PEDAL UPDATE

No. 209 December 2012 – May 2013 ISSN 13211870 www.bisa.asn.au

Staying cool during the heat of our March Madness!

Chairs Report April / May 2013

By Jeremy Miller: Chair, The Bicycle Institute

The madness that is March in Adelaide is fast receding into memory. The warm

nights and hot days are flowing into the autumnal cool that promises winter soon.

For us more hardened transport cyclists, the arrival of the cooler weather and all it

brings does not mean hanging up the bicycle for another ‘season’ or turning to

indoor ‘training’ to keep fit and in shape. What happens is that our clothes become

an embodiment of memory, with winter clothing suited to the bicycle percolating to

the surface again, wardrobes being arranged to suit. The bicycle is a transport of

delight, a counterpoint to the speed and disassociated dislocation of a city

experienced within the passive confines of auto-mobility. The mobility of the bicycle

subverts the notion that with a car you give yourself speed and convenience, that

the car gives you some tangible positive back into life. For me, the car is the

quintessential embodiment of our consumer age. Designed to be the ultimate

disposable commodity, wrapped up in our culture, ego, self-actualisation and an

acceptance of the on-going costs; not just financial of course, but the costs of road

death, resource extraction, oil depletion and pollution. Auto-mobility necessarily

seeks to counter the negatives of a car based transport system – we are bombarded

with advertising and cultural norms that extol the virtues of the car. Yet for the daily

bicycle rider, we are not only separated from this normalisation of behaviour, our

very presence to some on the road is an insult, a physical reminder, that they are

trapped in a metal box, and we are free. To see the freedom in others when you are

trapped in a lie must be hard for some to take, and I would argue that this is the

crux of the almost pathological antagonism that some drivers exhibit towards

bicycle riders. This will change, it has to. More bicycles mean fewer cars (which also

means less congestion – quite literally ‘one less car’ in many situations). More

people riding more often for transport means that the normalisation of the bicycle

as an everyday mode of transport, used by everyday people without a second

thought (apart from the ‘which bike will I ride today!’), contributes to a healthy and

engaged society. I am hoping that the crowds of bike riders who flocked to the city

in summer months continue to do so over winter – proving that the bicycle for

transport does not need to be confined to an Adelaide summer time, and works

equally well (all be it with some adjustments) in the mild Adelaide winters.

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The Bicycle Institute in 2013 is focused on celebrating the wins in cycling –

infrastructure and governance that works and successfully demonstrates that the

bicycle CAN be the transport of choice. Working to strengthen the network, ensure

that infrastructure is appropriate and connected. Explore ways and means by which

we can assist groups and activities to encourage bicycle related ventures (insurance

often being the big sticking point). The Bicycle Institute also recognises that we need

to grow our membership further in to 2013 and further engage with a wider physical

and virtual community of interest. This will allow us to further promote bicycle use

and a culture of everyday cycling. Most of all we want to have fun doing this!

To celebrate cycling: it was very pleasing to see Lord Mayor of Adelaide Stephen

Yarwood receive the Cycling Promotion Fund national award for a politician who has

made a significant contribution to cycling. It is hard to argue with Stephen’s

enthusiasm and energy and it is great to see this reflected on the myriad of projects

going on within Adelaide City.

On having fun: I would encourage you all to mark Friday 13th September (the day

before the Federal election) in your diaries. The Bicycle Institute will be holding a

cycling themed quiz night that evening complete with prizes, games and a silent

auction. To be held at the Plympton Community Centre (where the bicycle workshop

is also located), it will be a great chance to have some fun before the Election Day!

The Bicycle Institute will continue to be a voice for everyday transport cycling in

Adelaide in 2013. We look forward to your continued support and feedback

through-out the year.

Womadelaide - our version of bike heaven?

What chance of this at Adelaide Oval football next year? 3

A RECUMBENT TRIKE - MY WHEELS By Russ Talbot

A number of years ago, as a result of surgery to remove a brain tumour I suffered

the equivalent of a stroke. It left me with a number of physical disabilities (mentally I

am unaffected).

One of the things most affected was my balance. Unable to stay upright on a bike, I

thought my cycling days were behind me. However, then I discovered recumbent

tricycles.

Early on, several people had suggested getting a tricycle to me, but when I

investigated I was immediately put off. The tricycles I saw were dorky. I didn’t want

anything dorky. If I was going to have a trike, it had to be the sort that other people

would beg to have a go on. I had to look cool or I wasn’t interested.

A recumbent tricycle looks, and very definitely is, cool. They're what the kids ride in

Pedal Prix (theirs are tricked up with an outer shell – called a 'fairing').

7 OTHER GOOD REASONS TO RIDE A TRIKE:

1. They're fun 2. Strangers smile at you and say "G'day" 3. Little kids point at you and squeal 4. They're fun 5. They're fun 6. They're fun 7. They're fun

For cruising and sight-seeing, the trike experience is unsurpassed. You can saunter

on a trike - go as slow as you want, stop without unclipping your feet, you're sitting

back in a comfortable chair, and you can see everything.

You can't go as fast on a trike as you can on a bike, but you feel like you're going

much faster than you are, because you're so close to the ground. It's like being in a

go-kart. Also, something I've learned is that a trike picks up speed VERY quickly

going downhill. I limp to a crest, then suddenly - WHEE! I've ridden up the Freeway a

couple of times, to Crafers. It takes me about two hours to get up there, and about

twenty minutes to get home.

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I initially got a recumbent trike from necessity. Now I'd have one by choice. There

are some disadvantages though.

My biggest ‘problem’– simply an unnegotiable obstacle – is the crossovers at tram

and train lines. The weaving path; designed so you get off your bike and wheel it

through. I simply can’t use them, so am forced to cross at roads. My trike can’t turn

or be turned in such a space. It’s also very, very difficult for me to ‘walk’ it. It’s much

easier to walk a bike. The trike is low, which requires me to bend, rather than stand

upright, and this makes balancing very difficult. It’s heavy and awkward. And walking

on slopes is very difficult for me. It is impossible for me to get off and push my trike

up or down a slope. Consequently, at the Goodwood pedestrian/bike underpass,

near the Unley Swimming Pool, technically I risk a fine every time I use it (and at the

moment I have no choice, as Victoria St is closed till August 2013). “Cyclists” are

ordered to dismount to use it, breaches incurring a fine. I do what I can. I travel

along it very cautiously, at less than walking pace, ringing my bell the entire way. I

don’t reckon I’d get charged, but legally I am liable.

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One of the constraints I work within, for which I am ‘penalised’, is the width (and

manoeuvrability) of my trike. One of the critical factors for me in choosing my trike

was width. Mine is 80cm wide. Many/most are a couple of cms wider. Mine (usually)

just fits thru bollards etc. It is one of my gripes when authorities decide to install

bollards or obstructions on paths.

The size, weight, transportability and manoeuvrability of trikes are their Achilles

Heel. I really don’t expect the world to adapt to me. My disabilities mean I can’t go

bushwalking or walk on uneven ground; that doesn’t mean that we should carve out

bitumen paths in the wilderness. There are some things some people can do that I

can’t. That’s life. My only complaint is when I’ve been thoughtlessly excluded –

when there’s no reason/justification why (e.g. it’s not coz it was done 100 years ago

when people simply weren’t aware) and for little or no extra it could’ve been done

differently.

But it's hard to be grumpy when you've got a trike and the weather's like this. I just

go for a ride and the magic blows everything away.

***

PS. I rode my trike to the library the other day. When I came out, it had drawn a

small crowd - a little girl and her mum. The little girl was fascinated by it.

Mum: ‘That’s a nice bike isn’t it? Would you like one like that?’

Little girl: ‘Yes’.

Then, after giving it some thought:

‘Can I have a Barbie one?’

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Bicycle Institute Members Mail-out by Brian Jenkins

For several years I’ve been delivering magazines locally for BISA. My ‘mail run’

mostly kept me between South and Goodwood Roads, and south of Cross Road. In

recent times I’ve had no deliveries to make. The membership numbers of the

Bicycle Institute have dropped. There are members in regional areas and the

Adelaide Hills whose mail-out went via the Post. With a bulk discount, it’s cheaper

to send 100 by post than it is to send 35. Volunteer deliveries have been swallowed

up by becoming part of the 100 to keep the bulk discount. For years Liz has been

doing a grand job of co-ordinating the mail-out.

To get back to delivering as many as we can by bike and make the switch

economically viable means “spreading our wheels”. Time to pack the panniers and

pedal to some outer suburbs and into the Hills. One bonus to this exercise is

exploring bike routes one wouldn’t normally use. Another bonus is the chance

meeting with one of you in your front yards (worked for me 3 times).

Mail Run 1

I had a swag of deliveries to do leading up to Christmas. The weather was beautiful,

but my temperature was up (I was crook). After Christmas the weather

temperature went up, but I was better. My first small pile was West Crafers,

Aldgate, Bridgewater and Cherry Gardens – hmmm. The conventional routes to

Crafers might mean coming back down a fair way. However out the back of Brown

Hill Creek is Tilley’s Hill Road – that could take me in the right direction. At the top

of that climb is half a kilometre of rugged cyclocross terrain – off with the cleats (if

I’d had cleats) and on with the crampons (if I’d had crampons). Some strenuous

pushing of the bike got me back to more bitumen and back in the saddle. By the

time I reached Crafers, delivery no.1 was done, and it was on to Bridgewater. I took

the quieter way of Old Mt Barker Rd to Mt Barker Road and into Bridgewater.

Delivery no. 2 was now done. To get to Aldgate involved some new territory for me

– England. Well, sort of – roads named Wembley, Oxford, Cambridge (unsealed,

you beauty!) and Somerset took me in the direction I needed to go. Delivery no. 3

was done. To ride to Cherry Gardens was more familiar, with a “nice” climb on

Morgan Road to get to Ironbank Road, then on to Cherry Gardens.

All done, with some fun!

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Everybody’s cycling

– but what about people with disabilities?

Introduction: At this year’s Australian Cycling Conference in Adelaide, Peter

Lumb presented a paper on this subject. With Peter’s permission, the following

are extracts from his paper.

This paper is framed by the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with

Disabilities (CRPD) and advocates for more mobility choice, diversity and inclusive

street design in order to better meet human rights. Australia signed the CRPD in

July 2008.

The CRPD establishes ‘the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in the

community, with choices equal to others, and shall take effective and appropriate

measures to facilitate full enjoyment by persons with disabilities of this right and

their full inclusion and participation in the community’ (CPRD Article 19).

‘States Parties shall take effective measures to ensure personal mobility with the

greatest possible independence for persons with disabilities, including by:

a. Facilitating the personal mobility of persons with disabilities in the manner

and at the time of their choice, and at affordable cost;

b. Facilitating access by persons with disabilities to quality mobility aids, devices,

assistive technologies and forms of live assistance and intermediaries,

including by making them at affordable cost.’ (CRPD Article 20 – in full)

Included in Article 23 is:

‘To enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all

aspects of life, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure persons with

disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to

transportation, ....’

In his research, Peter found authoritative sources that put forward the following;

- Disability is prevalent in Australia.

- Disability becomes more common with age.

- Labour force participation is lower for people with disabilities.

- People with disabilities experience weaker financial security.

- People with disabilities tend to have poorer health.

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In Australia, employment and the resulting income are the main pathways to ‘full

inclusion and participation in the community’. Employment relies on a reasonable

standard of physical and mental health. The above indicates that people with

disabilities not only must manage their impairments, but also they are far more

likely to have to manage poverty and poor health. Peter argues that in Australia we

need to pay more attention to assistive technologies, in the form of a diversity of

cycles, so that people with disabilities are more able to access employment and

recreation, which will enhance physical and mental health and ultimately inclusion.

The assistive technology of more diverse cycles will be optimised when our streets

are designed to be more inclusive of more people.

Locally, the SA Active Living Coalition (2012) ‘Streets for people Compendium’ takes

disability seriously, although addressing street mobility issues for people with

disabilities is not listed as a purpose for the compilation of the Compendium. The

Compendium highlights health, economic and environmental benefits of inclusive

street design, and the major focus is on increasing cycling and pedestrian activity. It

advocates rethinking the conventional (road) hierarchies.

The Australian focus for inclusivity has been on access to buildings, public transport

and road crossings, rather than ensuring that people with disabilities are enabled to

link to places through the use of inclusively designed and carefully constructed

shared streets. The time has come to act so that many more people with

disabilities can be independently mobile rather than being transported by others to

access points in the social environment.

People with disabilities are entitled to choice, and to affordable choice like any

citizen. Mobility is essential to social inclusion and affordable mobility is important

for employment. Somewhere between sport and occasional recreational riding on

diverse cycles, there are inclusive streets and paths which can be used by people on

diverse cycles. Diverse cycles are available for purchase. They are expensive cycles

but they are far cheaper than cars modified for a driver with a disability or other

people movers. Subsidised Access Cabs used on a daily basis to access work for

example are very expensive, and sometimes are an unreliable alternative to cycles.

Peter’s recommendations include:

Capital city bike share schemes consult with disability organisations and consider as

a beginning adding a side by side or companion cycle, a tandem and a tricycle to the

fleet in order to broaden the range of people who can access the scheme.

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State located cycle lobbies commit to partnering with disability organisations to

form sub-committees aimed at lobbying for more cycling based mobility options for

people with disabilities, writing grants to purchase diverse cycles and to provide

‘come’n’try’ activities.

In consultation with disability organisations the Department of Planning Transport

and Infrastructure develop slow and inclusive street networks for a broader range of

mobility devices and assistive technologies to be used by people who are able to or

prefer to move at about 15 kph.

Employers support trips to and from work by people with disabilities by re-allocating

car and parking subsidies to providing assistive technologies for cycling.

Cycling lobbies with disability organisation partners track developments in the

National Disability Insurance Scheme for opportunities to talk up inclusive street use

for people with disabilities and increase access to a diverse range of cycles which

promote affordable mobility. Ensure grants are provided by the NDIS for assistive

cycle technologies.

Generally cyclists, planners and advocates should eschew using the word ‘bicycle’

and use more inclusive and diverse ‘cycles’ and ‘cycling’.

To view opportunities and examples of diverse cycles not usually seen in Australia,

go to

http://www.vanraam.co.uk/special-needs-bikes

http://www.companioncycling.org.uk/

http://www.tadnsw.org.au/FreedomWheels/

Note: Peter has been a commuting cyclist since 1975. He is a former President of

the Bicycle Institute of South Australia. Peter has been a Ministerial appointment to

a number of cycling related government advisory committees. He is a former

academic in the School of Social Work and Social Policy, UniSA, where he was

Program Director for Rehabilitation Counselling and taught courses on sociology of

work and disability. Peter chairs the Board of a disability support organisation. He

has been involved in planning for both national and international cycling

conferences.

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Ride and Tell. It’s ready to roll!

A quarterly update on completed new cycle infrastructure and initiatives introduced to promote cycling in South Australia.

Not what will be done, not what is planned, but what has been done!! Why?

- To celebrate the positive steps taken by State and Local Government to support cycling

- To keep you up to date on improvements that may make your ride more enjoyable

- To start to identify trends such as - How are infrastructure improvements spread spatially in South Australia? What trip types are gaining the most

support? What is missing? And what else is needed? (Discussion of trends to come in future editions of Pedal Update)

- To ask for your feedback on how it works for you as a cyclist and improve our collective knowledge of what works, where, when and how in South Australia.

So please Ride it and Tell us what you thought via email at katie@bisa.asn.au

This first update covers approximately 6 months rather than a quarter.

Bicycle route improvements

On road

Through Unley Council area to Adelaide CBD:

Rugby St (Malvern, Unley and Parkside), a number of intersections have been realigned to allow preference to North South traffic. Also signage and small sections of marked bike lanes. Porter St, Parkside, increased signs and bike markings (both on road

and on connecting roads) Shared path in parklands from Porter St / Greenhill Rd intersection to

South Terrace / Pulteney St intersection has been resurfaced. Pulteney St and South Terrace intersection has been redesigned and

had the green bike lane treatment from Adelaide City Council. Changes to this intersection include bike boxes and slip lane from shared path for South Tce heading West and bike box for Unley Rd heading North (citybound). There is also a bike traffic light for bikes heading from South Tce west and turning into Pulteney St - it is on the left hand traffic pole and allows a generous time for bikes before cars get a green light.

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Bicycle lanes have been painted green at a selection of intersections in and around the Adelaide CBD including Rundle St, Pirie St, Port Rd and Greenhill Rd.

Bicycle lanes have been extended to the intersections at both Bartels Road/East Terrace and Franklin Street/West Terrace in the Adelaide CBD.

Bicycle lanes have been installed on Main North Road between Mawson Lakes Boulevard, and Mawson Lakes and Nylex Avenue, Salisbury South, operational at all times. This is part of a staged program to link bicycle lanes on Main North Road from Elizabeth to Gepps Cross.

A green contra-flow bicycle lane has been installed along Bank St (Adelaide CBD) from Hindley St to North Terrace to allow two-way cycling on this one-way street.

Off-road

The Westside Bikeway has been resurfaced between Tennyson St and Barwell Ave.

Sections of the Linear Park shared use path have been resurfaced and widened between Port Rd and South Rd and improvements made to the lighting.

Bicycle parking

- Secure bike cage facilities and lockers are now available at the Rundle St and Light Square UParks - Secure bike storage facilities have been expanded at the Wyatt Street UPark. - New bike parking rails have been installed in the Adelaide CBD

Strategic planning/collaboration

Adelaide City Council and the State Government have formed the Bicycle Infrastructure Group (BIG). The group aims to enable both levels of government to work together to improve cycling infrastructure and encourage more people to get on their bikes, specifically to and within the Adelaide CBD.

Cycling promotion initiatives

The ‘Cycle instead’ initiative aimed to promote cycling to the CBD during Clipsal and the March festive season. An interactive tool was made available on the Adelaide City Council’s Smart Move website to help cyclists plan their journey around the road closures, signage encouraged cycling instead on major roads and additional bicycle parking was provided at major events.

The ‘Cycle to school’ program was introduced to Trinity Gardens primary school by parents at the school

The Adelaide City Bike initiative, Adelaide’s free bike hire scheme, was extended to the City of West Torrens and Unley Council areas 12

Acknowledgement: It is acknowledged we have not covered all infrastructure improvements and cycle initiatives implemented over the last 6 months. To improve the accuracy of this regular update we are in the process of asking all local councils in South Australia to let us know when improvements are made in their area. The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure advise us of completed projects. If you are aware of anything we have missed, or see something finished soon, please email katie@bisa.asn.au.

Parklands Path Pantoum

by Russ Talbot

Piloting my trike Dividing the shadows

Carving the wind Daredevil swallows

Dividing the shadows

Impish and racing Daredevil swallows Cut across my bow

Impish and racing Dolphins of the air Cut across my bow

Fine as a feather

Dolphins of the air Swoop, stay and flash away

Fine as a feather Until I burst into sunshine

And, just like that, it’s over

Carving the wind, the spell lifted, I’m alone

Piloting my trike

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Local councils invest in cycling and walking

By Angus Kingston In March 2013 both Marion City and Norwood, Payneham and St Peters Councils have announced plans to invest heavily in cycling and walking in their areas. While Marion has set out a budget, and building will commence soon, NPSP are still in the planning and community feedback stages. Marion City Council’s streetscape plan has a budget of $1.8million and aims to revitalise Railway Terrace with 3 - 4 metre wide shared cycling and walking paths, new tree-scapes, cobble paving to act as traffic calming and public art displays. This will be from Daws Road South for about 900 metres to Sixth Avenue, Ascot Park. Part of the plan has already been signed off by council. Marion mayor Felicity-Ann Lewis said the aim is to transform Railway Terrace into a vibrant landscaped shared space that residents and visitors can enjoy walking and cycling. It was also in part to integrate with the electrification of the Noarlunga rail line. “Railway Terrace will be transformed into a people-friendly street that promotes healthy lifestyles by encouraging walking and cycling and use of public transport while accommodating the needs of motorists,” Ms Lewis said. “Street trees will provide natural shade and shelter, stormwater will irrigate the landscaped areas and solar lighting will be installed at the adjacent Ascot Park Train Station. The new investment is a continuation of the commitment by Marion City Council to continue its cycling and walking strategy released in 2012. The concept plan has been available online (feedback closed on April 5) http://makingmarion.com.au/railwayterrace Meanwhile, not quite putting the money on the table yet, Norwood, Payneham and St Peters Council announced their cycling plan was in development. The NPSP Council says they are partnering infraPlan and Bike SA to develop a council area-wide plan to stimulate greater bicycle use. The plan was at the ‘Plan to Cycle' stall at Magill Road Alive on Sunday 7 April, see more information online at http://www.npsp.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=179&c=6897 The Bicycle Institute of SA made a submission and urge members to provide feedback on both plans. We welcome members to contact us to voice concerns. 14

The Bicycle Institute AGM

Our AGM will be held on Wednesday 8th May at 7pm at the Conservation Council,

Level 1, 157 Franklin Street, Adelaide.

Members and other interested parties are welcome and encouraged to attend.

The thoughts, experiences and concerns of our members are welcome at any time.

These can be presented at the AGM, or our normal monthly meetings (let us know

you’re coming to a monthly meeting), or by contacting the committee.

Chair Jeremy Miller chair@bisa.asn.au

Vice-chair Katie Gilfillan katie@bisa.asn.au

Secretary Nick Thomas secretary@bisa.asn.au

Treasurer Stephen Janes treasurer@bisa.asn.au

Membership Bonnie Dowling membership@bisa.asn.au

Editor editor@bisa.asn.au

Committee Angus Kingston angus@bisa.asn.au

Alan Sanderson alan@bisa.asn.au

Brian Jenkins brian@bisa.asn.au

Sophia MacRae sophia@bisa.asn.au

Pedal Update

Our last issue was back in September 2012, and was the last issue that Nicole

Dowling produced as editor. That’s a pity, as she presented a good read each time.

She put a lot of effort into sourcing articles, chasing contributors, arranging the

layout and having it printed. Thanks for all you’ve done, Nicole.

I’ve done the editor’s job for this edition - sorry, I didn’t quite get it together to send

one out in December. My computer skills pretty much match my bike (mid-90’s and

can’t be bothered updating), so it’s not been fancy ...

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Thanks to our sponsors ...

Pedal Update is a newsletter of the Bicycle Institute of South Australia Inc., published four times per year. The Bicycle Institute is incorporated in South Australia. Material published in Pedal Update is copyright unless otherwise stated. Articles and graphics may be copied and republished by non-profit organisations, provided the author and Pedal Update are given credit. Opinions published in Pedal Update are not necessarily those of the Bicycle Institute.

We are always looking for contributions. Send any stories, ideas or feedback to the editor@bisa.asn.au

Road Hazards? Call DPTI: 1800 018 313

Reporting Dangerous Drivers? Call Traffic Watch: 131 444

www.sapolice.sa.gov.au/sapol/road_safety/traffic_watch .jsp

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