Council

Fitzgerald and Pascoe Vale Roads: Proposed Shared User Path

23 April 2024mooneeBUGCouncil, planned-worksDavid U Leave a comment

Moonee Valley City Council is developing plans for improvements to the interface between existing on- and off-road bike infrastructure in Fitzgerald Rd and Buckley St, Essendon.

The works involve:

A new shared user path, to better connect the existing on-road bike infrastructure.
Line-marking & signage to improve delineation for cyclists and pedestrians.
Re-alignment of the existing footpath and crossovers at the exit from Fitzgerald Rd to Pascoe Vale Rd.
Asphalt footpath reinstatement and relocation of an existing bench seat.

The plan for consultation and review is below.

Please reach out to MooneeBUG and Moonee Valley City Coucil directly if you have feedback on this plan.

Ultimately, MooneeBUG is always supportive of investment in improvements to make our streets safer and more enjoyable for everyone, however we also have an obligation to provide valuable input as residents and people who ride bikes. To this end, some important questions I have are below, as well as proposed alternative.

Will people riding bikes travelling south onto Pascoe Vale road bypass this, and make the much more direct, and faster left turn onto Pascoe Vale road?
If people on bikes travelling south do join the proposed Shared User Path, will they then wait at the lights to join south-flowing traffic on Pascoe Vale road, and is this transition safer? Or will they join southbound traffic from a pedestrian crossing?
How much conflict does this generate with people walking on the footpath?
How novel is this approach:
- Are people in cars expecting people on bikes to be where they are?
- Are people walking on the footpath expecting people riding bikes to join the footpath?
- Are people on bikes given enough warning and signage to navigate this short chicane?

This suggestion definitely has it’s comlpexities on the south end, regarding utility and traffic pole locations! It is worth considering creative solutions and alternative approaches.

Strategic Cycling Corridor for reference

Strava Heatmap for reference

Google Maps cycling infrastructure for reference

MooneeBUG Newsletter (March 2024)

29 March 2024mooneeBUG, NewsletterCouncil, Newsletter, planned-worksDavid U Leave a comment

Hi everyone,

Welcome to this month’s MooneeBUG Newsletter, Here’s a quick recap of March and some exciting announcements for the future.

🍻 MooneeBUG Meeting

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the March meeting where we spoke about how to convert energy into action. Our April meeting will be outside the Valley 🫢at Lickey Split in Footscray on Tuesday 16th April, next to the awesome community bike-hub. Please RSVP on facebook or reply to this email.

🏦 Moonee Valley Council News

Wayfinding signs coming back! After some asking, the Sustainable Transport officer let us know that Debneys Park end of Moonee Ponds Creek Trail will be getting much-needed signs (apperntly being replaced). I’ll keep you updated on the timeline

Flemington Bridge bike access: Great to see David Macauly raise this issue with the council. Listen to his question and the council’s response here.

I encourage everyone to ask a question at the next meeting. You can submit your question online, and don’t even need to attend.

💪🚲 MooneeBUG Win: Grice Crescent Separated Bike Lane

MooneeBUG (Tim and Frank) was key in calling this dangerous pinch point to council’s attention back in 2021, and in great news, it has progressed through planning and consultation, and works are scheduled in the next 2-3 weeks. The north-bound bicycle lane will be extended and physically separated around the bend.

🥳 Mount Alexander Road Bike Lane Upgrades

Federal Blackspot funding and The Department of Transport and Planning are adding bike lane signage, green surfacing, and sharrows around the Travancore corner of Mount Alexander Road. Of great interest as well, they are installing bike detectors and LED Stud lighting to alert drivers to the presence of kids and adults on bikes.

It is easy to be critical of these treatments, as they don’t offer real protection for vulnerable road users, however Mt Alexander Road is an arterial road with many competing stakeholders, including trams, businesses, resident parking. Incremental upgrades like this can pave the way for more significant change in the long term by increasing ridership and visibility of people on bikes. More info here

🍃 Walk. Ride. Moonee Valley

MooneeBUG is working with Moonee Valley Sustainability to promote active and sustainable transport. We’ll be having a group ride around Moonee Valley to finish off the day.

Featuring:

+ Towards Better Streets – panel and Q&A

+ Info on infrastructure for cycling and walking

+ Bike repairs advice

+ Explore e-bikes and cargo bikes

+ Join Moonee BUG for a group ride

10AM – 1PM, Saturday 20 April @ Dwell (78 St Leonards Rd, Ascot Vale) More info on Facebook

📰 Other News:

Ride to School Day came and went without much fanfare. I am not a parent of any school age children. I would love to hear from any parents. Did your schools promote anything for ride-to-school day?

Bicycle Network Super Tuesday Bike Count had volunteers from MooneeBUG out and counting. Hopefully that data contributes to understanding and planning for sustainable transport into the future.

Bike Network E-Bike Expo: April 7 at the Brunswick Velodrome, BIke Network will be hosting a whole bunch of vendors, guest speakers, food trucks etc. Try out the different models available. More info on Facebook.

Fanny Street Reserve: BMX Jumps appear to be built, but word is they’re not officially ‘open’ yet.

Keilor Rd, Niddrie: Streetscaping works between Ross and Treadwell streets commencing in a week, I’m not sure (but hopeful) this includes green paint surface treatment for bikes. (incremental improvements)

MooneeBUG Newsletter (February 2024)

20 February 2024Moonee Valley CIty Council, NewsletterCouncil, cycling, environment, news, Newsletter, transport, transportationDavid U Leave a comment

Hi everyone, welcome to this month’s MooneeBUG Newsletter.

MooneeBUG Meeting

Thank you to everyone who attended our February meeting at the (slightly noisy) Union Hotel. It was great to have representation from Merri-bek-Bug, and see how many people were keen on advocating for improved cycling in Moonee Valley. The location for our next meeting is Strangelove’s Wine Bar, 7PM on Thursday the 7th of March.

The next meeting will focus on putting together some plans for the year, and also talking about some advocacy priorities to ensure our messaging is clear.

Please RSVP to the next meeting by replying to this email or hit attending on Facebook.

Moonee Valley Council News

Moonee Valley Council have given us updates about works on the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail, see the post on our website here. Frank has provided valuable feedback to the project manager on a range of topics from the perspective of an experienced cyclist to ensure the projects have the best outcome and this feedback has been well received – great work Frank!

Council also noted at their first meeting of the completion of the Walking and Cycling strategy, which we have summarised on our website.

We have also had questions asked at council meetings about bike lanes which received positive responses. I encourage anyone to ask questions at Council meetings to keep safer streets and active transport on the Council Agenda.

Watch the discussion on the Walking and Cycling Strategy or ask a question at the next meeting

Bicycle Network Super Tuesday Bike Count

The Bike Count is coming up on March 5, and collecting data about how many people cycle is crucial for advocating for improved services.

It would be awesome if BUG members sign up to this to provide commuter counts in their local area. It’s from 7AM-9AM so could sneak in late to work!

Even if you don’t volunteer, make sure to cycle on that morning and encourage your friends so you’re counted in the data

Critical Mass bike ride on this Friday (24th Feb)

Critical Mass is a group bike-ride that changes route every month, with a theme of advocacy for active transport, and raising awareness about cycling safety. The ride meets at the State Library on Friday and leaves at 5:30 PM at a very leisurely pace. This month is being organised by BikeWest, a cycling advocacy group centred around the inner-west of Melbourne.

RSVP on Facebook or just turn up I’ll be there.

Active Transport @ Moonee Valley Festival

Moonee Valley Sustainability’s Active Transport group has a stall at the Moonee Valley Festival at Queen’s Park on 24th of Feb – go visit them to talk about cycling in the area and fill out their survey on active transport. For those that can’t make it, go ahead and take the survey now.

Moonee Valley Walking and Cycling Strategy: A Short Review

5 February 2024Moonee Valley CIty Council, mooneeBUGCouncil, StrategyDavid U Leave a comment

Moonee Valley City Council last voted last week to note the completion of the Moonee Valley City Walking and Cycling Strategy 2012-2022. While the council noted various achievements, there wasn’t much detail provided about what was accomplished and what hasn’t. (See the meeting minutes here, or a recording on YouTube here)

Importantly, Councillor Rose Iser successfully proposed an amendment to evaluate the past strategy, consult with organizations like MooneeBUG, use data to inform planning, and emphasize the importance of active transport.”

A Look Back at Moonee Valley in 2012

Moonee Valley was very different in 2012 when the strategy was envisioned. Escooters didn’t exist, it was 5 years before oBikes would come to Melbourne, and the first Moonee Valley Cycling and Walking Strategy 2004 was still in place (older draft strategies were never adopted).

The Strategy and Its Key Recommendations

The strategy, which spanned over 106 pages, including specific implementation plans, aimed to improve the walking and cycling infrastructure in Moonee Valley. Key recommendations included (among others):

Renew the Moonee Ponds Creek Shared Path and market it to new users.
Create a cycling and walking route parallel to the Craigieburn Rail corridor through signage, on-road symbols, and by improving crossings of major roads and allowing two-way bicycle traffic on one-way roads.
Advocate to VicRoads for full-time on-road separated bicycle lanes on Mount Alexander Road.
Work with VicRoads to install on-road bicycle facilities on Racecourse Road, Epsom Road, and others.
Develop a regular audit and maintenance program for shared paths and footpaths.

Image: Proposed Zebra crossings at the Epsom Road/Ascot Vale Road Roundabout (Image from the Strategy)

Progress and Challenges

While it is clear that many projects have increased the amenity of shared user paths, in particular, the Moonee Ponds Creek trail, and portions of the Craigieburn Cycling corridor have been built, there are still challenges. The Craigieburn cycling corridor, in particular, is subject to many crossings of state roads, and Moonee Valley still lacks safe arterial cycling routes. The on-road cycling network remains fractured.

Image: Monee Ponds Creek Trail – Dark underpass that has had lighting installed.

Measuring Success on the Strategy

Measuring the success of the strategy is important, and it would be helpful to have more information on what has been achieved and what still needs to be done. While the council has noted the completion of the strategy, a more detailed report on the progress and challenges would provide a clearer picture of the state of walking and cycling infrastructure in Moonee Valley.

The strategy provided clear metrics for success, such as in the below sample, so it is quite unclear why Council was unable to report on them at the end of the strategy. I hope that it isn’t because they won’t like the answer!

Excerpt from the Walking and Cycling Strategy 2012-2022

What’s Next?

It appears that instead of another active transport strategy, the council is developing a holistic, 10-year Integrated Transport Strategy for the 2024/25 financial year, which will include public transport, cycling, walking, micromobility, taxis, and of course roads and parking.

There is a real risk that cycling doesn’t get dedicated treatment in this strategy the way it has in the past, however anecdotally the past strategies have not been successful, so combining the transport landscape may result in cycling benefiting from the increased funding and planning as local roads are considered in the same space.