Merri-bek BUG

The next Moreland BUG ride is scheduled for the 13th and 14th of March and we will ride the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail!

The distance is 38 km each way. The rail is mainly flat and there are lot’s of stops along the way (a gentle rise over Mt Evelyn – trains don’t climb so well eh). We plan to stay overnight in Warburton and ride back to Lilydale on the next day. They have a lovely campsite in Warburton, right next to the Yarra River. Cabins are also available and there are a few Bed & Breakfasts in Warburton.

We will meet at Flinders St Station at Platform 3 (where the last 2 carriages will stop) at 9.00 am to catch the 9.10 am train to Lilydale. This should leave plenty of time for a lovely relaxing day.

Or you could met us at the Lilydale Railway Station at 10.15 am.

For further information have a look on the trail website.

Or have a look what Bicycle Victoria is saying about the trail.

If you are interested in joining us or if you have any further questions please contact our ride leader Rod Callander (rod.callander@gmail.com). Also, sing out if you need to borrow some panniers and/or camping gear – we have a few spare.

The Upfield bike path has been registered for Clean Up Australia Day, Sunday 7 March from 10 am – 12 pm!

Tammy, the Environment Education Officer at Moreland Council, is organising a clean-up along the bike path between Albion Street and Reynard Street and she’s hoping some other cyclists who regularly commute along the path may be interested in helping with the clean up. This is a public event, anyone is welcome.

The meeting point on the day is Albion Street just east of Anstey Station. Gloves, bags etc will be provided.

Details of this and other sites are on the Clean Up Australia Day website.

Dear Moreland BUG bods

Bicycle Victoria will soon be going live with their registration page to sign up as a counter for Super Tuesday, their annual bike count, this year to be held on March 2nd.

They’re always looking for more counters and it’s a good thing to do. You need to be at your nominated spot from 7–9 am, and count away, watch the sun rise, and support cycling through recording the ever-increasing bike numbers. You can also help the Moreland BUG, if you nominate it for the $50 reward that can go to a club or school. This is Moreland BUG’s most important source of revenue, and keeps the group free from pesky membership fees.

This year when you register, you can chose which of their locations you want to count at – so first in, best positioned. The registration page goes live in early Feb.
Check it all out at http://www.bv.com.au/bike-futures/91111/.

Plus you get a very brightly coloured T-shirt.

If you can’t help out with the counting, at least look out for counters and give them a wave, ring your bell.

Happy cycling
Alisa

Brunswick Cycling Club Inc. are holding an evening of racing at the Harrison Street outdoor velodrome.

Everyone is welcome to come along and watch a good night’s racing, and enjoy the BBQ!

When: Saturday, December 12, 6pm – 8pm
Where: Harrison St Velodrome, East Brunswick

Full details on the club’s website and in the attached enduro flyer.

The Melbourne Bicycle Film Festival kicks off this week and runs to the end of the month, with a range of film events (surprisingly :), art shows, parties and rides. Local events are happening over the creek at Human Powered Cycles and in Brunswick at Commuter Cycles.

Full details are on the Film Festival website.

The Fawkner Festival is being held on Sunday 15th November this year between 11am and 4pm at Mooma Park, McBryde Street, Fawkner.

The Fawkner Festival is a community festival with music, stalls, food, children’s activities and rides. The Festival is organised by a committee of residents and representatives of local community groups.

The Moreland Bicycle Users Group is intending on holding a stall at the event and require volunteers to help out. We need people to help set up, at least two people at the stall at any one time and people to help pack up the stall. If you could volunteer two hours of your time to help out at the stall or help set up or pack up, please email Phuong with options of your preferred shifts.

Volunteer shifts:
10:30-12:30 – set up & stall
12:30-2:30pm – stall
2:30pm-4:30pm – stall & pack up

Also, there have been suggestions of organising a bike ride from the southern parts of Moreland to the event and also the possibility of organising valet bicycle parking. If anyone is keen to take on any of these, please get in touch with Phuong ASAP!

Hume City Council is helping to facilitate the establishment of a Hume Community BUG.

The BUG will organise rides and social events, campaign and advocate for cyclists needs, and work to improve the local cycling network and generally promote cycling in the community. It is also a great way to meet other cyclists and make new friendships

The inaugural meeting of the Hume BUG will take place:

7pm, Wednesday 11th November 2009

Hume Global Learning Centre, 1079 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows (opposite the Broadmeadows train station)

A light dinner and refreshments will be served (please RSVP for catering purposes).

For more info and to RSVP, please email: cycling@hume.vic.gov.au

Just a reminder that the Moreland BUG’s annual general meeting is scheduled for this Thursday night (October 22nd, 2009) at the Edinburgh Castle Hotel (cnr Albion St & Sydney Rd) at 7pm.

The agenda for the Annual General Meeting will be:

1. Confirm minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting
2. Presentation of financial statements by the Committee, detailing the transactions of the Group in the preceding financial year
3. Elect the next Committee of Management
4. Receive and consider the statement submitted by the Group in accordance with the section 30(3) of the Association Incorporation Act (1981), covering details such as income and expenditure in its last financial year and assets and liabilities at the end of its last financial year
5. Enact any other business for which required notice has been given in writing to the Secretary
6. Set membership fees for the following year
7. Appoint an auditor of the financial records for the ensuing year

We have entertainment lined up and snacks will be provided on the
evening so please put the AGM down in your diary and we’ll see you all
there!

Wednesday 14 October 2009 is National Ride to Work Day, a day to celebrate cycling.

Across Australia, work places and community groups will host Ride to Work Day breakfasts to reward people who choose the healthy commute.

Last year Moreland City Council hosted a community breakfast in Victoria Mall which attracted around 100 cyclists. This year is going to be even bigger with community breakfasts in three locations across Moreland.

1. Capital City Trail: Velo Bike Hub – Cnr Nicholson Street and Capital City Trail

If you head down Nicholson Street or the back streets of Brunswick East, be sure to stop at the breakfast by Moreland City Council and Velo Bike Hub on the Capital City Trail, just near the intersection of Nicholson Street.

Stop for a muffin and coffee and chat to Council staff or one of the friendly Velo Bike Hub crew.

Over 700 cyclists pass through the Capital City Trail and Nicholson Street intersection on their way to work each day so this breakfast is bound to be a big one.

2. Commuter Cycles: 14 Prentice Street, Brunswick

If you live in Brunswick and head down the Upfield path to get to work, the closest breakfast site is at Commuter Cycles, on Prentice Street between Victoria and Albert Streets, just behind Brunswick Railway station.

Enjoy breakfast, chat to the staff about upcoming bike events and have your bike looked at by one of their mechanics.

If you need to leave your bike for a full service, ask about one of their courtesy bikes.

3. Victoria Mall, Coburg

If you live in Coburg or head down the Upfield path north of Bell Street, visit the main Council breakfast site in Victoria Mall.

We’ll be serving up a healthy breakfast and expect around 100 cyclists to stop, enjoy a pastry, fruit and a cup of coffee.

Come chat to Council staff about how we can improve cycling in your area. We are particularly interested in what Council can do to help encourage cycling in the northern parts of the municipality and want to include your suggestions as part of the Moreland Bike Plan Review

All sites have Moreland TravelSmart Maps available and information about choosing the right bike.

Dear all,

The Moreland BUG’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 22nd October 2009, in place of our normal monthly meeting. One of the purposes of the meeting is to elect a committee of management for the next year. I invite and encourage all BUG members (which includes all subscribers to this email list) to consider nominating for a position on the BUG committee.

As someone who has held a role on the Committee since its inception, I can recommend it as a great way to be active in a fantastic community group, and to contribute to better outcomes for cyclists in the City of Moreland and beyond.

The following positions are open for nomination:
* Convenor
* Deputy Convenor
* Secretary
* Treasurer
* 3 x Ordinary Members

For a description of the roles and duties associated with each position, please contact Phuong (secretary@morelandbug.rog) for a copy of the Bicycle User Group’s Constitution.

Nominations must be made in writing to the Secretary (Phuong Le) by 15th October, and must be signed by at least 2 other members of the BUG. The nomination form is attached to this email. Please send nominations to:

The Secretary, Moreland BUG
C/- PO Box 518
Brunswick 3056

Scanned copies may also be emailed to Phuong secretary@morelandbug.org

I would like to announce that I will not be standing for the role of Convenor for the next term. Serving in this role for the past four years has been a great pleasure for me – I’ve learnt an awful lot and have been lucky to work alongside fabulous people both within and outside the BUG. I feel it’s time for someone else to have this opportunity, and I hope there will be a bunch of nominees for the position. I’d like to point out that it is possible to share the position too, so if you’re interested in nominating but feel you would like some extra support or somebody to share the workload, consider making a joint nomination with another member.

I also note that Geoff Lewis will not be standing for the position of Treasurer this year – the BUG sincerely thanks Geoff for his years of great work in this role.

I look forward to seeing the nominations roll in…

Anna