Local Government Elections 2004
A response was received from Jamie Parker after the election, promising some quick action on cycling.
According to the SMH on April 13, the Labor Party has done a deal with the Liberals and the Community Independents to keep the Greens out of the Mayoralty. Labor ( Alice Murphy) will share the Mayoralty with the Liberals (Nick Dyer)!
Letter to Candidates
A letter was sent out to all 57 candidates for Leichhardt Council in the four wards asking about their policies on bicycling..Replies
Replies were received from all major parties, Labor, Liberal, The Greens, the Community Independents and a number of individuals in those parties and from indedpendents. All were favourable to improving bicycling in the area and some were in agreement with our major wish list in the letter to candidates. Others gave general support but were not specific in answering our letter's points. So far have had responses from The Greens (as a group), from Bill Holliday in Leichhardt/Lilyfield (Greens), from Fergus Fricke and Carolyn Allen (independents for Balmain), from Valerie Moss (Ind in Balmain), John Stamolis (Ind in Balmain), from Vera-Ann Hannaford (Liberal for Leichhardt/Lilyfield) and from David Lawrence and Maire Sheehan on behalf of the Community Independents. Difficult to compare each reply but may get more out of the Greens, who agreed with our major points, the Community Independents (most of the points) and Labor (some). The Liberals, while making some interesting promises like a training track for children, did not answer our letter specifically. Carolyn Allen was sympathetic and has three sons who cycle and has been involved in community affairs for some time.Fergus Fricke was keen to reopen the old Glebe Island Bridge for pedestrian and bicycle use- a great idea.
see below for the replies:
Community Independents
David Lawrence (candidate for Annandale/Leichhardt ward) and Maire Sheehan (present Mayor) wrote, replying to the 8 points in the letter to candidates:
1. Will support a Bike Plan review.
2. will support use of Roads to recovery funding and section 94 funds.
3. support a trial of a ride to school project with a local school and Council asistance.
4. will suport special bike days, education programs, better facilities.
5.will support lower speeds and enforcement.
6.will support education programs on sharing the road better with motorists and responsible cycling.
7.will support bicycle friendly traffic calming and road construction.
8.will support a BAC or alternative transport cttee to foster cooperation between councillors and staff and local residents.
David points out he is a cyclist and has helped get cycling on the agenda whenever possible as chair of the Annandale Precinct Ctee for a number of years and active community worker and BNSW member.
from Labor:
This response is on behalf of all the Labor candidates in Leichhardt LGA.Labor candidates are supportive of the Leichhardt Bike Plan. We believe that the Bike Plan and other bicycle-related spending should be improved on wherever possible.
We believe the council should continue its work with young people, families and all bike users to encourage safer use of local streets, parks and the like. We will also support a campaign to encourage women to become more frequent bicycle users. This will be done through our support for the Pedestrian Access Mobility Plan (PAMP) which has identified frequently used routes to public venues and facilities.
With this support of the PAMP comes a funding program to ensure that the required infrastructure spending is undertaken. This spending on infrastructure from these funds and from the parking meters will improve facilities for bicycle users. The PAMP also will assist in encouraging children to walk and cycle safely to school.
Labor candidates support lower speeds on residential streets and on other appropriate roadways.
We believe that a program to encourage responsible use of bicycles in Leichhardt LGA should also be undertaken so that bicycles, pedestrians and motor vehicles can safely share our footpaths and roadways. We also support the inclusion of bicycle users in the planning and implementation of all changes to traffic, residential and main street usage. Bike users should also be included on all relevant council committees.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity of responding to your survey.
Yours sincerely,
Kris Cruden for Leichhardt Labor LGA Candidates
The Greens:
As The Greens are running a full ticket of 12 candidates in the 3 Leichhardt Wards on a common platform, we have responded with one email on behalf of all our candidates, whose names appear at the end of this email.
In summary, The NSW Greens have specific policies to support and encourage the use of bicycles. Many of the 12 candidates running are bicycle users and all are committed to improving bicycle usage and safety in the Leichhardt municipality. We have been advocating through our Greens Councillor, Jamie Parker for improved bicycle facilities and routes for some time, and hope to expand our influence in this area with the election of additional Councillors on March 27.
1. Do you support a review of the Leichhardt bike plan and increased investment in the Bike Plan and other bicycle-related areas?
Yes, the Leichhardt Bike plan requires review and updating, especially in light of recent boundary changes, which have removed some bike routes from our immediate control. This will require commitment of resources and time by Council, which we would support.
2. Will you support use of a percentage of federal Roads to Recovery (RtR) and Council section 94 funds to be spent on improved bicycle facilities?
Yes.
3. How will you make it safer for children to ride to schools and parks and for adults, particularly women to ride to shops?
The Greens support lower speed limits in some residential areas and appropriate traffic calming. A review of road quality on key routes that are or could be used by these groups should be incorporated into the review of the Bike Plan. We would advocate relevant information derived from this being fed into Councils works program and priorities.
We are aware that some parking and other traffic arrangements have inadvertently created hazards for cyclists. We advocate traffic and planning committees refer to the Bike Plan and consult bicycle users when making changes to avoid this unintended effect.
We believe additional bike parking facilities and cyclepaths are required and should be appropriately signposted to encourage new users. We support the promotion through the DA process of encouraging parking facilities as part of commercial developments. Appropriate lighting around end-trip facilities is a serious safety consideration which should also be factored in to Council and commercial developments. Some parts of cycleways require widening or improvements to surface roads.
We support Council's continued employment of a Road Safety Officer to develop educational programs for these groups and promote cycling programs. Education of motorists also is a critical aspect of safety for cyclists. We support the distribution of "Streets are for Everyone" promotional information or similar with parking permits.
4. What should Council do to support the call from the Childhood Obesity Conference last year for local government to "Take a leadership role in creating environments for physical activities opportunities", such as developing cycleways and safe routes to schools and parks?
These considerations should be explicitly addressed in any review of the Bike Plan. Encouraging safer road and cycleway environments for children as described above is part of achieving this goal as is ensuring that cycleways and end-trip facilities are created and maintained along routes that children are most likely to use (e.g. to and from schools, the aquatic centre, libraries, entertainment centres etc).
5. Will you support an extension of lower speeds on residential streets to areas other than the Balmain peninsular and a reduction of speeds on narrow and below standard arterials such as The Crescent?
Yes. We also note with concern the implications for cyclists of the proposed M4 East extension in terms added pollution (particularly in unfiltered tunnels), added traffic volumes, and added wear on roads that in some cases already represent a hazard. We are actively campaigning for a transport solution that includes non-car options and reduces the number of cars on our roads.
6. How will you promote the responsible use of bicycles in your area?
We support the continued employment of our pedestrian and bike safety officer. A number of our Greens candidates are regular bicycle users and if elected we should examine ways to work creatively with you as high profile examples of responsible cyclists in our community.
7. Will you support bicycle friendly Main Street programmes and traffic calming schemes?
Yes.
8. Will you support the creation of a Bicycle Advisory Committee on Leichhardt Council involving councillors, council officers and community representatives?
Yes. Our policy includes a commitment to ensure bicycle projects have significant guidance from cycling groups. Our understanding is that such a committee was created at Leichhardt but it requires greater commitment from Council to be effective. We are optimistic that after 27 March will be in a position to promote this agenda. As Greens Councillors we would also advocate establishing appropriate linkages between this Committee and traffic and planning committees, as these make decisions on matters such as roads, traffic calming and parking, that have direct implications for bicycle users.
On behalf of the Greens Lead Candidates
Jamie Parker (Balmain) Kate Hamilton (Annandale-Leichhardt) Michele McKenzie (Rozelle - Lilyfield) Rochelle Porteous (Leichhardt-Lilyfield)
And additional candidates Frances Milne (Balmain) Cate Faehrmann (Balmain) Mary-Jane Gleeson (Annandale-Leichhardt) Miguel Heatwole (Annandale-Leichhardt) Jamie Shaw (Rozelle - Lilyfield) Rosslyn Rix (Rozelle - Lilyfield) Stephen Oldham (Leichhardt-Lilyfield) William Holliday (Leichhardt-Lilyfield)
from Bill Holliday, Greens
In response to your letter:-I have been a lifelong cyclist and a commuter cyclist for most of that. I have also manufactured very bright bicycle tail lights for a number of years which are designed to enlarge a cyclist's road presence and allow the cyclist to change lanes and make right hand turns with the confidence that they have been seen by the traffic behind.
In the Municipality the major roads are under RTA control. Leichhardt Council only controls the feeder roads to these major roads plus residential streets and laneways. In these streets we have already had a significant improvement with general acceptance of the reduced speed limit of 50kph. Already the pay-off is measurable in the form of reduced road trauma in our neighbourhoods.
Bike Plans are about how bicycles can fit into a car environment. We need to turn this around: how can the Municipality's streets best serve cycling and walking and then think where cars can be fitted into that.
Motor vehicles are the major source of noise, the major killer of our young adults, the reason why our children cannot play in the street anymore, a major waste of real-estate, a major determinant of town planning and a major cost both to the individual and the tax payer.
Other countries such as Holland and Germany have controlled motor traffic as have places in Australia where there is control over the numbers of cars present, for instance Kangaroo Island in South Australia. It is time that Leichhardt did so too.
I will work for the following measures if elected:
[1] Examine all traffic restrictions associated with traffic calming / anti rat-run measures in the Municipality with regard to freeing up the movement of cyclist traffic. Such measures will include changing one-way streets into two-way cyclist streets, and marking "No Left Hand Turn" signs as "Cyclists Excepted". Speed humps, chicanes and roundabouts need a rethink.
[2] A reduction in speed limit to 40 kph across the whole Municipality. This will continue the major reduction in road trauma for both cyclists and pedestrians alike.
[3] Support for the filling in of missing links in major cyclist routes such as the link under Parramatta Rd at the Hawthorn Canal and the missing pieces of the White's Ck route.
[4] Support for major improvements in Public Transport including extension of the Light Rail and priority lanes for buses at the Victoria Rd traffic lights to ensure that buses are never caught up in the morning traffic chaos and can keep to timetable. The new tiny bus shelters which offer no protection in the rain should be replaced with proper bus shelters. Peak hour travel by bus should be faster, as comfortable and more reliable than by car.
[5] Support for decent bicycle racks which are well designed, under cover and close to where people want to go: - door to door transit time is what is important.
[6] Resurface the outer sections of Norton Street north. The uneven concrete surface is an uncomfortable ride even at low speed.
Regards,
Bill Holliday
Greens candidate for Leichhardt-Lilyfield Ward
from Vera-Ann Hannaford, Liberal for Leichhardt/Lilifield ward
Supports Bike Plan review.Supports Bicycle Advisory Cttee as a forum for cyclists.
Proposes a training track for learning cycling skills
Supports Bike ed programs in schools.
recognises that cycling increases fitness and has benefits for the community, reducing pollution and car parking problems.
The Liberals have a glossy policy document in which they support making more bicycle lanes on roads and building a "mini-training facility" to teach bicycle skills. They also mention LBUG as a group to work with!
from Valerie Moss, Ind Balmain
my answers -
1) -yes
2) -yes
3)- I will support your suggestions
4)- Council must immediately follow the lead of more progressive
Councils and develop safe cycle ways for children and adults to use -
the current recommended "cycle routes" are a joke.
5) -yes
6)- by working through Council to secure planning and construction of
attractive safe cycleways and encourage a higher profile for Bicycle
Users groups in the community.
7)- yes
8)- yes definitely
Thank you for your communication and for giving me the opportunity of sharing my views.
Val Moss.
from Carolyn Allen, Ind Balmain
I know Fergus Fricke one of my group has responded for us but I would also like to.Firstly I can tell you that your interests are mine, as I have three sons (now in their twenties) who all ride bicycles. I think this is great for several reasons, that they are not adding to pollution by driving all the time and it keeps them fit. As a mother (& maybe still over-protective) I worry about the terrible air they breathe and the danger of being hit by cars. They have had numerous small accidents avoiding poor & selfish drivers but so far not too much damage has been done.
I will attempt to answer your questions. To numbers 1, 2, 5, 7 & 8 the answer is yes! Regarding lower speeds on residential streets, I believe in narrow streets speeds should be even lower than they are on the Balmain peninsula for the safety of pedestrians as well. On major arterial roads there must be a cycle way. I would also work very hard to make sure that we do have a cycle and pedestrian way from White Bay Power Station through the P & O container site to East Balmain whenever that site is 'recycled'.
Questions regarding how I can make it safer are more difficult. Driver education must be one strategy - my sons are forever complaining about drivers who do not change lanes to pass a cyclist, merely 'edging' past and disregarding the cyclist's safety. Can we learn lessons from other societies? One of my sons is living & cycling in Tokyo and he says there are thousands of cyclists on the streets sharing with cars every day and that cyclists are respected as road users.
Cyclists also need education and schools are a very good place to start. I have been a very long term public school parent activist and I know that NSW P & C Federation has good policy in support of this. There is good research to show that for developmental reasons, children under the age of 12 years should not be cycling on roads at all - I would prefer to see them on the footpaths where there is no cycle way. I am aware that this would be opposed some sectors of the community, however I would try hard through getting all parties together to work towards this solution.
Management Plans for our parks must be developed through community consultation and negotiated safe areas for cyclist, dog walkers, children & the elderly need to be clearly defined and in shared areas we all must learn respect other users.
I can assure you that should I be elected to Leichhardt Council on March 27th I would support your endeavours to the full including the establishment of a Bicycle Committee, with councillors, council officers & community representatives. I have been a member of a very longstanding working party for Dawn Fraser Pool and I know such groups are very valuable to council & community in bringing all together to work for the betterment of our community.
Yours sincerely,
Carolyn Allen
from Fergus Fricke
As Carolyn Allen, June Lunsmann and I are standing on the Leichhardt Council Community Independents ticket in the Birrabirragal Ward I am replying on behalf of us all.Thanks for your letter and congratulations on your initiative in contacting candidates as well as seeking to get more people to use bicycles and to make riding safer. We support you on these moves.
As far as answering your detailed questions we suggest the David Lawrence's letter to you represents our views and the views of the Leichhardt Council Community Independents in general. May we say though that, in answer to question 1, you obviously want a review of the Leichhardt Bike Plan and we would support this and we would sympathetically consider increased investment in bicycle-related areas provided there was a reasonable chance of making cycling safer and/or increasing bicycle use with this spending.
We would also like to say that we would try to get the Glebe Island Bridge opened for bicycle and pedestrian traffic on a regular basis, at weekends at least, so that cyclists going to and from the city or riding around the water-front, can avoid the Anzac Bridge.
Yours sincerely
Fergus Fricke
Bike advocacy and related links 