Forwarded msg from Justin @ MelbBUG follows:
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Re: various comments about Southbank... here's some info from the Melbourne BUG perspective.
As a general note, Melbourne is not the best municipality for bike works, but neither is it the worst. If you want to comment on issues of concern in the Melbourne council area, send your emails to:
[email protected] and please cc a copy to Melbourne BUG:
[email protected]
Here are some clarifications of various comments on this thread:
>Southbank is part of the Capital City Trail, and the seemingly lack of >adequate signage doesn't help one iota.
*WE* might consider Southbank to be part of the Capital City Trail (and indeed it *is* part of it according some State Govt dept's), but NOT according to the City of Melbourne. Take a look at the maps in the Melbourne Bike Plan (do a search on www.melbourne.vic.gov.au ), and take a look at the latest Melbourne TravelSmart maps. Neither shows Southbank as a bike path. In fact, council staff specifically told the makers of the TravelSmart Melbourne map to not show any bike route along Southbank Promenade.
This a reversal of Council's stance of some years ago, when they were happy to acknowledge Southbank as a shared path. MBUG & BV have often attempted to get the current stance reversed, but to no avail. For some history see:
http://www.bv.com.au/inform.php?a=7&b=145&c=1011
>Is it clear where this starts and ends? Or is just the start well marked >and the end unmarked? I vaguely remember seeing a dismount sign under >Princes Bridge.
According to City of Melbourne, the Cyclists Dismount signs under Princes Bridge are only meant to refer to the times when the market is on (Sundays). The signs are confusing, as they seem to indicate that cyclists should walk at all times. MBUG has been trying to get this changed for some time... if you want to see the signage changed, lend your support by emailing your thoughts to:
[email protected] &
[email protected]
>You cant blame pedestrians, both local and tourists,for not being aware of >this if there is no signage. You could put up a dozen signs saying that >cyclists must dismount but i am afraid that they would be ignored. Who >wants to get off and walk their bike at 6.30am along southbank when its >clear? No one.. It wouldnt be enforced by the police anyway. Logistally its >not cost effective for them to do it all day every day.
Vic Police have told MBUG that they are not likely to ticket any cyclists for riding along Southbank, because the cops consider it to be a "road-related area", i.e. the cops consider it to have shared path status, even if Council does not. But if there is a series of collisions with peds, this could change if the cops get too many complaints.
>It's a tad nebulous. Who's up for a solution, like contacting Melb Council, >BV, MelbBUG or DSE? Designated marked lane on Southbank? Other worthy >suggestions? Or should we all attempt to emphasise the importance of >slowing down - via word of mouth?
Possible solutions that have been mentioned include a separate floating bike path along Southbank (a la the Yarra Trail section which runs alongside Citylink), and the development of Northbank as a proper shared path by removing road crossing at-grade and fixing problem sightlines & corners. But both of these solutions are very expensive... e.g. the concept plans for Northbank have been roughly costed at $10 million+, because they would require dykes to hold back the river where the shared path would go under the road bridges (similar to Moonee Ponds Trail). Also a floating path on the Southbank side would have to work out how to accommodate the tour boat operators.
In the meantime, share the space... ride according to the conditions and respect pedestrians. And lend your voice to the campaign for change.... the more support, the better.
Vic Police bike patrol are keen to get cyclists to slow down along Southbank... MBUG was all set to collaborate with Russell Lindsay on a campaign when Russ was unceremoniously demoted earlier this year.
>Have always thought it kind of strange that the lower/waterside promenade >hasnt been allocated as a cyclist path (with relevant ramps etc at either >end)
Tour boat operators are the main users of the lower promenade, and they are very vocal stakeholders in any proposed changes to Southbank. Council is hesitant to be perceived as "anti-business" (i.e. anti-tour operator)
>I spoke to an engineer at Melb city council once about why they had painted >on and then removed the bike lane on princes bridge.
The bike lanes on the FOOTPATH on Princes Bridge have been temporarily removed during the bridge renovation works, which is causing narrowing of the footpath due to scaffolding/hoardings. MBUG has been assured by Council that they will be reinstated when the bridge works are complete, which should within the next month (although the project is running behind schedule).
>I’ve noticed that there are "no bicycles" signs on both sides of Princess >bridge & they seem to be facing the road (or near the road edge). The white
>line on the road doesn’t seem to be indicating a bicycle lane as it’s >pretty narrow to the curb.
Those signs refer only to cycling on the footpath while the bridge works are being done. But yes, they are confusing and people (including motorists) think they refer to the roadway as well. MBUG has asked to have an "on footpath" addendum added under the signs, but Council is dragging its heels (again). The white line on the road *IS* meant to be a bike lane (albeit a very narrow one... thank BV for that, it's their lobbying that got it painted).
Thanks everyone for your comments about Southbank. Great to see so much interest!
cheers,
Justin M
Co-Convenor, MBUG
