14-08-2013

 

To whom this may concern,

 

Dear Madam/Sir.

 

I as a representative of the Hobsons Bay Bicycle User Group (HBBUG) write this document as comment in reference to the proposed 2013-2017 Hobsons Bay Strategic Bicycle plan.

 

The attached 2013 HBCC Strategic Bicycle Plan 2013-2017 HBBUG Submission.pdf shows the Map of HBBUG 2004 recommendations for an interconnected network of On-road Bicycle Lanes in Blue Lines and Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Paths in Green Lines.  

The text of the Hobsons Bay Submission 12-11-2004-Updated.doc (Updated 02-12-2008, Updated text in italic bold) describes key points regarding development of key connections and routes needed in 2004 which are yet to be completed. Therefore this requires the 2004 HBBUG submission regarding the 2003 Hobsons Bay Strategic Bicycle Plan to be resubmitted for the 2013-2017 Hobsons Bay Strategic Bicycle plan.

 

The attached 2013 HBCC Strategic Bicycle Plan 2013-2017 HBBUG Submission.pdf Map also shows the HBCC Strategic Bicycle Plan 2013-2017 HBBUG recommendations for Shared Bicycle /Footpaths as Red Dots and On-road Bicycle lanes as Red Lines.

 

The HBBUG recommendations for Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Paths to be completed in the short term include but are not limited to;

1        The connection of the Federation Trail to The Punt at a New Jetty on the North side of the Westgate Bridge, which would include the installation Pedestrian Controlled Traffic Lights on Hyde St. at the Stony Ck. Backwash.

2        A Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path through Newport Park to connect Newport Train Station via Tait St. and Collingwood Rd. with the Yarra River Trail.

3        A Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path on the Western boundary of Quarry Reserve between Florence St. and Akuna Dr. Williamstown Nth. There is a rut through there created by the heavy use of this route by cyclists.

4        A Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path along the Eastern side of Champion Rd. from Williamstown Train Station to Market St. was recommended in the 2004 HBBUG submission.

5        A Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path along the Eastern Side of Maddox Rd. from Kororoit Ck. to Railway Pde. Newport West.  As recommended by the HBBUG in the J. T. Gray Reserve Master Plan Submission.

6        A Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path from Birmingham St. to Moresby St. Sth. Kingsville already exists, but needs to be extended along the Rail Reserve in Moresby St. to connect to the Federation Trail.  Part view of this area is at NP4 Page 22 of the Hobsons Bay Strategic Bicycle Plan 2013-2017, Technical Report February 2013.

The benefit of a Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path here would result in the increase in cyclist tourism to the Vernon St. Sth Kingsville Town Centre/Village and also connect Newport cyclists to the Federation Trail West via a more direct route.

7        Connecting the Kororoit Ck. Trail to the Federation Trail.

8        There needs to be a curved (‘C’ shaped to follow the curve of Kororoit Ck.) bridge constructed across Kororoit Ck. Westward from Pointing St. Williamstown Nth. on the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail (Bay Trail) aligning along the length of the Kororoit Ck. Levy Bank to cross over Kororoit Ck. and rejoin the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail (Bay Trail) at its junction with the Altona Coastal Park Trail parallel with Altona Rd. at a location that would provide a flood free crossing for slow-speed commuter cyclists.

9        The completion of the Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path around Bryan Martin Oval is needed. The section needing to be constructed passes from the South-West aspect of the Path near Woods St., following the Oval fence to pass between the Oval fence and the Netball Court turning Right at the Drinking Fountain, then passing to the East of the Netball Court and toward Market St. The path then turns Left to pass between the 2 rows of trees parallel to Market St. and lining up with the South-Eastern end of the existing Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path between the Ground Keeper’s Shed and Market St.

Parents with children and Joggers will love this 500M Circular facility, as well as it serving as a Cyclist connection to Mason St./Newport Train Station from the existing Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path on Market St.

10      The existing Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path on Market St. is part of the proposed longer Truganina Bike Route (HBBUG 2008), which follows the train line from Newport Train Station to Werribee Train Station as an alternate route to the Federation Trail, which unlike the Federation Trail the Truganina Bike Route (HBBUG 2008) connects with a number of population centres via a direct route.

The Truganina Bike Route (HBBUG 2008) follows the Northern side of the Geelong train line on a Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path from Newport Train Station firstly paralleling Market St., but then crossing Champion Rd. onto the rail reserve to connect to Railway Pde. where this Bike Route continues On-road to Maddox Rd.

After crossing Maddox Rd. the Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path then continues parallel to the Train Line connecting to Blenheim Rd. and Mills St.

A separate Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path on the Eastern Side of Mills St. takes cyclists to BayFit Leisure Centre.

Continuing from Mills St. On-road along Ross Rd. this Bike Route then exits Ross Rd. at Chambers Rd. to continue as a Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path along the rail reserve to the Kororoit Ck. Trail.

Continuing West, from the Kororoit Ck. Trail on a Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path the Truganina Bike Route (HBBUG 2008) crosses to the Southern side of the Geelong Train Line under the Railway overpass on Kororoit Ck. Rd. through automatic closing pedestrian gates.

Then paralleling the train line on the rail reserve the Bike Trail crosses over Cherry Creek Drain, Maidstone St. and Kayes Drain to then cross the Altona Train Line through automatic closing pedestrian gates, then continue over Laverton Ck.

From Laverton Ck. the Truganina Bike Route (HBBUG 2008) then continues On-road via Railway and Triholm Avenue to then continue as a Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path on the rail reserve to Williams Landing, Hoppers Crossing and Werribee.

11      Back in Newport, there needs to be a community asset as a Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path around the inside of the boundary fence surrounding Newport Lakes.

This 2.5 km asset would increase the community use of this facility, by increasing the balance between passive and active recreation.  See the attachment ‘Newport Lakes Shared Footway Proposal’ for the rest of the submission.

12      Construction of a Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path from the Western end of Civic Pde. would cross the Laverton Train Line through automatic closing pedestrian gates would merge at the at the North corner of the Truganina Swamp with the Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path coming from Westona Train Station.  This Concrete Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Path would cross the vehicle ford at Kayes Drain and provide direct access to the proposed sports fields East of Merton St. and continue on to Railway Ave. and the Truganina Bike Route (HBBUG 2008).

13      Connecting the Laverton Ck. Trail to the Federation Trail along the Northern boundary of Lawrie Emmins Reserve. Better access under the train line and up to the walkway under the Freeway from Merton St. is needed. This connection would boost cyclist tourism through Laverton.        

 

The HBBUG recommendations for On-road Bicycle Lanes to be completed in the short term include but are not limited to;

1. On-road Bicycle Lanes be retrofitted through all Roundabouts in Hobsons Bay as

in the examples of the redevelopment of the Central Ave. and Point Cook Rd. intersection, Queen St. at the Basketball Centre and at McIntosh Rd. and Mason St. Altona Nth. The latter being the best example of this kind of treatment.

2        The reduction of traffic lanes on the Newport overpass to 1 traffic lane and 1 On-road Bicycle Lane to increase local cyclist travel between the shopping centres on the North and the South side of the Geelong Train Line. This would not effect an increase in traffic congestion at Mason St. and Melbourne Rd. as the traffic merge would occur on the southern aspect of the North Rd. roundabout.

1. There is no need to widen Douglas Pde. South of North Rd. to accommodate On-road

Bicycle Lanes. Because signage to Dover Rd. and Alma Tce. parallel side street routes are a viable alternative On-road Bicycle Route to Douglas Pde. in the short –medium term.

4        The marking of East-West On-road Bicycle Lanes for the length of Francis St.,

Blackshaws Rd., Ferguson St./Kororoit Ck. Rd., Old Geelong Rd., Civic Pde, and Queen St./Central Ave., Esplanade Williamstown and Altona.

Then the marking of North-South On-road Bicycle Lanes for the length of Point Cook Rd., Merton St./ Victoria St., Maidstone St., Grieve Pde., Millers Rd., Melbourne Rd., Douglas Pde. (North of North Rd.)/Hyde St. and Battery Rd./Nelson Pl./The Strand and North Rd.

(Thank you for Champion Rd. and Victoria St.)

 

Having the text of the Hobsons Bay Submission 12-11-2004-Updated.doc (Updated 02-12-2008, Updated text in italic bold) describing the key points regarding development of key connections and routes needed in 2004 which are yet to be completed, results in the HBBUG being in the predicament of ambivalence with respect to support of the 2013-2017 Hobsons Bay Strategic Bicycle plan.

However, efforts by HBCC to connect the ‘Town Centres/Villages’ within Hobsons Bay and other Municipalities via On-road Bicycle Lanes and Off-road Shared Bicycle/Foot Paths elicits the support (With our 2004 and 2013 additions) for the Hobsons Bay Strategic Bicycle plan.

 

However, the HBBUG supports Council’s desire to be seen as a Bicycle Friendly Municipality.  The HBBUG also supports that this can happen through Council providing Safe Cycling Infrastructure as stipulated in the Hobsons Bay Submission 12-11-2004-Updated.doc.

There is unfortunately, no citing in the Hobsons Bay Strategic Bicycle Plan 2013-2017, Technical Report February 2013, of ‘Safety Issues for Cyclists’ using On-road or Off-road Cycling Infrastructure within Hobsons Bay.

However there is reference in Section 7 ‘Design Standards for Bicycle Facilities’, 7.1 ‘Off-road Trails’ to ‘Clearance to Obstructions’ and ‘Path Terminal Treatments’.

In ‘Clearance to Obstructions’ there is reference to “Bollards”, but no reference to 150mm Square Hardwood Bollards that can act like a guillotine to the flesh of a cyclist, which are incorporated with water-pipe Barricades in Chicanes within Hobsons Bay and deflection rails used as Terminal Devices at inappropriate locations. See Facebook/Hobsons Bay BUG and look for the pictures that show what has nearly happened to me on 2 occasions within the last 12 months.

With ‘Path Terminal Treatments’, The HBBUG supports the spirit of the attached document ‘Vicroads Cycle Notes 17 Terminal devices’. Particularly Figure 8, as the preferred design of device to prevent Cars from driving on the Shared Footway at a formal junction with a ‘Highway to whit’.  Motorcycles are a Police matter. 

Again in 2013 it is the HBBUG 2004 position, There should be no bollards, barricades, terminal or like devices, located anywhere in the ‘off-road bicycle/foot-path’ as such devices do not stop cars or motorcycles from driving on the path.  While they are not dangerous to pedestrians, they are dangerous and can cause injuries to cyclists. 

It is clear that in this situation, such dangerous constructions/obstructions can be regarded as 'people-traps'. (Hobsons Bay Submission 12-11-2004-Updated.doc (Updated 02-12-2008, Updated text in italic bold)

 

As an example of this ‘People Trap’ situation there was the bent water pipe in the Chicane on the Hobsons Bay Costal Trail near the Williamstown Sea Scouts Club Rooms.

Was some unsuspecting Cyclist riding on this Shared Bicycle/Foot Path into the sun (Like I did on the Federation Trail) and didn’t see the 3cm water pipe barricade and collided with it? Were they seriously injured? Does a ‘Prima facia case of negligence against HBCC therefore exist?

This barricade has now been redesigned, but does still allow cars to drive on the Shared Footway all the way to Ferguson St. There are also no ‘Give Way’ signs for cars crossing the Shared Footway at this location. Why? 

This situation is replicated with the vehicle crossing from the lower car park at the ‘100 Steps to Federation’ but involves the use of ‘Deflection Rails’ which intrude into the Shared Footway at the height of children’s faces. For this reason the HBBUG recommends the removal of all ‘Deflection Rails’ within Hobsons Bay.

 

In 7.2 On-road Bicycle Facilities, Need for Bicycle Lanes; there is a need for formal On-road Bicycle Lanes (Not Copenhagen) where they can be located and for the same reason that bigger and bigger roads are being built and being immediately clogged with motor vehicles, ‘Induced Demand’, or ‘Build it and they Will come’.

To reduce motor vehicle usage it is recommended that traffic lane sacrifice be employed to facilitate increasing the uptake of bicycles as transport.

There is also the need by cyclists to have bicycle lanes through traffic lane narrowing at ‘Splitters’, ‘Kerb extensions’ and Pedestrian refuges’. It seems that motor vehicles and possibly cyclists have crashed into the ‘Pedestrian refuges’ on The Strand, a similar situation to the Northerly exit at the roundabout in Market and Woods St. Newport.

Finally, the biggest bone of contention for cyclists riding On-road is colliding with the edge of the proliferating and all-pervasive ‘Speed Cushion’ then crashing and being injured or possibly being killed by an overtaking motor vehicle. They must not be near/in an On-road Bicycle Lane as is in the example of Mason St. and the Esplanade Altona.

 

As a group of cyclists we would like to have ongoing input to Council, for Council to be seen as a ‘Bicycle Friendly Municipality through the installation of Safe Infrastructure’ from a cyclist perspective. This is our desire.

 

The issues we as cyclists face are confronting. I trust that you the reader of this document, is not similarly confronted by the realities I and other cyclists experience.

 

It is the wish of the HBBUG that the recommendations in this submission will be duly considered and implemented.

 

Thank you for the opportunity to make this presentation.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Noel C. Dyson

President     Hobsons Bay Bicycle User Group (HBBUG)