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Comment by Ruth Beach on September 21, 2012 at 10:17

A cyclist running for Prospect Council By-election

I am a candidate in the Prospect Council by-election. I have commuted by bike for 25 years and love mountain bike riding though I’ve done less of it since the kids were born.
I believe our streets should be safe for all. I will actively support moves to improve cycling, pedestrian options and public transport options in favour of vehicular traffic.
As a Councillor, I would bring knowledge of the frustrations experienced by cyclists such as bike lanes running out; cars parked in bike lanes; the need for decent commuter routes instead of busy roads; the need for cycle access to blocked roads; satisfactory parking facilities; lock up facilities at train stations. The list goes on.
The promise I make is that I will work hard to improve the City of Prospect for you.

Comment by heather on October 31, 2011 at 12:44

Please post hazards here so we can discuss and I report to authorities. I keep hearing complaints from cyclists while roads under construction.

I understand that this month a Prospect cyclist was seriously inured when he hit wires newly erected across a cycling route in ACC area. His relatives have asked for the name not to be released, so I do not know if we have met. Of course we regret cyclist injuries and hope for a recovery. http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/forum/topics/cyclist-injured-by-wire-across-a-path

 

Earlier this year a female cyclist died when hit by a truck at Cavan. I wrote to the authorities asking for road design improvements but no response. The name was not released. Have since heard that she was a Prospect resident. http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/forum/topics/cyclist-killed-in-cras...

Comment by heather on August 15, 2011 at 19:37

On Saturday 3-Sep-2011 Prospect BUG will celebrate its second anniversary with a BYO picnic. Meet at noon at the playground near the Adelaide Aquatic Centre for a leisurely ride to Botanic Park. Arrange your picnic rug on the grass between Botanic Drive and the Zoological Gardens, within sight of a bird aviary. Remember to bring soft drinks and games for your children. RSVP appreciated. How much cake? http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/events/prospect-bug-s-second-annive...

Comment by heather on February 12, 2011 at 0:59

Ideas for ACC Bicycle Action Plan close on Friday 18 March. Join Adelaide BUG and post NOW.

Comment by Patrick Sunter on June 7, 2010 at 22:31

A lively debate on shared spaces ... just to give a perspective from an ex-Adelaidian now living in Brunswick East, Melbourne:

I live on the busy arterial road of Lygon St, where there's a tram, and shopping strip on both sides with variable width footpaths, and 'clearway' for parked cars most of the time, except peak hour. The speed limit I think is 50, but they have flashing 40 speed limit signs which come on some of the time.

I'd say that with a high volume of cars, 40 is still not guaranteed safe for pedestrians and cyclists :- you still need to very much have your wits about you when crossing, or wait for the lights. But it does encourage at least a bit crossing over, which is good for traders and the street's cafe atmosphere.

As Heather has pointed out, there's a big difference between different kinds of 'shared zones'. E.g the Dutch "woonerf" concept puts pedestrians and cyclists at absolute primacy and limits cars to around 15km/h .... through to a 40km/h 'shared zone' which is still primarily about cars.

I think Heather makes a very valid point too about if buses will continue under the new plans, how cyclists are to share the zone effectively with them.

Comment by heather on May 27, 2010 at 1:03

Steve, I will remind you, that Australian guidelines do not permit 'shared spaces' on arterial roads and with 5000 vpd or more. Nor do overseas countries. The 'shared spaces' you refer to are on quieter streets with much less traffic. Overseas there has been negative experiences between vehicles and other road users in 'shared spaces'.

1. From Austroads ‘Guide to Traffic Engineering Practice: Part 7 – Traffic Management’. The ‘shared space’ concept is based on a sharp distinction between traffic routes and pedestrian streets, the latter being appropriate for zero traffic management treatment. [Prospect Road is an arterial road, the former.] Overseas guidance suggests that the concept may be considered where vehicle speeds are below 40 km/h and volumes less than 5000 veh/d. [Prospect Road has 20,400 vpd. ‘Shared spaces’ are yet to be trialed in Australia. From overseas experience…] There are some reports of negative experiences of cyclists and pedestrians in zero-management streets; suggesting that in the confrontation between a vehicle and other road users it is the vehicle that can exert most power.

I am aware that you ride a (council-provided) scooter to and from work. The road experience differs for riders of faster scooters and slow moving bicycles. I note that you do not cycle to and from work on arterial roads during the peak-hour traffic. Why don't you try it and find out what it is really like? I have been left permanently injured after being hit three times by negligent drivers. Three of my cycling friends were killed by negligent drivers. I am in no hurry to remove bicycle lanes and implement a 'shared space' on an arterial road that does not meet Australian guidelines.

You mention raising money for bicycle projects. Interesting that council can find $75,000 for 'rusty scrabble' at Fitzroy Tce, or $100,000 for more 'art work', or millions to upgrade Prospect and Churchill Roads, again, but it cannot find $10,000 to continue the Prospect Bike Plan.

Comment by Steve Harrison on May 26, 2010 at 16:15

Heather I have been very fortunate to ahve seen first hand how shared zones work overseas and interstate and I ahve spoken at length with Council and road authorities overseas and interstate, and shared zone's, at 40km/h work very efffectively and safely on roads exactly the same as Prospect Road's retail strip.

Unfortunately you argue your cause to the detriment of all road users, to put forward a solution that cannot be proved to be safer for cyclists (again I refer you to overseas studies on the danger of bike lanes) and encourages an us and them meatality of our roads.

Prospect Trader's quiet rightly argued for the removal of the bike lane, as they have to make a living and employ people and have bills to pay. They also want Zebrea Crossings for the hundereds who risk crossing teh road everyday. And when they see a bike lane that cater for on average 26 cylcists one way, and 22 the other way per day, it is very frustrating, It is also interesting that since the bikes lanes have been in place there has been no increase in cyclists usign the road.

Our strategy was to slow vehicles down, force drivers to share the zone and be far more aware of cyclists and pedestrians and hopefully deter commuters from even using Prospect Road, to reduce the trafic load and make the road safeer for everyone, not just cyclists.

Your determination to force a bike lane and remove any notion of a Shared Zone, without any regard to all road users (pedestrians and cars - our intention is to ban heavy vehicles) will make the retail precinct ok in peak periods, but very dangerous for cyclists outside of peak periods.

There may be some reports of negative expereinces of cyclsits and pedestrians, howwever your bike lane notion will deliver far more negative expereinces for all road users, and is not a safe solution.

PS The Bike Program may be on hod for 2010-11 but we will continue to run very active cycling events and activities through more creative partnerships with state and federal governments.

PSS You are quiet right to point our my roll with Council, as Director of Busienss and Economic Development. What you may not know is that over the last 12 months I secured for Council significant funding from teh State government and businesses sponsors to enable the running of several cycling events and actvities. Because I am pro-cylcing. I also commute to and from work on a scooter. I am pro-development on main arterial roads, but I love my 1880's homestead I have renovated back to its former glory.

In my roll with Council I serve a broad church and my objectives are to find a solution to retail zones where everyone is a winner and we learn to share spaces, not separate people into boxes and create false senses of security. And I am passionate about ensuring that when people rightly debate matters such as cylcing that readers have all the facts and figures, with no spin and no editing and no withholding of alternative view points, so a fully informed decision or opinion can be fomed.

Comment by heather on May 23, 2010 at 1:50

Steve also omitted:
1. From Austroads ‘Guide to Traffic Engineering Practice: Part 7 – Traffic Management’. The ‘shared space’ concept is based on a sharp distinction between traffic routes and pedestrian streets, the latter being appropriate for zero traffic management treatment. [Prospect Road is an arterial road, the former.] Overseas guidance suggests that the concept may be considered where vehicle speeds are below 40 km/h and volumes less than 5000 veh/d. [Prospect Road has 20,400 vpd. ‘Shared spaces’ are yet to be trialed in Australia. From overseas experience…] There are some reports of negative experiences of cyclists and pedestrians in zero-management streets; suggesting that in the confrontation between a vehicle and other road users it is the vehicle that can exert most power.

2. Prospect Council and Prospect Road Traders publicly objected to Transport’s plan to specifically cater for cyclists during peak-hour on Transport’s arterial Prospect Road. When cycling areas then bicycle lanes added, a campaign to remove the peak-hour cycling areas / bicycle lanes, to give priority to car parking at all times. This area has been no parking during peak-hour since about 1972.

3. That the council's Draft Budget 2010-11 puts on hold the Prospect Bike Plan by cutting funding.

3. He is employed by the Prospect Council as Director Business & Economic Development.

Comment by Steve Harrison on May 21, 2010 at 23:48

Council wanted to create a zone that was 40km/h with multiple zebra crossings to allow the hundreds and hundred of pedestrians who risk trying to cross Prospect Road everyday in the retail precinct. We want to create a road area where cyclists and pedetrians and vehciles mix and respect each others space. We need to keep this debate in perspective. Heather is right regard the volume of cars and trucks andheavy vehicles, but pedestrians far out number cyclists. Yet pedestrains and cyclists are both vulnerable and both should be protected, by slowing every one down (as per Thinker in Residence) and creating one of Adelaide's only precincts where drivers are forced to respect and share cyclists and pedestrians. It serves no purpose quoting Australian stadnards, when the precinct we are proposing operate perfectly safely in Europe, New Zealand, USA and UK.

Comment by heather on May 21, 2010 at 21:47

Steve has omitted:
1. There are differences between 'shared zones' and shared spaces'. Council is planning the latter.
2. Prospect Road has 20,400 vehicle per day, 15,500 too many vehicles to meet Austroads guidelines for a 'shared space'.
3. There is nothing in Australian Road Rules of cyclists or pedestrians having priority in a 'shared space'. Pedestrians (not cyclists) have priority in a 'shared zone' but Austroads guidelines require a speed limit of 10 km/h and less than 1,000 vpd, unachievable on an arterial road.
4. Council plans to narrow the road until cyclists are overtaken by buses within millimetres, when government documents, including the Drivers Handbook, state leave a minimum of one metre clearance when overtaking a cyclist.
5. Overseas in The Netherlands, cyclists are safely separated from vehicles by a buffer. The roads are designed such that the road fatality rate is a fraction of Australia's road deaths.

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