Comments on: Making Bikes an Election Issue. http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/08/10/making-bikes-an-election-issue/ Sitting up straight; The key to growing urban cycling Fri, 11 May 2012 11:33:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: grand http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/08/10/making-bikes-an-election-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-671 grand Wed, 15 Sep 2010 02:39:58 +0000 http://www.situp-cycle.com/?p=2315#comment-671 <strong>grand http://0ec.yq1.200i.co : knobs...</strong> knobs... grand http://0ec.yq1.200i.co : knobs…

knobs…

]]> By: Alan Page http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/08/10/making-bikes-an-election-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-610 Alan Page Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:22:12 +0000 http://www.situp-cycle.com/?p=2315#comment-610 The Fedral Dept of Infrastrucutre has sat on a proposal draft by NSW RTA to up the ebike power limit from 200w to 250w, and simultaneously put on a 25kmh pedalec speed limit (EU standard, full motor cutout at 23-25kmh). My 200w Jamis ebike does 34kmh before the power fizzes away, so its a 26% reduction in speed capability being proposed. I've concluded that speed limiting ebikes is on a par with spending $5 mil on a bike share scheme in Melbourne, and keeping people off the bikes by mandating helmets. Ebikes can improve fitness, reduce traffic congestion and help alleviate climate change. Don't look to the govt for leadership - just get on with it! The Fedral Dept of Infrastrucutre has sat on a proposal draft by NSW RTA to up the ebike power limit from 200w to 250w, and simultaneously put on a 25kmh pedalec speed limit (EU standard, full motor cutout at 23-25kmh). My 200w Jamis ebike does 34kmh before the power fizzes away, so its a 26% reduction in speed capability being proposed. I’ve concluded that speed limiting ebikes is on a par with spending $5 mil on a bike share scheme in Melbourne, and keeping people off the bikes by mandating helmets.

Ebikes can improve fitness, reduce traffic congestion and help alleviate climate change. Don’t look to the govt for leadership – just get on with it!

]]> By: Mike Rubbo http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/08/10/making-bikes-an-election-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-592 Mike Rubbo Sun, 15 Aug 2010 01:03:14 +0000 http://www.situp-cycle.com/?p=2315#comment-592 Well, one way to start finding out, Taliesin, will be to start asking in the election context. I sent the the film to Ian Cohen, Greens MP, asking that he send it on to Christine Milne and Bob Brown. No response. Why don't you try? Also, it would be very good to get a question asked of Tony Abbott on Monday night's Q and A. Even if he'll do nothing, it will bring the issue the open. I hope to send in a video question. I hope others, like yourself, will do the same. Tony Jones is apt to regard it a very left field issue of marginal interest I suspect, unless he gets a few along the same lines. Mike Well, one way to start finding out, Taliesin, will be to start asking in the election context. I sent the the film to Ian Cohen, Greens MP, asking that he send it on to Christine Milne and Bob Brown. No response. Why don’t you try?

Also, it would be very good to get a question asked of Tony Abbott on Monday night’s Q and A. Even if he’ll do nothing, it will bring the issue the open. I hope to send in a video question. I hope others, like yourself, will do the same. Tony Jones is apt to regard it a very left field issue of marginal interest I suspect, unless he gets a few along the same lines. Mike

]]> By: Tali http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/08/10/making-bikes-an-election-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-590 Tali Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:35:15 +0000 http://www.situp-cycle.com/?p=2315#comment-590 Tony Abbott represents the status quo in Australia. My expectations of him (or Julia) in this regard could hardly be lower. I want to know where The Greens and the cycling organisations in Australia stand on this issue, given that they claim to want to promote cycling. They cycling organisations (BISA, Pedal Power ACT, Bicycle Victoria, ...) seem to be MIA on the issue, despite the fact that their peers internationally really do view Australia's helmet laws as a cautionary tale. Tony Abbott represents the status quo in Australia. My expectations of him (or Julia) in this regard could hardly be lower.

I want to know where The Greens and the cycling organisations in Australia stand on this issue, given that they claim to want to promote cycling. They cycling organisations (BISA, Pedal Power ACT, Bicycle Victoria, …) seem to be MIA on the issue, despite the fact that their peers internationally really do view Australia’s helmet laws as a cautionary tale.

]]> By: Branko Collin http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/08/10/making-bikes-an-election-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-589 Branko Collin Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:33:31 +0000 http://www.situp-cycle.com/?p=2315#comment-589 Would that be the Greens on whose Melbourne website you see a prominent drawing of a woman riding a bike helmetless? Would that be the Greens on whose Melbourne website you see a prominent drawing of a woman riding a bike helmetless?

]]> By: Mike Rubbo http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/08/10/making-bikes-an-election-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-586 Mike Rubbo Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:25:57 +0000 http://www.situp-cycle.com/?p=2315#comment-586 Keep trying, Matt. Mike Keep trying, Matt. Mike

]]> By: Matt http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/08/10/making-bikes-an-election-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-584 Matt Wed, 11 Aug 2010 07:03:24 +0000 http://www.situp-cycle.com/?p=2315#comment-584 Mike Rubbo for PM Yes I would love to see Tony get asked a Bicycle 2.0 question on Q&A. Anyone know what the candidates for the seat of Melbourne think of the bike helmet rules for the Melbourne bikeshare bikes? So far my questions haven't made it past the moderator of the Greens website, but I only asked 24 hours ago. Mike Rubbo for PM

Yes I would love to see Tony get asked a Bicycle 2.0 question on Q&A.

Anyone know what the candidates for the seat of Melbourne think of the bike helmet rules for the Melbourne bikeshare bikes? So far my questions haven’t made it past the moderator of the Greens website, but I only asked 24 hours ago.

]]> By: James http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/08/10/making-bikes-an-election-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-583 James Wed, 11 Aug 2010 04:49:53 +0000 http://www.situp-cycle.com/?p=2315#comment-583 Great video!!! Great video!!!

]]> By: Dr Paul Martin http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/08/10/making-bikes-an-election-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-582 Dr Paul Martin Wed, 11 Aug 2010 04:44:04 +0000 http://www.situp-cycle.com/?p=2315#comment-582 BTW - we should all email/twitter in questions to Tony on Q&A on bicycle funding. We need to see some Federal funding and leadership on this issue, much like the Dutch have. The Dutch spend as little as 30 Euro per person per year and just <a href='http://hembrow.blogspot.com/' rel="nofollow">look at what they get</a>! They and their children, are also much happier, healthier and less dependant on oil-based transport. The Federal Government has a say on road funding - why not on bicycle funding? BTW – we should all email/twitter in questions to Tony on Q&A on bicycle funding. We need to see some Federal funding and leadership on this issue, much like the Dutch have.

The Dutch spend as little as 30 Euro per person per year and just look at what they get!

They and their children, are also much happier, healthier and less dependant on oil-based transport.

The Federal Government has a say on road funding – why not on bicycle funding?

]]> By: Dr Paul Martin http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/08/10/making-bikes-an-election-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-581 Dr Paul Martin Wed, 11 Aug 2010 04:38:26 +0000 http://www.situp-cycle.com/?p=2315#comment-581 Great film, Mike. I have been pestering my Greens candidates to at least get a say in how federal cycling funding (the $40M that Christine Milne captured) is spent - focussing on quality, separated infrastructure - Dutch-style - not just paint... I think the DublinBikes is the best 'control' group for Melbourne's bike hire scheme - with a similar number of stations and bikes over a comparable area. They just don't have mandatory helmet requirements. They have more than 37000 subscribers and have seen a whopping 828,688 journeys in the first 12 months! Also, despite no mandatory helmet law, they have had <b>not one</b> serious incident involving the hire bikes… I’m sure Melbourne Bike Share & the RACV will find a few more excuses as to why it isn’t working as well in Melbourne; but after a full year the excuses will be looking pretty weak and all that will be left will be the helmet issue… Great film, Mike.

I have been pestering my Greens candidates to at least get a say in how federal cycling funding (the $40M that Christine Milne captured) is spent – focussing on quality, separated infrastructure – Dutch-style – not just paint…

I think the DublinBikes is the best ‘control’ group for Melbourne’s bike hire scheme – with a similar number of stations and bikes over a comparable area.

They just don’t have mandatory helmet requirements.

They have more than 37000 subscribers and have seen a whopping 828,688 journeys in the first 12 months!

Also, despite no mandatory helmet law, they have had not one serious incident involving the hire bikes…

I’m sure Melbourne Bike Share & the RACV will find a few more excuses as to why it isn’t working as well in Melbourne; but after a full year the excuses will be looking pretty weak and all that will be left will be the helmet issue…

]]> By: Katie Boyle http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/08/10/making-bikes-an-election-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-580 Katie Boyle Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:08:46 +0000 http://www.situp-cycle.com/?p=2315#comment-580 Great film, congratulations :) I'd love to hear Mr Abbott's thoughts on these issues, it's a topic close to my heart too. Great film, congratulations :) I’d love to hear Mr Abbott’s thoughts on these issues, it’s a topic close to my heart too.

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