman said :

Perhaps they would save money if they didn’t build those stupid barriers that narrow down the path to one lane in some sections. It is supposedly some kind of safety thing but I don’t know why it is safer to bring pedestrians and cyclists closer together at some points.

It’s supposed to slow the cyclists down in those areas (like down Barry Drive before Clunies Ross).

I’ve seen a number of cyclists go scarily fast in that section, considering pedestrians pop out from behind those tall fences without checking. Maybe they should also put pedestrian-slowing mechanisms at those points.

Which projects does Leon think should be prioritised?

The use of broad, vague terminology is triggering my “bullshit ranting” and “self-interest lobbying” detectors.

thy_dungeonman5:17 pm 17 Feb 11

Perhaps they would save money if they didn’t build those stupid barriers that narrow down the path to one lane in some sections. It is supposedly some kind of safety thing but I don’t know why it is safer to bring pedestrians and cyclists closer together at some points.

If these clowns are responsible for the installation of bike racks along Wentworth Ave then I fear what other proposals they have to soak up our valuable taxes.
Metres of grass have been concreted for a couple of bike racks next to the existing bus stops.
If these ever get used I’d be baffled enough to fine the rider for not spending another 10 minutes to get to the city on their own steam.

This headline should really contain the word “ban”.

Is this letter suggesting that selecting projects based on connectivity, demand, network enhancement and strategic importance is not appropriate? That funding a larger number of bitsy projects that don’t improve the overall transport network as much is better? The government’s approach sounds sensible to me.

Actually, anyone can insist all they want. Whether it will be effective is another question entirely.

Leon I can’t comment on the merits or otherwise of these cycling/pedestrian projects but would like to point out that Pedal Power was not elected to govern the ACT. All PP can do is present its position. Insisting is for those with the power to do so.

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