On any given Sunday, it is not unusual to hear the solemn ringing of historic church bells. But yesterday, a chorus of different bells rang out across Fitzroy for a different religious service.In what was claimed to be the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere, about 100 cyclists gathered at Fitzroy’s Edinburgh Gardens for an ecumenical service where they and their bikes were blessed by an Anglican bishop, a Buddhist venerable and a Muslim imam.
The service was held partly in response to the death of a female cyclist last month during peak hour in Melbourne’s CBD. Many participated by ringing the bells of their bikes during the messages and prayers of the speakers, which included pleas to deities for cyclists to be kept safe while riding and that cyclists be granted the “resilience to brave the elements and enjoy the sport”.
Geri Kelder, of Brunswick East, said while she was not religiously affiliated, she had enjoyed the service and thought it important.
“I think it’s a good thing to celebrate bicycles in Melbourne (and) I think it’s a lovely idea to bless cyclists and bikes in this ceremony because it’s a really important message to say that it’s unsafe, sometimes, to ride on a bike,” she said.
“I quite like the idea that it was not just one denomination — if it was denominational, I don’t think I would have come and the fact that there was quite a few different representatives of different religions I think (made it) a very open event.”
I had a few words in the media earlier in the week, but Geri said it much more nicely.
September 1, 2008 at 3:23 pm · Filed under Legends
From Bicycle Tasmania: 30-August-2008
Hobart’s latest monthly Critical Mass Ride was a huge success – with around 200 cyclists taking part. It was covered by local TV and radio. It was attended by Premier David Bartlett, Liberal leader Will Hodgman, Greens leader Nick McKim, Hobart mayor Rob Valentine, Kingborough mayor Graham Bury, Hobart aldermen Bill Harvey and Helen Burnet (did we miss anyone?). To get the leader of each state political party to such an event is of world wide significance, possibly a world first, and has certainly has never happened before in Australia!! Congratulations must go to the hard working organisers Liam Correy and friends from a new advocacy group Healthy Transport Hobart. Read a pre-ride article and a post-ride article thanks to the Hobart Mercury newspaper.
W00t!
Left to right: Premier David Bartlett, Greens Leader Nick McKim and Liberal Lleader Will Hodgman at Hobart Critical Mass.
Isn’t this just brilliant, and it’s a great example of a Critical Mass that takes on the local flavour and support of the cycling community. Not only that, but retaining the essence of what CM is about and creating a fun, inclusive local event without the kneejerk media-driven hyperbole we’re had to endure here on the ‘Mainland’ during the last decade. As I’ve commented upon at length in the past.
After getting scared off the roads in the late 70′s by a bad-tempered MTT bus driver, it doth warm this expats heart to see local cyclists and pollies getting out there and riding the roads.
Superb, well done to Healthy Transport Hobart, Bicycle Tasmania and everyone concerned!
What a great excuse to go visit the rellies real soon, although I’ve got to work out a reasonable carbon-neutral travel plan. And build up a small Ken Self frame. Oh yeah, and another thing. For those who recall Vinnie and the V8′s, how about a reworked version of ‘Outside Coles on a Saturday Night’, complete with references to Bakfiets, Xtracycles and a posse of Fixie hipsters for good measure?
I’ll preface this with the opinion that I have a lot of respect for truck drivers. Well, most of the professional ones I’ve encountered and had the opportunity to have a chat and peacefully exchange views.
However there are cowboys & fkwts out on the roads, but they’re probably cowboys & fkwts to virtually every other road user.
Massive B-triple trucks eight times the length of a family car would be allowed to run on CityLink and many other main commuter routes, under a secret Department of Transport plan leaked to the State Opposition.
‘Secret’ plan
Transport strategy
Restrictions lifted
The leaked document shows the routes B-triples – prime movers towing three trailers that can weigh up to 82 tonnes and are up to 36 metres long – would take through Melbourne, and around Victoria. B-triples weigh 74 times more than a family car, and overtaking one is the equivalent of passing eight motor vehicles, according to NSW motoring organisation the NRMA.
I’ll circumvent a long rant by simply mentioning that if these monsters are allowed on more roads, then at the very least a major road user education program and complusory side guards should be enacted immediately.
Although, as usual, don’t hold your breath waiting for the revelant authorities to do the right thing. Will it take someone or something, akin to the shock of Darren Millane’s accident, to speed up any changes, such as what happened with rear impact guards in the early 1990′s?
Left to right: Premier David Bartlett, Greens Leader Nick McKim and Liberal Lleader Will Hodgman at Hobart Critical Mass.
They’re fecking huge
