Merri-bek BUG

The Moreland Pedestrian Strategy is now out for public comment. What do you think about Council’s planned changes?

Victoria Walks supports local communities to make our streets and neighbourhoods better for walking.
We’re interested in hearing from you – what do you think will make this area more vibrant? What will encourage locals to get out and about? How will the Strategy affect you?

Come along and tell us what you think.

Tuesday 11 May, 7pm
Disabled Motorists’ Association
2A Station Street, Coburg (Melways ref 29 G4)
(a short walk away from Moreland station)
Please RSVP for catering purposes – 9667 1326; cchew@victoriawalks.org.au

Please feel free to forward this onto others who may be interested.
We look forward to seeing you there. Happy wandering!

Best regards,
Charmaine Chew
Community Engagement Coordinator
Victoria Walks Inc.
c/o VicHealth Offices
15 – 31 Pelham Street, Carlton 3053
Phone: +613 9667 1326
Fax: +613 9667 1375
Email: cchew@victoriawalks.org.au
Web: www.victoriawalks.org.au

Dear Moreland BUG members,

More people than ever are riding in Coburg, Brunswick and throughout the inner north of Melbourne. It’s great to see so many cyclists on the road. However, with the days getting shorter it’s time to check your batteries and upgrade your bike lights so you can ‘Be Safe, Be Seen’ cycling this winter.

To legally ride at night, your bike needs a bright front and rear light (visible from 200m) and a rear reflector.

Moreland Council and local bike shops are working together to make it easy for you to upgrade your lights.

Throughout the month of May you can get a massive 20% of a range of bike lights from Commuter Cycles, Lygon Cycles, My Mountain, Rays Bicycle Centre Brunswick and Velo Cycles.

Simply print attached voucher and take it to a participating store to claim you discount. Everyone who takes advantage of this offer also goes into the running to win a $300.00 cycling gift voucher. That’s just the thing for a new spray jacket, a complete bike service or maybe a new set of panniers.

Having trouble deciding which lights you need? Check out the Bicycle Victoria Bike Lights review http://www.bv.com.au/bikes-&-riding/91258/

Be safe and be seen on the road this winter.

Regards
Simon Stainsby
Sustainable Transport Officer
Moreland Council
9240 1168

Dear Buggies,

This years Sydney Road Street Festival will be held on January 28th. The Moreland BUG organized a stall, bike parking and bike mechanical service (a big thank you to Huw and his team at Commuter Cycles!).

The only thing we need are some volunteers to help out at the stall and the bike parking. The festival starts at noon and finishes around 7.00 pm.

If you want to give a hand (as little as one hour is enough) please email me and let me know your preferred time you would like to help and also if you would like to help with the stall or the bike parking.

If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to contact me!

Thanks!

Julia Mischke.
Moreland BUG Secretary

Please be aware that Melbourne Water will be shutting down the path for a short period. Works will occur this Wednesday 17th February, sometime between 12-2pm.

There will be a temporary sign tomorrow morning advising users of the proposed shutdown and set up the construction signage on the day as per the traffic management plan.

The closure will be staffed at both ends and detour maps are available on-site. Users detour via Parkview, Harrison and Albion.

The works being undertaken are the removal of tree(s?) adjacent to the path, between Albion and Parkview in East Brunswick. The duration of the closure is expected to be less than 1 hour.

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.

News from Kylie Huard, Strategic Transport Planner, Moreland City Council:

Council has erected a temporary detour in place on the Upfield path near Duckett Street due to an unsafe factory wall abutting the path.

The detour keeps being removed which is endangering all path users. Council has issued a notice to the building owner to install water filled barriers across the path with proper detours in place, however due to the holiday period and the building owner overseas, it has been difficult to get action. We are hoping that the barriers will be installed tomorrow, with a detour in place via Breese and West Streets.

There are also gas works going on in Breese St, however these are south of Duckett St, and should not impact on cyclists using the detour. The traffic management contractors at this site are aware of the detour in place.

We apologise for the disruptions, and hope you understand why we’ve had to block the path. I will provide an update when I know more about the duration of works required to stabilise the wall.

Many thanks for your patience.

News from Kylie Huard, the Strategic Transport Planner at Moreland City Council:

Just wanted to let you know that we’ve been successful in our application for a $160,000 grant for the East Brunswick shimmy. This brings our bicycle budget to over $1 million this year! The route links Canning Street to Barrow Street via East Brunswick, and consists of a variety of treatments including refuges across Brunswick Road and Glenlyon Street, contraflow lanes, path widening and surface improvements and wayfinding. I just wanted to thank the BUG for their support with our submission.

I would like to introduce you to the new committee of management for the Moreland BUG, elected at last week’s AGM:

Convenor: Phuong Le, convenor@morelandbug.org
Deputy/co-convenor: Ross Millward, deputy@morelandbug.org
Secretary: Julia Mischke, secretary@morelandbug.org
Treasurer: Stephen Nowicki, treasurer@morelandbug.org
Ordinary members: Katie O’Bryan, Rod Callander, Alisa Bunbury

Firstly, a huge thanks on behalf of the BUG to the outgoing committee members: to Geoff Lewis, for his hard work and dedication as Treasurer over the past couple of years; and to Veena Druskat, who has been a fabulous rides coordinator and ‘ordinary’ member.

I’d also like to congratulate the new committee, and to wish them the very best for the year ahead. I am sure it will be another big and exciting year in which the BUG continues to grow in size and capacity, and the dynamic duo of Ross and Phuong are extremely well equipped to lead us onward and upward!

Happy cycling,
Anna Strempel

PS. From the BUG: a massive thanks to Anna for all of her hard work, enthusiasm and vision as convenor for the last four years!

News from BV for people using the Merri Creek path:

The section of the Merri Creek path linking the Rushall station precinct to Fairfield Park under the railway line and Heidelberg Road has re-opened following redevelopment.

The path has been closed for a year because of the Clifton Hill rail duplication project.

Some good news:

On 8th July the Moreland Council adopted the 2009/10 budget with the proposed $820,000 spend on cycling intact. BUG is extremely pleased to see an increased expenditure compared to last year’s reported spend of $711,000, particularly given that this increase was approved in a tough economic climate and in a budget where rate increases were reduced significantly.

I think this great outcome is testament to the strength of the ever-growing cycling community in Moreland. The BUG will be working hard to make sure the cycling spend continues to grow over the coming years, to help Moreland realise its full potential as a cycling paradise!

The breakdown of expenditure allocated specifically to cycling in the 2009-10 budget is:

– Bike Strategy $15,000
– Bike paths concrete $690,000
– Bicycle structures $30,000
– Onroads bicycle paths $85,000

Thanks and congratulations to all those who contacted Councillors during this year’s budget campaign; anyone who feels like a celebratory beer or OJ can join the crew at the July BUG meeting next Thursday (23rd July, Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Bruns from 7:30pm)