West Gate Tunnel Project, past the distractions

Following the announcements of the elevated Veloway months ago the full scope of the West Gate Tunnel Project is now public with the state governments release of the Environment Effects Statement, but there is little time for the public to respond. The 10,000 page EES, works approval application and draft planning scheme amendment are on public exhibition from 29 May to 10 July 2017 at which point submissions are then closed. How does it look for cycling?

Instructing the next Generation

…in failure of course, you would hope that schools would be teaching students how to be good citizens and consider others but of course this is Melbourne where self interest is king.

Herded into Danger

Back on the hunt for new infrastructure in Melbourne it didn’t take much effort to find an example of the continuing disregard for established standards, or basic safety. All to the backdrop of the much criticised rental bicycle scheme here on Wellington Parade South.

On the way to Upgrades

Swan St bridge is currently undergoing refurbishment with significant closures for cyclists and pedestrians, ahead of new expansive shared paths being installed across it as part of other works. The busy shared paths each side of the Yarra river which pass underneath are completely closed off during the works as they will be upgraded too, but whats in place while they’re out of action?

Pushing too far

A real world example of an ignorant motorist pushing their luck and picking the wrong fight, completely ignoring the “law of the jungle” along with the actual laws that seem less important when you’re staring down a semi-trailer.

Nearside, the danger zone

Heavy vehicles have an awful safety record for their impact on other road users, through a combination of limited visibility and manoeuvrability along with their robust construction and weight even with their professional drivers taking the utmost care they still represent an inflated risk to other road users. But with the large majority of crashes involving heavy vehicles not the fault of its driver we have to look at how other drivers behave around them.

Sharing for Pedestrians

With a full day of the councils Share Our Streets promotion continuing at Queensbridge Square, its only fair to poke fun at the disaster which is the segregated crossing which they setup adjacent to.

Sharing Softly

The Melbourne City Council is rolling out its efforts to “improve the relationship among road users” as part of its road safety plan with a rather gentle behavioural program, putting positive messages onto the streets with all the good intentions in the world and little substance.

Lethal Weapons

Road deaths continue to accumulate in Victoria at their steady rate against a very slow growth in transport use, the easy improvements in road safety have been and gone and what options remain are politically “difficult”. While the media will make significant reports on any firearm deaths the much more common road fatalities receive much less attention. But how does the safety of these dangerous weapons compare?

Providing space is not making space

Ignoring all the inadequacies of cycling infrastructure around Melbourne even that which is placed thoughtfully and built to the minimum standards (no surprises but this example doesn’t) it still fails to provide an environment that will encourage more people to use them.