On Tuesday Afternoon the State government released the plan for the upgraded Samford Rd Wardell St intersection at Enoggera. Some might say big deal but within this design shows some worrying developments in what the Queensland State Government have in store for cycling in the next three years.
Lets first look at the intersection. Samford Road is the main corridor for people from the North West to access the city. Wardell Street is a main North - South suburban road and as such is very busy. While neither road is partitually attractive they are very import as corridors. While most people do avoid these roads some people do and making them safe and allowing for growth of cycling is crucial for encouraging more people to ride bikes.
As I said in a past post the cycling policy that was brought in under the pervious Goverment was now under review according to the Brisbane Times. By the Looks of the new plans for the interection that review may of already happened. Plans can be found here.
While the proposal is an improvement on July 2011 it is certainly not up to a standard that one would wish for people to begin riding a bike. As I understand the policy cycling provision has to be actively included inside the project unless it could be provided along another corridor that is in close proximity. This means bike lanes need to be provided for the full lenght of the project!
The first thing I note is there is no bike lane provided along Wardell street at all. Not even inside the intersection. This is extemely strange as this has been common practice for some time now and it is very common such as other intersection upgrades on Samford Road. To my great surprise there is not even Bike Boxes to allow bike to legally filter through the traffic and get a jump on queueing vehicles. While in most cases I am not a fan of filtering it will be happening and it is legal so it makes the most sense to cater for it. This is very disappointing.
That all said Samford Road has faired a little better. At all the intersections bikelanes have been provided even though some look as short as ten meters or so (see Imbros St). The outbound along Samford has also been provided with a lane for the uphill climb from Wardell St at least just not all the way to the crest of the climb forcing any cyclist back in to gerenal traffic which has already reached road speed (60kmph). Parelling that bike lane is one in the inbound direction. This is welcome as it will allow a person on a bike to skip 20 queued cars. The only problem with this is the lane finishes 30 after Wardell street on an uphill climb. Once again vehicles have reached road speed (60kmph) by the time bikes have to remerge back in with general traffic. What is also of concern is that the bike lanes stop line are not ahead of the general traffic stop lines. Placing Bike stop lines ahead at intersections is about making a bike rider visible. Then there is the combined left turn/straight ahead lanes, these are never a comfortable place to be. This is where a bike box comes in handy as it allow the person on a bike to be easily seen but it also allows them to get ahead if a vehicle that is indeed turning.
Samford Road as part of the upgrade at ferny Grove recieved bike lanes what about this one! All in all the intersection is an improvement on the preivous plans but still not something that should be crowwed about.
Thursday 28 June 2012
Monday 25 June 2012
Brisbane City Council Budget 2012 - Bicentennial Bikeway
Due to the Brisbane City Council Budget being lite on detail like most Government budgets it is often hard know what governments (this case councils) are doing. For this reason it is hard to look at the entire budget so it is easier to look at parts of the Budget that can be defined.
In the Budget Papers on page 196 within the Appendix of schedules there is funding for the completion of the Bicentennial Bikeway Upgraded from a shared path to a segregated path. This is an important project that began back in 2009. This is highlighted by the fact that there is currently over 650 cycle movements along the bikeway between 7am - 8 am peak weekday mornings alone. Within the papers 3 projects are listed as for the Bicentennial Bikeway, stage 3, Stage 4 & stage 5. All stages can be seen at this link.
Stage 3 is the current bottle neck. Located between stage 1 & 2 it has meant the reconvergence of pedestrians and cyclists limiting the usefulness of the existing upgrades. It has been a source of problems since the other upgrades occured as large numbers had to mix it up with some pedestrian and cyclists not understanding the concept of a shared path. There is also the fact that it is sandwiched between Coronation Drive and the former Oxleys restaurant & straight after the restaurant there is a small creek to cross. Funding for this section is listed at $6.7 million. Considering how much the other sections have costed to upgrade this figure sounds about right but it should be noted like previous funding towards the Bicentennial it is more than likely half the funds are also coming from the state.
Stage 4 will mean a continuous segregated path between the CBD and Towong. Like stage 3 currently cyclists and pedestrian have to reconvergence. While this has been limiting to corridors capacity it has less of an effect as many users have already exited at the Land St Tunnel. That said it will still be welcome as it should resolve the current problems of people being confused by the change from segregated to shared then back to segregated. With Funding of stage 4 at only $850 000 it would be safe to say this may only include commencement of works and not the whole section. It may be a project that will run into 2013 financial year.
Stage 5 is quite intriguing. I have never heard of it. It has been given $100 000 and has been placed under the investigation section.
I have to say I am glad for this funding. Once stage 3 & 4 are complete there should be very little complaint in the media of the Bicentennial Bikeway anymore. Most conflict on the bikeway should be removed with capacity for around 2000 cycle movements in each direction per hour. This will mean that a single lane of the Bicentennial Bikeway will have more capacity then a single lane of the Coronations Drive at far less of a cost.
I will leave you with some You Tube footage showing Stage 2 after it was complete
footage is not my own
In the Budget Papers on page 196 within the Appendix of schedules there is funding for the completion of the Bicentennial Bikeway Upgraded from a shared path to a segregated path. This is an important project that began back in 2009. This is highlighted by the fact that there is currently over 650 cycle movements along the bikeway between 7am - 8 am peak weekday mornings alone. Within the papers 3 projects are listed as for the Bicentennial Bikeway, stage 3, Stage 4 & stage 5. All stages can be seen at this link.
Stage 3 is the current bottle neck. Located between stage 1 & 2 it has meant the reconvergence of pedestrians and cyclists limiting the usefulness of the existing upgrades. It has been a source of problems since the other upgrades occured as large numbers had to mix it up with some pedestrian and cyclists not understanding the concept of a shared path. There is also the fact that it is sandwiched between Coronation Drive and the former Oxleys restaurant & straight after the restaurant there is a small creek to cross. Funding for this section is listed at $6.7 million. Considering how much the other sections have costed to upgrade this figure sounds about right but it should be noted like previous funding towards the Bicentennial it is more than likely half the funds are also coming from the state.
Stage 4 will mean a continuous segregated path between the CBD and Towong. Like stage 3 currently cyclists and pedestrian have to reconvergence. While this has been limiting to corridors capacity it has less of an effect as many users have already exited at the Land St Tunnel. That said it will still be welcome as it should resolve the current problems of people being confused by the change from segregated to shared then back to segregated. With Funding of stage 4 at only $850 000 it would be safe to say this may only include commencement of works and not the whole section. It may be a project that will run into 2013 financial year.
Stage 5 is quite intriguing. I have never heard of it. It has been given $100 000 and has been placed under the investigation section.
I have to say I am glad for this funding. Once stage 3 & 4 are complete there should be very little complaint in the media of the Bicentennial Bikeway anymore. Most conflict on the bikeway should be removed with capacity for around 2000 cycle movements in each direction per hour. This will mean that a single lane of the Bicentennial Bikeway will have more capacity then a single lane of the Coronations Drive at far less of a cost.
I will leave you with some You Tube footage showing Stage 2 after it was complete
footage is not my own
Thursday 21 June 2012
Style Over Speed - A Success
On last Friday night around 100 stylist cyclist descended on King George Square for the "Style over Speed" ride 2012. It was a great night and one that proved that wearing normal clothes is always an option when riding a bike.
As usual I turned up unfashionably on time at the 5.15 as requested but I was dressed up in nice shirt black pants and black leather shoes. I have to say it was an event where if I had turned up in anything else I would of felt very strange and out of place. I have to say the women put the most effort in to look good. It was quite a cool night which made it a perfect night to dress up. Many people were dressed in coats that added to the fashion & sense of the night. It was quite amazing to see the numbers continue to swell as the time drew near for the departure from King George Square.
As it was a night for fashion on bikes the ride left fashionably late at 5.45 from King George Square. With so many people riding slowly we were on a sight to see and hear with people ringing there bells (me included). It was a slow procession rolling across to the Three Sisters Cafe in West End. Bikes lined the little Fish Lane where the cafe sits. It was an area where the size of the group really became obvious, overwhelming the little cafe. It was here that prizes were given out. There was some very unfashionable reflective strip things but then there was some very stylist Basil Wicker Baskets that I would of really liked to of won. Both of these were won by two well dressed women. It was here that I had to leave but the ride did continue on to another Bar where a very cool ladies bike with Mudguards & chainguard was won.
What I found best about the night apart from everyone dressing up was the bikes. There was such a mix of not just types but of ages. There would of easily been some bikes there that were well over 30 years old sometimes being older then the rider. There were cargo bikes, something not that common in Brisbane. At least ten people rode Citycycle which have to say are the perfect bike to ride in an event like this. There were traditional women's bikes and new dutch Gazelle brand bikes. It was blast and highlighted the fact that the stereotype of road bikes is just not true.
All in all it was a great night and I am looking forward to the next one.
Photos of the event can be found here
http://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneStyleOverSpeed
Here is a You Tube clip made by one of the guy that attended the event
Wednesday 20 June 2012
Brisbane City Council Budget - 2012 has been released
OK the budget has been released and it has provided for $25 million this year and $20 million for the next 2 years with a final $40 million in the last year of the term. My question is where is $120 million because 120 / 4 equals $30 million each year therefore we are short $15 million.
I will have a proper look through the budget but that is just a starting thought. The budget can be found here
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council/council-information-and-rates/news-and-publications/council-annual-plan-and-budget-2012-13/index.htm?utm_source=corphome&utm_medium=latest_news&utm_term=-&utm_content=image-version&utm_campaign=lm_budget
I will have a proper look through the budget but that is just a starting thought. The budget can be found here
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council/council-information-and-rates/news-and-publications/council-annual-plan-and-budget-2012-13/index.htm?utm_source=corphome&utm_medium=latest_news&utm_term=-&utm_content=image-version&utm_campaign=lm_budget
Monday 18 June 2012
Kickstands - My unreal bikes
Like mudguards (in a previous post) kickstands are not something you commonly see on bikes these days in Australia. There is in fact this saying these days around kickstands that "A real bike doesn't have a kickstand".
Just like mudguards, kickstands seam to of fallen out of favour, some time when people stopped using bikes for real trips. Almost every bike that it is sold through bike shops (a branded bike) in Australia is devoid of these very simple and practical pieces of equipment. This is quite strange as almost every bike sold through the supermarket department stores has a very cheap kickstand attached to it. This could be the basis of the "unreal" saying as many people that regularly ride bikes call the supermarket bikes a BSO or "bicycle shaped object" in other words not a real bike. I find it funny that a supermarket bike will have a kick stand but not a branded bike. Even the branded bikes that are being sold as utility/city bikes seam in most cases to be devoid of them. I could go on in my theory of how this has happened but the simple fact is that it has happened this way.
When I got my first branded bike I was surprised to find no kick stand, how was the thing going to be stored next to the door in my unit without it falling over. I quickly had that fixed when I got it back from it's first (6 week) servicing. Since then I have bought two more branded bikes and both have been fitted with kickstands before I even picked them up. It is always quite interesting the reaction you get from a bike shop assistant when you inform them that you wish your new bike to have a kickstand. Some don't blink an eyelid while some look a little surprised. My current bike is fitted with disc breaks which made a challenge for fitting a kickstand but one was fitted as you see down below.
The reasons for having a kickstand are quite simple. They stand your bike up. This means storing your bike in your home is very easy, mine live near the front door in some dead space that could be used for nothing else. As well as making things simple at home it makes it easy to store your bike when you are out. Everyone has seen the a bike in Australia that is locked to a poll but has fallen over and is laying on the ground. While this is still possible with a kickstand it is less likely. It also means that when locking up the bike when out you do not need to lean it against something so less chance of scratches on the paint work. There is also the times when you are out riding you can stop have a look at something without having to lye your bike on the ground.
When I look over in Europe at the countries that still use the bike for transport the kickstand is alive and well. I love my "Unreal" bikes with there kickstands and I would not been seen on a bike without one.
My first Branded bike now the spouses bike, This kickstand has a twist adjusted
My current bike. The kickstand is only attached to the chain stay due to the disc brakes. This is possible on this bike due to the tubing being rectangular in profile. It is not ideal but it works. The adjuster on this kickstand is via a screw that can not be seen.
Just like mudguards, kickstands seam to of fallen out of favour, some time when people stopped using bikes for real trips. Almost every bike that it is sold through bike shops (a branded bike) in Australia is devoid of these very simple and practical pieces of equipment. This is quite strange as almost every bike sold through the supermarket department stores has a very cheap kickstand attached to it. This could be the basis of the "unreal" saying as many people that regularly ride bikes call the supermarket bikes a BSO or "bicycle shaped object" in other words not a real bike. I find it funny that a supermarket bike will have a kick stand but not a branded bike. Even the branded bikes that are being sold as utility/city bikes seam in most cases to be devoid of them. I could go on in my theory of how this has happened but the simple fact is that it has happened this way.
When I got my first branded bike I was surprised to find no kick stand, how was the thing going to be stored next to the door in my unit without it falling over. I quickly had that fixed when I got it back from it's first (6 week) servicing. Since then I have bought two more branded bikes and both have been fitted with kickstands before I even picked them up. It is always quite interesting the reaction you get from a bike shop assistant when you inform them that you wish your new bike to have a kickstand. Some don't blink an eyelid while some look a little surprised. My current bike is fitted with disc breaks which made a challenge for fitting a kickstand but one was fitted as you see down below.
The reasons for having a kickstand are quite simple. They stand your bike up. This means storing your bike in your home is very easy, mine live near the front door in some dead space that could be used for nothing else. As well as making things simple at home it makes it easy to store your bike when you are out. Everyone has seen the a bike in Australia that is locked to a poll but has fallen over and is laying on the ground. While this is still possible with a kickstand it is less likely. It also means that when locking up the bike when out you do not need to lean it against something so less chance of scratches on the paint work. There is also the times when you are out riding you can stop have a look at something without having to lye your bike on the ground.
When I look over in Europe at the countries that still use the bike for transport the kickstand is alive and well. I love my "Unreal" bikes with there kickstands and I would not been seen on a bike without one.
Thursday 14 June 2012
Sydney Cycleways - George st
http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council/OnExhibition/CyclewayGeorgeStreetRedfern.asp
There is no doubt in my mind that the Sydney City Lord Mayor Clover Moore is one gutsy lady. She has been under sustained media attack for her determination with the installation of segregated on road bikeways. This is all about to begin again with the conclusion of consultation of the George St Cycleway.
The strange thing regarding the cycleways in Sydney is that the most controversial cycleway have not been one of the CBD cycleways but the first to run through Inner city suburbia, the Bourke St cycleway. To me this seams completely bizarre but it is the way it is. The main complaint seamed to stem around the fact that to make the Bourke St Cycleway work over it's 3.2 km length there was to be a lost of around 60 car spaces. To me this very little as it equals around a lose of around 6% of the street frontage to car parking.
The George St Cycleway is no different. Just like the Bourke St cycleway it runs in Inner City Suburbia in fact it is just 700m to the west of the Bourke St Cycleway & the main complaint regarding the cycleway again is around the removal of some parking to make it work. This has been outlined out in this article. This is currently being heavily debated on the Sydney cycling forum Sydney Cyclist. In the debate some very interesting facts are coming up regarding the people that are complaining about the removal of the car spaces so I strongly suggest you look at the links.
I would like to preface this next bit that I do not fully understand the area in question but have looked at it with the help of the Internet. My profession is as a drafter and as such I not only love looking at plans and maps but I can quickly and easily understand them. I have looked at the plans that the council have released and I love it. To me they make sense and I see no problem with them. Yes there is the lose of some car spaces but some things have to change to fit in a new transport corridor. The new cycleway is to be around 2kms long and will run along George Street between Cleveland St & Bourke St (not the Bourke street cycleway as that has not got that far yet). The street in this distance goes from units and terrace houses to light industrial. This means that there will be trip generators at both ends of the cycleway. A very important thing when making an active transport corridor. At the City end (Cleveland st) the cycleway links into and existing shared path through Prince Albert Park that will then link to the CBD cycleways such as Wentworth Av Cycleway that then links into the Collage St Cycleway. All in all this cycleway is not a stand alone cycleway but like other cycleways is forming and network that will allow most people to get where they want on a bike.
From looking at plans I think the new George St Cycleway will be a success just like the Bourke st cycleway. I know there is a serial Youtuber that continues to post footage saying the Bourke St is not being used (he uses the same footage over and over and over etc etc). He has in fact flooded you tube with his garbage. All I have to say is don't believe him. I have been to Bourke St Cycleway myself during peak hour and seen people using it. For that reason I submit these pictures I took during March and the councils own video data.
I have to say I look forward to seeing the commencement of the George St cycleway and all I can say is go Clover! Now if only Brisbane's Lord Mayor Graham Quirk would do the same to our George St. Hummm
Trying you find this clip was made very hard because there is so much junk that has been posted by that serial Youtuber. But I found it that is the main thing.
It should be noted that in all the pictures there is always more than just a few cyclists in each photo. These were taken within only about 2 minutes as I only went up to have a quick look. Don't believe everything you see on Youtube.
There is no doubt in my mind that the Sydney City Lord Mayor Clover Moore is one gutsy lady. She has been under sustained media attack for her determination with the installation of segregated on road bikeways. This is all about to begin again with the conclusion of consultation of the George St Cycleway.
The strange thing regarding the cycleways in Sydney is that the most controversial cycleway have not been one of the CBD cycleways but the first to run through Inner city suburbia, the Bourke St cycleway. To me this seams completely bizarre but it is the way it is. The main complaint seamed to stem around the fact that to make the Bourke St Cycleway work over it's 3.2 km length there was to be a lost of around 60 car spaces. To me this very little as it equals around a lose of around 6% of the street frontage to car parking.
The George St Cycleway is no different. Just like the Bourke St cycleway it runs in Inner City Suburbia in fact it is just 700m to the west of the Bourke St Cycleway & the main complaint regarding the cycleway again is around the removal of some parking to make it work. This has been outlined out in this article. This is currently being heavily debated on the Sydney cycling forum Sydney Cyclist. In the debate some very interesting facts are coming up regarding the people that are complaining about the removal of the car spaces so I strongly suggest you look at the links.
I would like to preface this next bit that I do not fully understand the area in question but have looked at it with the help of the Internet. My profession is as a drafter and as such I not only love looking at plans and maps but I can quickly and easily understand them. I have looked at the plans that the council have released and I love it. To me they make sense and I see no problem with them. Yes there is the lose of some car spaces but some things have to change to fit in a new transport corridor. The new cycleway is to be around 2kms long and will run along George Street between Cleveland St & Bourke St (not the Bourke street cycleway as that has not got that far yet). The street in this distance goes from units and terrace houses to light industrial. This means that there will be trip generators at both ends of the cycleway. A very important thing when making an active transport corridor. At the City end (Cleveland st) the cycleway links into and existing shared path through Prince Albert Park that will then link to the CBD cycleways such as Wentworth Av Cycleway that then links into the Collage St Cycleway. All in all this cycleway is not a stand alone cycleway but like other cycleways is forming and network that will allow most people to get where they want on a bike.
From looking at plans I think the new George St Cycleway will be a success just like the Bourke st cycleway. I know there is a serial Youtuber that continues to post footage saying the Bourke St is not being used (he uses the same footage over and over and over etc etc). He has in fact flooded you tube with his garbage. All I have to say is don't believe him. I have been to Bourke St Cycleway myself during peak hour and seen people using it. For that reason I submit these pictures I took during March and the councils own video data.
I have to say I look forward to seeing the commencement of the George St cycleway and all I can say is go Clover! Now if only Brisbane's Lord Mayor Graham Quirk would do the same to our George St. Hummm
It should be noted that in all the pictures there is always more than just a few cyclists in each photo. These were taken within only about 2 minutes as I only went up to have a quick look. Don't believe everything you see on Youtube.
Monday 11 June 2012
Style Over Speed - Round 2
https://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneStyleOverSpeed
Well the last ride was rained out. I saw the rain and thought there is no way I am going to get wet but some did and around 40 turned up even though it was officially postponed. That said it is happening again this Friday 15th of June. I am really hoping that it doesn't rain.
The whole concept of this ride that you do not have to change your cloths to ride a bike, something I have practised myself for a very long time. For this ride they are requesting that people dress up in nice clothes something I intend on doing myself.
Now if only my bike had a chainguard so I did not have to tuck my pant leg into my sock.
Oh here's what Netherlands cyclists look like, a place where cycling is "normal".
Well the last ride was rained out. I saw the rain and thought there is no way I am going to get wet but some did and around 40 turned up even though it was officially postponed. That said it is happening again this Friday 15th of June. I am really hoping that it doesn't rain.
The whole concept of this ride that you do not have to change your cloths to ride a bike, something I have practised myself for a very long time. For this ride they are requesting that people dress up in nice clothes something I intend on doing myself.
Now if only my bike had a chainguard so I did not have to tuck my pant leg into my sock.
Oh here's what Netherlands cyclists look like, a place where cycling is "normal".
What could be coming to Queensland - State Gov
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/baillieu-slashes-construction-of-cycling-projects-20120521-1z1ed.html
This article was in the Victorian Age a few weeks ago and it was a first of a number of articles highlighting the fact that the Victorian Government is cutting spending towards cycling infrastructure in the name of cost cutting budget. There is no doubt the economics at the moment are tough world wide but cutting funding to cycling infrastructure comes under the "Short sighted & stupid category".
Well what has this to do with the people of Queensland that ride bikes. Well like the Victorian Government the new Queensland Government is also a Liberal Government that seams so far to be a cost cutting. As of this month 40 000 temporary staff have been told there assistance is no longer needed and other smaller things including contracts for indoor plants in offices have been cancelled. This all leads to me being a bit nervous as to whether the State Government will be cutting the budget to cycling infrastructure.
As I said in a previous post cutting funding to cycling infrastructure is terrible short term thinking because installing infrastructure right from the outset makes financial sense. No only does it remove the fact that retro fitting is highly expensive it also means that other long term benefits and savings start later eg. health & increased productivity.
With the Queensland State Budget being delayed until September now it means that there is a prolonged wait and see game now. I only hope that the Government has some long term thinking and sees cycling for what it is, a valuable, quick, cost effective form of transport that benefits everyone.
This article was in the Victorian Age a few weeks ago and it was a first of a number of articles highlighting the fact that the Victorian Government is cutting spending towards cycling infrastructure in the name of cost cutting budget. There is no doubt the economics at the moment are tough world wide but cutting funding to cycling infrastructure comes under the "Short sighted & stupid category".
Well what has this to do with the people of Queensland that ride bikes. Well like the Victorian Government the new Queensland Government is also a Liberal Government that seams so far to be a cost cutting. As of this month 40 000 temporary staff have been told there assistance is no longer needed and other smaller things including contracts for indoor plants in offices have been cancelled. This all leads to me being a bit nervous as to whether the State Government will be cutting the budget to cycling infrastructure.
As I said in a previous post cutting funding to cycling infrastructure is terrible short term thinking because installing infrastructure right from the outset makes financial sense. No only does it remove the fact that retro fitting is highly expensive it also means that other long term benefits and savings start later eg. health & increased productivity.
With the Queensland State Budget being delayed until September now it means that there is a prolonged wait and see game now. I only hope that the Government has some long term thinking and sees cycling for what it is, a valuable, quick, cost effective form of transport that benefits everyone.
Thursday 7 June 2012
Bicycle Parking - Princess Alaxandria Hospital
Being able to park ones bike at Queensland Government buildings and facilities has long been a bug bare of mine. I have always found it to be hypercritical for a Government at one time to be claiming they want more people to ride bikes as a form of transport but yet to provide no parking. Now honestly would anyone really drive a car if there is no place for them to park there car when they reach there destination. The answer is a resounding NO so why is it expected that people riding bicycles would do that!
Early in 2011 it come to light within the Brisbane cycling community there was no bicycle parking at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. The PA (as it is better know) is the second biggest hospital in the Brisbane and is therefore a major trip destination. While some sat on their hands and whinged the cause was taken up, and in late 2011 some parking was provided. It is understood that in the email it was clearly stated the most logical location for the parking would be near the main entry. This is not what occurred.
In the above image a RED B in a circle indicates where the bike parking has been provided, a GREEN B indicates where it should of been provided. Where they have provided the parking, it breaks three of the four guidelines provided within the Queensland Governments own notes for the placement of bicycle parking.
Here is some photos I took when I was last at the PA hospital, it should be noted that they have only provided enough space for four bikes but on the day in question there was 6 bikes on the site as you will see from the pictures
The bike parking partly hiding under a pedestrian overpass. Bike 1 & 2
Locked to a railing near the main entrance. Bike 3
Locked to a pole near the main entrance, beside the walkway to the Carparks & Busway Station. Bike 4
Locked on the opposite side of the walkway to the other bike. Bike 5
Locked to a railing in the walkway between the Hospital & the Busway Station. Bike 6
Early in 2011 it come to light within the Brisbane cycling community there was no bicycle parking at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. The PA (as it is better know) is the second biggest hospital in the Brisbane and is therefore a major trip destination. While some sat on their hands and whinged the cause was taken up, and in late 2011 some parking was provided. It is understood that in the email it was clearly stated the most logical location for the parking would be near the main entry. This is not what occurred.
- It is not near the main entrance
- It is not easily visible, in fact unless you are looking for it you would easily miss it.
- It is in an out of the way location
Here is some photos I took when I was last at the PA hospital, it should be noted that they have only provided enough space for four bikes but on the day in question there was 6 bikes on the site as you will see from the pictures
The bike parking partly hiding under a pedestrian overpass. Bike 1 & 2
Locked to a railing near the main entrance. Bike 3
Locked to a pole near the main entrance, beside the walkway to the Carparks & Busway Station. Bike 4
Locked on the opposite side of the walkway to the other bike. Bike 5
Locked to a railing in the walkway between the Hospital & the Busway Station. Bike 6
It should be pointed out that I had to add where the bike parking is to the PA Hospital map myself, in the six months since the parking was added the map and the website have not been updated to reflect what has happened. What is also disappointing is the Hospital thinks that it is suitable to provide bicycle parking in a spot that is out of the way reflects on how they view people that ride bikes. The PA Hospital and in fact Queensland Health should be promoting people riding there bikes to a hospital, after all is Heart Disease not one of the major killers in Australia!
Monday 4 June 2012
Electric Bikes - Pedal only now
http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/ck/releases/2012/May/CK013_2012.aspx
The rules regarding electric bikes are changing and changing for the better in my view. Now let me first state I have no problem with electric bikes. I think they help people that may be becoming a bit frail or need to get somewhere without getting there to sweaty but there have been problems with them in Australia. The main thing is that I have always believed when it came to electric Bikes is that they are to be a bicycle first, not a motorbike. Therefore the person is the main power source first and electric second.
Throttle is gone and I am glad.
Most E-bikes that were sold in Australia were of appearance to the bike shown above. The difference between the bike shown above and the ones sold in Australia is most of them are throttle assist (or so called assist). As I said above I believe a bike should be a bike not a motorbike. In most cases that I have witnessed throttle "assist" turned a bicycle into a low powered motorbike. Most times I have seen throttle E-bikes in Brisbane the rider has been no pedalling at all and letting the motor do all the work. This gives no benefit to the person riding it and has caused problems. Unlike true motorbikes many of these throttles did not go back straight to neutral if pressure was released. This has meant that they can be tricky to operate.
Pedal Assist the only way
From now on all new E-bikes are to be pedal assist only. This means only when the rider starts to pedal will the motors (assist) will kick in. This means there is to be no more "NEW" people rolling along without doing any work. That said the most important part is that pedal assist is not tricky. A pedal assist E-bike is as easy to ride as normal bike the only difference is before pedalling is you set a dial to how much help you get. This means when you stop pedalling the motor stops. This is extremely important if you have to do an emergency stop.
I have tried both forms and I have to say I hated the throttle assist. I found it tricky to use and stopping was not easy. The pedal assist was a dream. I started to spin the pedals and I was off with all the control a normal bike gave me of starting and stopping.
Increased power
The maximum power output of E-bike has also changed. It was 200W it will now be 250W while I am not a fan of this on the power grounds it does have a very important benefit. European E-bike can be imported almost directly into Australia now. This means high quality European models will now be available to the Australian market.
I have to say I like the changes and welcome them. Bring on the Pedal Assist Cyclists of Brisbane.
The rules regarding electric bikes are changing and changing for the better in my view. Now let me first state I have no problem with electric bikes. I think they help people that may be becoming a bit frail or need to get somewhere without getting there to sweaty but there have been problems with them in Australia. The main thing is that I have always believed when it came to electric Bikes is that they are to be a bicycle first, not a motorbike. Therefore the person is the main power source first and electric second.
Throttle is gone and I am glad.
Most E-bikes that were sold in Australia were of appearance to the bike shown above. The difference between the bike shown above and the ones sold in Australia is most of them are throttle assist (or so called assist). As I said above I believe a bike should be a bike not a motorbike. In most cases that I have witnessed throttle "assist" turned a bicycle into a low powered motorbike. Most times I have seen throttle E-bikes in Brisbane the rider has been no pedalling at all and letting the motor do all the work. This gives no benefit to the person riding it and has caused problems. Unlike true motorbikes many of these throttles did not go back straight to neutral if pressure was released. This has meant that they can be tricky to operate.
Pedal Assist the only way
From now on all new E-bikes are to be pedal assist only. This means only when the rider starts to pedal will the motors (assist) will kick in. This means there is to be no more "NEW" people rolling along without doing any work. That said the most important part is that pedal assist is not tricky. A pedal assist E-bike is as easy to ride as normal bike the only difference is before pedalling is you set a dial to how much help you get. This means when you stop pedalling the motor stops. This is extremely important if you have to do an emergency stop.
I have tried both forms and I have to say I hated the throttle assist. I found it tricky to use and stopping was not easy. The pedal assist was a dream. I started to spin the pedals and I was off with all the control a normal bike gave me of starting and stopping.
Increased power
The maximum power output of E-bike has also changed. It was 200W it will now be 250W while I am not a fan of this on the power grounds it does have a very important benefit. European E-bike can be imported almost directly into Australia now. This means high quality European models will now be available to the Australian market.
I have to say I like the changes and welcome them. Bring on the Pedal Assist Cyclists of Brisbane.
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