July 1, 2008 at 11:34 pm · Filed under Now Seriously
No dam and no going back
Old passions are stirring and divisions re-emerging as environmentalists celebrate victory all over again, 25 years after the demise of the Gordon-below-Franklin dam.
The High Court ruling on July 1, 1983 not only stopped hydro-electric development on the lower Gordon and Franklin rivers, it was the climax of a great national drama, ending years of politicking and protest which changed the country forever.
The issue destroyed the governments of two Tasmanian premiers, Doug Lowe and Harry Holgate, and loosened Labor’s grip on the state, establishing the Liberals as a significant player for the first time in decades, under the tough-talking, pro-development leadership of premier Robin Gray.
25 years ago today I was too scared to catch the school bus home in fear of another fight. Instead I walked home, relieved that the High Court had made the correct decision but terrified of the social implications to come. Social implications are pretty harsh when you’re a teenager. Peer groups and so-called grown ups can be very cruel when you’re too young to face up to a fight or know how to win. Just don’t even consider thinking about trying to intimidate me now. You know who you are.
A short promotional video I made for the upcoming Ride of Silence on 24 May 2008. Images: Brisbane and Bendigo RoS. Music: January Rain by Hunters and Collectors.
Ride of Silence Australia: Adelaide, Bendigo, Bowral, Canberra, Melbourne, Mount Isa, Sydney and Townsville.
April 29, 2008 at 11:21 pm · Filed under Now Seriously
The Age: Brumby to spend $112m to fight traffic
Melbourne’s clearways will be more heavily policed, buses will have greater priority and new bike tracks will be built under a new state government plan to reduce congestion.Unveiling the $112 million Keeping Melbourne Moving strategy, Victorian Premier John Brumby said the new measures represented a balanced approach to tackling congestion on the roads
….. and then …
More than $28 million will be used to further develop the city’s bicycle and pedestrian network in an attempt to get up to 12,000 commuters to switch to walking and cycling.
Bike paths! Bike paths! Here in Melbourne we have bike paths going at crazy crazy prices you can’t beat anywhere! I’m getting confused, are these bike paths part of the stuff promised by the Transport & Livability Statement two years ago, outcomes of the recent IMAP findings, ongoing projects allocated from VicRoads annual budget, Sir Ron’s cycle link recommendations or the all new dog and pony show Transport Department restructure? Read the rest of this entry »
Today there’s yet another all singing all dancing article in todays Age stating how $60m allocated towards cycling in Sir Rod’s report is all wonderful and grand and we all should be happy tra la la la for the Joys of Segregated Cycling Facilities.
Bicycle Victoria’s strategy aims to quadruple the number of cyclists commuting to work in the city. In March last year, bicycle traffic accounted for 7.9% of all vehicles entering the CBD (up from 3.9% in 2006). Some of Bicycle Victoria’s ideas are simple and inexpensive, such as painting the bicycle lane green, or placing a rubber strip or a vibrating line between the bicycle lane and the road. Others are more sophisticated and expensive, such as the route now in place in Swanston Street where concrete barriers and a row of parked cars stand between cyclists and the traffic. This has become known as the Copenhagen lane.
But there is no discussion about attitudinal change or awareness. The reality is that element maybe beyond the scope of Rods homework, but just how does someone starting out (either vehicle operator or cyclist) acquire the confidence or skills base to negotiate with other road traffic if they are instructed only by infrastructure to ignore each other? Read the rest of this entry »
April 5, 2008 at 10:37 pm · Filed under Now Seriously
Still feeling a smidgen nonplussed by the bike ban fiasco earlier this year? Here’s further inadvertent entertainment.
Figure 1. Great 4 Wheel deals for 2 Wheel riders
Now the best on four wheels brings Bicycle Victoria members an extra incentive to get on your bike and ride down to one of the 5 Subaru Melbourne retailers.
February 11, 2008 at 10:47 pm · Filed under Now Seriously
As a personal gesture of respect to Sheldon Brown, we’re putting a team together for the MS Summer Cycle. Now I’m not usually one for these variety of mass rides, but the combination of Sheldon’s sad passing last week, his diagnosis of MS in August 2005 and this upcoming ride to raise funds for multiple sclerosis research on February 24 have created a opportunity to show our respect for a great personality who enriched our cycling world so much.
Team Captain Bike is being organised, so as a small gesture to honour his memory, why not consider either participating or donating? Although Sheldon did hold alternative views to ‘thons, but that maybe due to how local events were organised in the US. At 40km this ride is hardly near the arduous distances that some US rides are organised over. Please either join Team Captain Bike by following the details in this link or contact moi on telstarATcfsmtb.netRead the rest of this entry »
January 7, 2008 at 10:39 am · Filed under Now Seriously
Brianna has done a superb job of getting this website started and collating much of what has been discussed either in the media & places elsewhere about the Connex and V/Line peak hour bicycle bans.
So feel free to take the advice mentioned above and get involved. Not forgetting, as Alan Parker has commented, this ‘ban’ is yet another example of a systematic longterm problem that certain groups have been passing the buck on for literally decades. Hence why we need short-term, medium-term and long term strategies to counter it.
November 23, 2007 at 2:15 pm · Filed under Now Seriously
If the Festival of Democracy cracks out on Saturday night and the political flavour changes from Coke to Pepsi, promise yourself one thing. Make a pledge to yourself to no longer accept or tolerant the shrill ugly selfishness that has that has completely fucked over Australian society over the last 12 years. And don’t delude yourself for a nano second that the so-called leftie side of politics has a mortgage on being Caring, Understanding, Nurturing Types.
From my personal observation since 1996 I’ve also watched certain aspects of alternative politics turn into yet another ugly mirror image of mainstream politics. It’s beyond disconcerting to observe apparently intelligent people behaving like shallow, self-serving fuckwits who are either too tender of years, naive or who don’t remember (or want to know) the Australian notion of a Fair Go. I recall quite a different attitude growing up in the 70’s and 80’s, there seemed to be an attitude of broader acceptance. Read the rest of this entry »
October 6, 2007 at 3:31 pm · Filed under Now Seriously
Todays semi-regular cycling article from the Saturday Age discussing the priorities of lobbying groups and the actual perceived impact of overall cycling participation rates.
Cycling groups were delighted with the increase, compared with the 2001 census, but transport experts were not so enthusiastic. blah blah blah
Personally and professionally I’d sooner prefer pluristic attitudes over the extremely stale us vs them debates. But when there’s intractable foes getting their opinions in the media (speaking on behalf for the rest of us who may not necessarily share their views) ultimately it doesn’t really broaden or enhance any discussion on transport options.
Although going by previous tanties, this is a comparatively minor media stoush, but badly directed and stale. If you want to read better transport related guff - head straight for Professor Peter Newman and Professor John Pucher.
September 23, 2007 at 4:17 pm · Filed under Now Seriously
Doubtless like many others who heard this sad news early Saturday evening, I have extremely fond memories of the Hobart Myer store in the 70’s and 80’s, of clothes, books, records and all that stuff that deeply imprints upon you when growing up. Down in the basement, if you put an ear to the wall, you could hear the Hobart Rivulet barely encased behind the bricks.
With the old buildings rabbit warren-like construction, two shopping arcades at either end and the Cat & Fiddle Arcade in the middle, sadly, it’s not surprising when the building caught fire it literally went like a train. More here via The Mercury. Hope there’s news soon that either Myers (nationally) or the state government steps in to help employees and businesses affected in this huge blaze.
August 25, 2007 at 1:20 pm · Filed under Now Seriously
The next time some well meaning, yet naive media commentator starts pointing fingers about perceived errant cyclist behaviour or plain ‘ol anti-cyclist crap, please bear in mind this frequent series by NY’s Streetsblog:
Greenburgh, N.Y.: Sprain Brook Rollover Kills Driver (Journal News), Manhattan: Pedestrian, 42, Struck Crossing West Side Highway* (Villager)Brooklyn: DWI Charge After Speeder Kills Good Samaritan (Daily News, NY Post), Queens: SUV Smashes Into Parked Motorcyclist, Killing 1 (NYT, NY Post),Clinton, N.Y.: Rye Cyclist, 41, Hit from Behind and Killed (Journal News),Bristol, Conn.: 4 Teens Killed, 3 Injured in 2-Car Wreck (AP/Newsday)Hardyston, N.J.: Brooklyn WTC Survivor and Wife Killed in Crash (Star-Ledger),Lakeview & Hewlett, L.I.: Separate Crashes Kill 2, Injure 4 (Newsday) Stamford, Conn.: Pedestrian Killed; Driver Gets Manslaughter Charge (Advocate),Wyandanch, L.I.: Driver Arrested for DUI After Passenger Killed (Newsday),Chappaqua, N.Y.: Chess Master, 76, Killed in Head-On (Journal News), Sag Harbor, L.I.: Teen Driver Dies as BMW Slams Into Trees (Newsday),Coram, L.I.: Woman, 21, Trying to Pass SUV Killed in Head-On (Newsday),New Brunswick, N.J.: Man Killed as Car Swerves and Hits Pole (Star-Ledger), Carle Place, L.I.: Motorist Killed Veering Into Path of Truck (Newsday),Long Island: 2 Motorcyclists Killed, 1 Injured, in Three Crashes (Newsday),North Amityville, L.I.: Man, 36, Killed After Car Hits Tree (Newsday),Dix Hills, L.I.: Man Charged in Swindle Dies in Motorcycle Crash (Newsday) etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc
Footnote in NB link: “Trend: ‘Bicyclists Posing a Safety Hazard on Our Roadways’.” suspend disbelief before this bit
An Australian version would be a interesting concept to research, although rather depressing to media monitor, as doing the regular monitoring for WoJ can be daunting enough for me. Like many I’m all for higher levels of compliance and cyclists following the road rules, but a bit of perspective & balance wouldn’t be a bad idea to pursue … ah shit that sounds too much like uncommon common sense.
July 27, 2007 at 12:04 am · Filed under Now Seriously
With all this mess going on at the Tour, caused by a few cheating idiots, please don’t give up hope for our beautiful sport that is being tarnished (destroyed?) by a few.
July 11, 2007 at 12:28 am · Filed under Now Seriously
Herald Sun: Chopper squad to notorious bike route
Melbourne’s notorious Hell Ride cycle route will come under increased scrutiny by a Victoria Police “eye in the sky”. From Saturday, a police helicopter will monitor the unofficial ride, which attracts hundreds of cyclists who race up to 40km through the city’s bayside suburbs, from Black Rock to Mount Eliza, at speeds of up to 60 km/h.
The additional Air Wing patrol follows an incident last August when one Hell Ride cyclist hit a pedestrian trying to cross at pedestrian lights on Beach Road, Mentone.
The tragedy that befell to James Gould was appalling, totally avoidable and should never never happen again. But utilising the Police Air Wing to keep control of a bunch of cyclists? Suppose what is really required; education, awareness and accountability is far too left of field to consider? No, it’s far too logical to seriously consider, lets instead take a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. Oh FFS we’ve witnessed similar heavy handed and inappropriate tactics before, haven’t we?
MIM: Critical Mass: 150 Police to Ensure City Link Profits (24/11/04)
Police have erected cyclone fencing close to the tunnel to ensure that riders will be unable to enter and ‘disrupt’ traffic. Previously the police have tolerated critical mass rides through the tunnel, which according to The Age “in June last year reportedly cost Transurban $40,000 in lost revenue”. On this occasion the police have decided to mount a massive operation (potentially of greater cost) to ensure no frivolity or fun interrupts the Friday grind of traffic.
More importantly, police are threatening cyclists with potential 5 year jail terms for riding on what should be a public road in the interests of protecting Transurban’s profits. And whilst the Herald Sun would like to write the participants off as having a “pathological hatred of cars,” the point remains that riding on a public road is fine but as soon as you potentially threaten the profits of a large corporation your activity becomes unacceptable.
And then there was …
MIM: Critical Mass, scum journalism and the Victoria Police (26/2/05)
Herald Sun journalist, Andrew Bolt, and 3AW talk back radio host Neil Mitchell, and Melbourne police superintendant, Mick Williams, had done a wonderful job pushing for a ride on CityLink, except they failed to turn up with maps to hand out for their route.
Instead we saw several squad cars, the police horse squad, half a dozen highway patrol motorcycles, several constables on foot, the police helicopter, and even members of the special force squad (riot squad) in plain clothes all outside the State Library to meet and greet the cyclists on the organised coincidence of critical mass. The media were present as well, although I doubt any had the gumption to send a reporter on the whole ride.
Massive VicPOL operations and ensuing media hyperbole to control … wait for it … CYCLISTS.
People who ride BICYCLES. It’s hardly a social issue comparable to a vicious, random drive-by shooting or a senseless, callous hit and run incident, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the daily TAC Road toll update or the ongoing depression epidemic in Australian society.
Not the Hells Angels, not machete-welding St Albans gangs, not the selfish cockheads who hoon daily on the Western Ring Road Carpark, not some Monaro driving twat busting reds in the SE ‘burbs.
PEOPLE WHO RIDE BICYCLES.
I am quite capable of a intelligent, rational deconstruction of this reaction to the Hell Ride, of the previous reactions to Critical Mass. But I can’t be arsed, I’m beyond sick of this carping, knee-jerk rubbish.
Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with some people in Melbourne?
July 6, 2007 at 12:37 pm · Filed under Now Seriously
This is Matthew Cole. A friend of Maddys bought this picture along on a card they had made to remember him to the first Melbourne Ride of Silence in 2005.
In todays Age there are two pictures accompanying the story about Maddys death in a hit-run incident, of Bronwyn Dowton, his life partner and the man who’s actions took Maddy from her in January 2005.
“There is scarcely a moment that I am not without pain and grief as a result of this tragedy,” she said. “I know that I will feel this pain for the rest of my life.” Judge Stuart Campbell remanded Plumpton, 30, of Pascoe Vale South, in custody.
Due to be sentenced at a later date, Plumpton still enjoyed some freedom, said Ms Dowton. “Maddy is in a grave,” she said. “We don’t get to have the life we planned. To grow old together.”
No dam and no going back
The Age: 
As a personal gesture of respect to 
The next time some well meaning, yet naive media commentator starts pointing fingers about perceived errant cyclist behaviour or plain ‘ol anti-cyclist crap, please bear in mind this frequent series by NY’s Streetsblog:
This is Matthew Cole. A friend of Maddys bought this picture along on a card they had made to remember him to the first 
