20 August 2012

The Greens transport plan for pedestrian and cycling safety

| johnboy
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After a false start where they linked to a March 2010 transport plan the Greens have announced their Pedestrian and Cycling Safety Package.

The ACT Greens Active Transport Package includes:

— $13.25m for walking and cycling infrastructure, to help repair our cracked paths, and for new and upgraded paths, bike lanes, lighting and signage;

— $600k for measures increasing pedestrian safety and amenity, including tripling the number of new crossings and 40km/h zones, and new ‘vulnerable road user’ laws and training for learner drivers;

— $500k to plan for Canberra’s first cycle highway, a direct, high-quality cycle path from Molonglo to the Parliamentary Triangle and Civic;

— $350k for a ‘Canberra Rides’ small grants program, to promote an everyday bike culture in Canberra;

— Upgrades to the ‘FixMyStreet’ service, including an app to let Canberrans use their smartphones to make suggestions about needed works;

— Review of planning codes to support active transport, including requiring all new streets to have footpaths and new developments to give priority to active transport through better streetscapes and more bike lanes.

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Innovation said :

Sigh. Would those people who truly support a bicycle registration scheme and aren’t just trolls please detail how it would work. I’m not an advocate but I’d genuinely like to read what you have to say.

I ride occasionally (not exclusively!) and would be happy to pay in some sort of scheme – if it would shut people up!
How about a voluntary scheme where you ‘donate’ to the Govt coffers (maybe $20-$50?) and simply get a sticker for your bike that says: ‘Yes, i’ve put in some money to use Govt-funded infrastructure. Find something else to complain about’.
It’d be worth it just to end this damn debate! Bring it on! 🙂

BicycleCanberra said :

housebound said :

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

So where exactly is all this money coming from?

Been wondering the same thing. It’s not like they’ll actually hold the keys to treasury. We’ll have to wait for Labor or Liberals to see what these promises might come to.

Its about reallocating the Transport Budget to better reflect what Canberrans want. Already 3/4 goes to road infrastructure, so lets even it up a bit!

Um, do you really want to go down that path? Reallocating the transport budget to reflect what Canberrans actually want would probably mean a massive reduction in spending on cycling infrastructure.

But if you’re OK with it, then fair enough.

Innovation said :

Sigh. Would those people who truly support a bicycle registration scheme and aren’t just trolls please detail how it would work. I’m not an advocate but I’d genuinely like to read what you have to say.

Absolutely! But only if we register all pedestrians too… pedestrian registration will provide funding for all pedestrian infrastructure. I’m sick of people getting out of their cars and walking the remaining couple of blocks to work, simply expecting pedestrian signals to be there. I’m sick of having to stop and wait for these people. I’ve paid for my right to use the road… they have not. I don’t care that they have a fully registered and paid for car at home or in a car park… they haven’t paid for registration for themselves… Why should I stop for them? Don’t go suggesting fully segregated pedestrian infrastructure and bridges at every intersection either… WHERE WILL THE MONEY COME FROM?

Where do they think the money comes from now for current infrastructure? It’s an absolute farce. As someone who has a car park at work and at home, I’m sick of paying for pedestrian infrastructure that I never use.

Pedestrians are selfish, arrogant, always cross against red lights. We need registration plates on everyone out for a walk. I’m sick of people breaking the law when walking around… with no way of us normal, innocent motorists to report them. I don’t care if they’re just out for exercise, they should drive to the gym, pay for a membership, exercise in an air conditioned environment like everyone else.

Out of my way I’m a motorist.

Sigh. Would those people who truly support a bicycle registration scheme and aren’t just trolls please detail how it would work. I’m not an advocate but I’d genuinely like to read what you have to say.

BicycleCanberra said :

housebound said :

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

So where exactly is all this money coming from?

Been wondering the same thing. It’s not like they’ll actually hold the keys to treasury. We’ll have to wait for Labor or Liberals to see what these promises might come to.

Its about reallocating the Transport Budget to better reflect what Canberrans want. Already 3/4 goes to road infrastructure, so lets even it up a bit!

Sounds reasonable. Let’s work out how many kilometres are collectively driven versus how many collectively ridden and apply funding in that proportion.

(Don’t question this method, people, it uses maths dammit)

davo101 said :

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

Innovation said :

pete74au said :

By introducing a registration fee and licensing for cyclists you could raise money for more infrastructure, improve road safety and if compulsory 3rd party was included save the medical costs to injured pedestrians.

But unfortunately the Greens have great visions but no financial credibility.

So how much do you think the annual bicycle rego fee and annual license fee should be under your proposal? And would the bike fee be per bike? And would the fee apply to all cyclists irrespective of age or disability? And would certain people be banned from cycling (eg if they have been done for DUI in a car or if they have lost their car license because of age or disability)? And would you require an extra rego fee for bicycle trailers or tag along bikes? And would the per person fee have to go up each year to cover the lost revenue as people stop cycling and sell their bikes en masse?

Yes.

No.

Yes.

wildturkeycanoe6:46 am 22 Aug 12

davo101 said :

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

Innovation said :

pete74au said :

By introducing a registration fee and licensing for cyclists you could raise money for more infrastructure, improve road safety and if compulsory 3rd party was included save the medical costs to injured pedestrians.

But unfortunately the Greens have great visions but no financial credibility.

So how much do you think the annual bicycle rego fee and annual license fee should be under your proposal? And would the bike fee be per bike? And would the fee apply to all cyclists irrespective of age or disability? And would certain people be banned from cycling (eg if they have been done for DUI in a car or if they have lost their car license because of age or disability)? And would you require an extra rego fee for bicycle trailers or tag along bikes? And would the per person fee have to go up each year to cover the lost revenue as people stop cycling and sell their bikes en masse?

Yes.

No.

As much as I would like to say YES to this, I would change my mind if they removed registration for motorcycles. After all, isn’t a motorcycle just a bicycle that can go fast?? Just use the argument above and put “motor” in front of bicycle….
Hey, why don’t we have dedicated motorcycle lanes too!!! It might reduce the number of fatalities for our 2 wheeled Top Guns out there.

Grrrr said :

pete74au said :

By introducing a registration fee and licensing for cyclists you could raise money for more infrastructure, improve road safety and if compulsory 3rd party was included save the medical costs to injured pedestrians.

So what WAS the cost of medical services provided last financial year to pedestrians who were injured by cyclists? What about when you only count the incidents where the cyclist was at fault? Does it approximate zero when you divide it by the number of bike owners in the ACT? Perhaps pedestrians are in even greater need of 3rd party insurance..

I’m all for bike registration if it did something useful like generate a working national database of bike ownership to combat theft .. but it sounds like all you want to do is hit cyclists with punitive fees for being different to you. Also, rego doesn’t pay for roads .. we’ve been over that a million times!

.
Another tax on things we already pay for with rates, GST and other forms of revenue that is raised by the Federal and State governments.

This argument always makes me laugh as the people putting up this point of veiw always insinuate that all cyclists do not contribute to society which could not be further from the truth.

I want to know when we’ll start charging registration for pedestrians. Those walking around on foot have been given foot paths most urban roads in Canberra… they’ve been given recreational shared paths… at almost every set of traffic lights there’s pedestrian signals. Who on earth is paying for this? How is this funded? It’s not fair that us motorists have to shell out for pedestrian facilities…

Then we get the occasional pedestrian crossing the road against red signals, jumping gutters… yet we have no way to report these criminals.

I say registration plates and annual registration fees on anyone who is out for a stroll or walk to the shops is well over due. It’s about time these leeches start paying for their own infrastructure.

Nothing fires up this site more than a bike thread.

Grrrr said :

pete74au said :

By introducing a registration fee and licensing for cyclists you could raise money for more infrastructure, improve road safety and if compulsory 3rd party was included save the medical costs to injured pedestrians.

So what WAS the cost of medical services provided last financial year to pedestrians who were injured by cyclists? What about when you only count the incidents where the cyclist was at fault? Does it approximate zero when you divide it by the number of bike owners in the ACT? Perhaps pedestrians are in even greater need of 3rd party insurance..

I’m all for bike registration if it did something useful like generate a working national database of bike ownership to combat theft .. but it sounds like all you want to do is hit cyclists with punitive fees for being different to you. Also, rego doesn’t pay for roads .. we’ve been over that a million times!

+1

pete74au said :

By introducing a registration fee and licensing for cyclists you could raise money for more infrastructure, improve road safety and if compulsory 3rd party was included save the medical costs to injured pedestrians.

So what WAS the cost of medical services provided last financial year to pedestrians who were injured by cyclists? What about when you only count the incidents where the cyclist was at fault? Does it approximate zero when you divide it by the number of bike owners in the ACT? Perhaps pedestrians are in even greater need of 3rd party insurance..

I’m all for bike registration if it did something useful like generate a working national database of bike ownership to combat theft .. but it sounds like all you want to do is hit cyclists with punitive fees for being different to you. Also, rego doesn’t pay for roads .. we’ve been over that a million times!

BicycleCanberra4:43 pm 21 Aug 12

housebound said :

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

So where exactly is all this money coming from?

Been wondering the same thing. It’s not like they’ll actually hold the keys to treasury. We’ll have to wait for Labor or Liberals to see what these promises might come to.

Its about reallocating the Transport Budget to better reflect what Canberrans want. Already 3/4 goes to road infrastructure, so lets even it up a bit!

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

Innovation said :

pete74au said :

By introducing a registration fee and licensing for cyclists you could raise money for more infrastructure, improve road safety and if compulsory 3rd party was included save the medical costs to injured pedestrians.

But unfortunately the Greens have great visions but no financial credibility.

So how much do you think the annual bicycle rego fee and annual license fee should be under your proposal? And would the bike fee be per bike? And would the fee apply to all cyclists irrespective of age or disability? And would certain people be banned from cycling (eg if they have been done for DUI in a car or if they have lost their car license because of age or disability)? And would you require an extra rego fee for bicycle trailers or tag along bikes? And would the per person fee have to go up each year to cover the lost revenue as people stop cycling and sell their bikes en masse?

Yes.

No.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back4:07 pm 21 Aug 12

Innovation said :

pete74au said :

By introducing a registration fee and licensing for cyclists you could raise money for more infrastructure, improve road safety and if compulsory 3rd party was included save the medical costs to injured pedestrians.

But unfortunately the Greens have great visions but no financial credibility.

So how much do you think the annual bicycle rego fee and annual license fee should be under your proposal? And would the bike fee be per bike? And would the fee apply to all cyclists irrespective of age or disability? And would certain people be banned from cycling (eg if they have been done for DUI in a car or if they have lost their car license because of age or disability)? And would you require an extra rego fee for bicycle trailers or tag along bikes? And would the per person fee have to go up each year to cover the lost revenue as people stop cycling and sell their bikes en masse?

Yes.

pete74au said :

By introducing a registration fee and licensing for cyclists you could raise money for more infrastructure, improve road safety and if compulsory 3rd party was included save the medical costs to injured pedestrians.

But unfortunately the Greens have great visions but no financial credibility.

So how much do you think the annual bicycle rego fee and annual license fee should be under your proposal? And would the bike fee be per bike? And would the fee apply to all cyclists irrespective of age or disability? And would certain people be banned from cycling (eg if they have been done for DUI in a car or if they have lost their car license because of age or disability)? And would you require an extra rego fee for bicycle trailers or tag along bikes? And would the per person fee have to go up each year to cover the lost revenue as people stop cycling and sell their bikes en masse?

By introducing a registration fee and licensing for cyclists you could raise money for more infrastructure, improve road safety and if compulsory 3rd party was included save the medical costs to injured pedestrians.

But unfortunately the Greens have great visions but no financial credibility.

Sorry to double post, but has anyone looked at TaMS annual report – maybe $13 odd million is what the government already spends on “walking and cycling infrastructure, to help repair our cracked paths, and for new and upgraded paths, bike lanes, lighting and signage”.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

So where exactly is all this money coming from?

Been wondering the same thing. It’s not like they’ll actually hold the keys to treasury. We’ll have to wait for Labor or Liberals to see what these promises might come to.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back7:43 am 21 Aug 12

So where exactly is all this monmey coming from?

Haven’t read the whole report but on the things listed above:

– $13.25m for walking and cycling infrastructure, to help repair our cracked paths, and for new and upgraded paths, bike lanes, lighting and signage; – Signage on northside is fine, and there are few major cracks in paths.

– $600k for measures increasing pedestrian safety and amenity, including tripling the number of new crossings and 40km/h zones, and new ‘vulnerable road user’ laws and training for learner drivers; – Tripling number of crossings?? There are already too many. Why are there 3 within 200metres on Corinna Street. 3 in the Gungahlin TC is plenty.

– $500k to plan for Canberra’s first cycle highway, a direct, high-quality cycle path from Molonglo to the Parliamentary Triangle and Civic; – Waste of money and this is coming from a cyclist. 1 bike path is plenty and can link up to the existing path on the northern end of LBG

– $350k for a ‘Canberra Rides’ small grants program, to promote an everyday bike culture in Canberra; – Dunno on this. Undecided

– Upgrades to the ‘FixMyStreet’ service, including an app to let Canberrans use their smartphones to make suggestions about needed works; – Excellent idea. Surprised it hasn’t been done already

– Review of planning codes to support active transport, including requiring all new streets to have footpaths and new developments to give priority to active transport through better streetscapes and more bike lanes. – Not every street needs footpaths. More bike lanes is a good idea but I really do hope they don’t take it overboard

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