Merri-bek BUG

From the BV website:

12 January 2009. The Merri Creek footbridge between McMahons and Bakers roads, Coburg North, and the access ramps on both sides of the creek will be closed to the public until further notice. (Melways 17 J8)

This is necessary for public safety while trees and other vegetation are removed from the access ramps, and a new water main is laid along McMahons Road, across the Merri Creek and along Bakers Road.

The nearest alternative crossing is at Carr Street. The access ramps leading to the bridge and shared path will be improved and rebuilt to a better standard.

Path users will be temporarily diverted around the works via local streets and then back to the shared path.

People travelling north will leave the path at Ida Street; turn right at Knight to Bakers, left at Bakers Road to Gould and return to the Merri Creek at Goleen Street.

Those travelling south will leave the path at Goleen Street, turn left at Gould, right at Knight and return to the shared path at Ida Street.

The shared path will be reopened out of working hours.

For further information please call Melbourne Water on 1800 027 517.

This section of the Merri Creek path is a few hundred metres north of the Coburg Lake reserve.

Due to the bleak forecast for today’s weather, the Christmas ride has been postponed. Please keep next Sunday free (weather permitting) for the next ride. Veena will send out an email, with more info, throughout the week.

As previously mentioned, MorelandBUG asked candidates running in the upcoming Council Elections to measure their support for cycling and thoughts on cycling issues in the Moreland area.

Below is a link to the survey with answers filled out by Moreland Council Election Candidates.

Moreland Council Election Candidates Responses (.pdf, 84KB)

Dear BUGgees,

As you would know, the Moreland Council elections will be held this Saturday, and Moreland BUG surveyed candidates ahead of the election to find out who supports cycling and who is less enthusiastic.

Attached is a press release we put out with some of the results of the survey – we had thought it was going to get a run in this week’s Leader but unfortunately it didn’t.

You will note that the inaugural ‘Wooden Spoke Booby Prize’ for least bike-friendly candidate was jointly awarded to Anthony Cianflone and Michael Andrews.

The press release outlines some of the high- and low-lights, but doesn’t give a full overview of each candidate’s position. We will aim to have this overview done by late this week, in time to help you decide how to cast your vote! In the meantime, if you have any specific questions please feel free to email me and I’ll answer as best as I can.

Cheers, Anna

Candidate Survey Media Release

Here is the presentation (2.9 Mb PDF file) that Anna gave at last week’s AGM on what the BUG has accomplished over the last year.

The BUG’s Annual General Meeting was held last Thursday night (23 October 2008).

Here are the 2008 AGM minutes and the 2007-2008 financial report for the Moreland BUG.

At our last BUG meeting we were joined by Bill Bretherton from Human Powered, who runs the fantastic Community Cycles program out of a workshop in Brunswick East.

Bill, Joel and the Human Powered team are tireless in their pursuit to bring recycled bikes to people who need them, and it’s great to see that their story was shared with the nation on Lateline on Friday night.

To view the transcript or the video, go to:
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2008/s2387909.htm

The National Ride to Work day is on Wednesday, October 15, 2008.

Around Moreland, the following Ride to Work activities will be happening.

The City of Moreland is hosting a breakfast in the Victoria Street Mall, Coburg, from 7:30am – 9:00am.

Commuter Cycles (14 Prentice Street, Brunswick) is offering espresso coffee (with a barista and machine in for the day) fresh fruit, and bacon & egg sandwiches, plus a quick bike tune up if you need it.
When: 7am to 10am
Cost: A gold coin donation, and that you register for Ride To Work Day.

Human Powered Cycles (38 Harrison St, Brunswick East) is offering:

• 8-9am – free intro bike maintenance training
• Free puncture repair all day
• 10% off parts and accessories all day
• 5-6pm – free intro bike maintenance training
• 6-8pm – drinks and pizza with the crew… open to everyone!

BV have a comprehensive list of other community breakfasts around the city and state.

Please remember to register, as the stats of how many people ride helps bicycling advocacy (and you have a chance of winning some great prizes!).

If you haven’t ridden to work before and you are not sure where to start, have a read of Bicycle Victoria’s “Where do I start?” guide.

The 2008 Annual General Meeting of the Moreland Bicycle User is to be held this month:

Date: Thursday 23 October
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Caffe Mingo, 600 Sydney Rd, Brunswick (followed by drinks afterwards at the Edinburgh Castle Hotel, cnr Albion St and Sydney Rd)

Agenda

Under the constitution, the ordinary business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:

1. Confirm the minutes of the previous (2007) 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 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

The overall agenda for the night will be:

1. AGM
2. Presentation
3. Drinks at the pub!

Elections

Assuming more than one nomination per position, there will be an election for the committee positions, which are:

1. Convenor
2. Deputy Convenor
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer
5. Three (3) Ordinary Members

I would strongly encourage you to consider helping the BUG by being on the committee. It requires only a small amount of time but has a significant impact on the effectiveness of the group.

Nominations of candidates for election as officers of the Group or as ordinary members of the Committee must be:

1. Made in writing, signed by two members of the Group and accompanied by the written consent of the candidate (which may be endorsed on the form of nomination); and
2. Delivered to me (the BUG Secretary) by Thursday 16 October at 7:30pm. I will accept the nominations in the following formats:
   • Fax: 03 8610 2174
   • Paper: sent to 87 Rae St, North Fitzroy, 3068
   • A scan of the nomination form: sent to gcross@fastmail.fm

Other business

If you have any other business that you want raised at the AGM, please provide notice to me, in writing, by Monday 13 October.

Please note that we require a quorum of ten (10) members at the AGM, so please come!

If you have any questions about the AGM or committee election, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Graeme Cross
Moreland BUG secretary and public officer

Hi everyone.

At last week’s Moreland BUG meeting, Peter & Claire noted a letter, in last week’s Moreland Leader, requesting feedback on how to increase the number of cyclists and their safety, in the Pascoe Vale electorate and Moreland.

You can email Ashley at amsat1@student.monash.edu.au.

More details in the attached letter (click on the thumbnail for the full version).