Originally posted by Nickzx6r
Did anyone else here get 'hassled'?
I don't have a problem with people riding through there but
I don't care too much either way. THe park shortcut is
slightly more convenient for me but the road is OK too.
It's just nicer riding through the park than in amongst the
nutcases
--
Nick
Cycling thru Carlton Gardens has been under intense "consultation" for quite some time, see links,
Melbourne City Council,
<
http://tinyurl.com/2tw2z>
or
<
http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/par...ter+Plan&casid=731&docid=602&type=1&children=>
Carlton Resident Association,
<
http://tinyurl.com/37u56>
or
<
http://www.carltonresidents.org.au/Current/CRA Carlton Gardens submission Nov 2003 1.DOC>
Bicycle Victoria, Carlton Gardens Masterplan,
<
http://tinyurl.com/362w8>
or
<
http://www.bv.com.au/Content/Naviga...bourne_campaigns/Carlton_Masterplan-FINAL.pdf>
More information, from CM list, March 2004,
Subject: Cycling in the Carlton Gardens
Hi everyone -
The City of Melbourne is seeking ideas and comments from users of the Carlton Gardens. They are developing a Master Plan to guide the use, development and management of the gardens for the next decade. There is a public forum on this topic tomorrow night (Tue March 23), and written submissions can be sent to the Council until April 8. (See the end of this email for full details on the public forum & written submissions).
As part of this process, the Council is considering the issue of cycling in the Gardens. Cycling is currently banned, but there are many good reasons as to why this ban should be lifted, such as:
* Canning Street is a major north/south bike route into the city. The Gardens provide a natural link between Canning St & the CBD.
* Cycling on the existing shared footpath around the east of the Gardens (Nicholson St) forces cyclists to cross a blind car park entrance, where concrete structures block visibility for drivers. There is also a large section of rough bluestone which makes up part of this shared path.
* Cycling around the west side of the Gardens is means using Rathdowne St, a road with high traffic volumes, particularly in peak hour when the bike lanes don't count for much as drivers jockey for position.
* The roadway south of the Exhibition Buildings is a natural east-west connection between Gertrude St, Fitzroy & Queensberry St, Carlton.
* Cycling in the gardens is safe, paths are wide, and sightlines allow for co-existence of cyclists and pedestrians. Of course, cyclists should respect other path users and maintain a safe speed while riding through the Gardens.
Around 140 submissions were received in the first stage of the consultation, most of these in support of safe cycling in the gardens. As a result, when the Council published its "Issues Paper", they included the following information/
questions specifically relating to cycling in the Gardens:
<quote>
Cycling in Carlton Gardens and Exhibition Reserve has been an issue of intense community debate in recent years. The Master Plan process is an opportunity to examine whether the current `no bike riding' rule should be changed.
If this is to be considered it may be appropriate to allow cycling on specified routes or at certain times of the day. It has also been suggested that the bike network around the gardens should be improved in preference to allowing cycling through the gardens.
* Should cycling be allowed in Carlton Gardens? If so, should specific cycling routes or cycling times or other management techniques be introduced?
* Should the current `no cycling' regulations remain, and the cycling networks around the gardens improved instead?
</quote>
<The complete issues paper can be downloaded from:
http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/parks/default.asp?casid=731&docid=602&
type=1>
Public Forum:
A Public Forum will be held at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, 23 March 2004 at Melbourne Museum, Carlton Gardens. It'd be great if many cyclists were present to put our case (NB: the Carlton Residents' Association has already signalled its opposition to cycling in the Gardens, and they will definitely be at
the meeting tomorrow night). If you wish to attend please RSVP to City of Melbourne Hotline on (03) 9658 9658 or email
[email protected]
Written Submissions:
If you want to comment on cycling in the Gardens (or any other matter related to the Master Plan), you can respond in writing by Thursday 8 April 2004 to:
Ms Carmen Dart
Parks and Recreation
City of Melbourne
GPO Box 1603M
Melbourne, Victoria, 3001
Telephone: (03) 9658 9658
Email:
[email protected]
Facsimile: (03) 9658 9174