Bicycle Network: Directory

Whittlesea riders - drafting of council Budget 2013/14 underway

05 March 2013. As you read this Council is preparing its draft 2013/14 Budget. The time to act is now for more bike infrastructure funding!

As a ratepayer and rider now is the time for Council to hear from you if you want more funding to improve the local riding environment.

Click here to tell your Council to invest in bike infrastructure (E-mail contact for Council provided) in the 2013/14 Budget.

Bicycle Expenditure Index (BiXE) 2012

15 November 2012. The City of Whittlesea’s BiXE rating for 2012 is $4.88. This is below the Outer Zone council average for 2012, which is $5.65. This is based upon council spending of $798,000 and population of 163,539.

Relevant bicycle related investment for the 2012/2013 financial year includes but is not necessarily limited to expenditure upon the following projects/programs:
• Morang Drive pedestrian signals: Improved pedestrian and cyclist safety on Morang Drive outside the Mill Park Leisure Centre
• Scott Street urbanisation includes a shared path for a section of the street
• McKimmies Road shared path: 150 metres in length to match the existing shared path
• Bicycle facilities: Dalton Road to McKimmies Road
• Bicycle facilities: Dalton Road to Station Street
• Dalton Road shared path from Keon Parade to Metropolitan Ring Road
• Darebin Creek shared path from Metropolitan Ring Road to McKimmies Road
• Edgars Creek shared pathway project

Additional spending sourced from external grants and funds may apply – particularly given that Whittlesea is a designated growth area – but that is outside the scope of BiXE reporting.

The City of Whittlesea achieved a five-year BiXE average of $6.94. This is above the Outer Zone council five-year average for 2012, which is $5.80.

See full BiXE report available here.

See media here.

VoteBike - Local Council Elections 2012

27 October 2012. Local council elections are being held in Victoria on October 27 2012. Bicycle Network Victoria is once again running VoteBike that allows you to engage with potential candidates on local cycling issues. We will collect statements from candidates about their commitment to cycling in Whittlesea and publish them on the VoteBike Facebook event page for you to comment on.

Bicycle Network Victoria has identified the following key projects for the City of Whittlesea that need the support of local councilors: 

• Yan Yean Pipe Track - The water pipe reservation represents a fantastic opportunity to provide a direct way to connect a dense population with the rest of Melbourne's Metropolitan Trail Network, especially from McDonalds Rd to Williamsons Rd & Vincent Dve to Gordons Rd.
• Powerline corridor - A shared path along the powerline reserve in Whittlesea could provide a much needed route in the outer suburbs.
• Links to South Morang Station Parkiteer cage - Capitalise on links to Parkiteer cages to encourage multi-modal transport.
• Outer urban planning for new developments - Planning cycling networks in new urban growth zone developments is key to providing healthy transport and recreation options for families and children.
• Ride2School - Continue to provide safe routes to schools foster healthy transport options for kids and reduce peak morning traffic congestion by up to 20%.

To view candidate statements for Whittlesea go to our Find a Candidate page. Or to comment on candidate statements as well as voice your support for particular local cycling projects, visit our Facebook events page for Whittlsea.

VoteBike allows you to have your say and make sure your vote counts for improved cycling conditions in your local area.

Whittlesea produces bike map

13 September 2010. Whittlesea Council has produced a map of on-street and off-street bicycle lanes and paths in established urban areas.

The map also shows community facilities, education, shopping and fixed public transport routes of train and tram.

The map will be updated on a regular basis to accurately reflect the ongoing construction and installation of bicycle lanes and paths.

This will include the established areas and the growth areas of the municipality, including Epping North, Mernda-Doreen and the Whittlesea Township.

A copy of the map can be obtained from council offices or a pdf downloaded here.

BiXE 2009: City of Whittlesea

Whittlesea City Council has a BiXE 2009 of $10.50. This result places Casey well above the average Outer Councils’ BiXE 2009 of $5.78. Whittlesea has achieved a 3 year BiXE average of $7.31, demonstrating a strong commitment, and is to be congratulated on its investment in bike infrastructure.

Whittlesea City Council has opportunities to invest these funds into cycling infrastructure such as:
• Building the Yan Yean Pipe Track
• Linking Cheddar Road path to Ring Road Path
• Providing more on road bike lanes on Council-maintained roads, particularly around schools.

Council allocates funds for bike facilities

Jun 05 Council has allocated $200,000 in its budget to improve cycling facilities in the municipality. As a growing muncipality with a large proportion of young families, council's committment will ensure a steady development of paths and lanes for children and adults to ride their bikes. It is a significant contribution by an outer suburban council.

Council will be seeking matching funding for bike path projects from VicRoads and Parks Victoria, as well as contributions from developers in new housing areas.

Topping the list of priorities for council are:

• A path along Dalton Rd in Thomastown, north of the Ring Road
• A path along McKimmies Rd to Thomastown railway station to RMIT Bundoora
• Bike lanes on Civic Drive, Mill Park
• A path in Morang Dve, Mill Park between Childs Rd and Moorehead Rd
• Bike lanes on Settlement Rd and Wood St, Thomastown.

Cooper St, Epping

Jun 04 With the duplication of Cooper St, bike lanes have been installed between High St, Epping and the Hume Hwy. The lanes will connect into the new shared path being constructed alongside the Craigieburn Bypass. The shared path will connect with the Western Ring Path at Thomastown and follow the bypass north until it reaches Craigieburn. See VicRoads - Craigeburn Bypass for more information.

Whittlesea Rail Trail

The disued railway line between Epping, South Morang and Whittlesea has potential to be converted into an off-road cycling and walking path.

Dalton Rd, Lalor

July 03 Council recently installed 2.5km of bike lanes on Dalton Rd in Lalor, improving safety and comfort of cyclists using this busy road.

Training routes - Plenty Rd, Wallan Rd and Merriang Rd

Oct 02 Training and touring cyclists using the popular Kinglake training route will benefit from signing of sealed shoulders done by Whittlesea Council with VicRoads Bicycle program funding. A 16km section of Plenty Rd from South Morang to Whittlesea has new bike logos painted in the shoulder and 'Caution, Watch for Cyclists' signs at the squeeze points. This will help improve safety for all road users, especially cyclists.

A section of Wallan Rd has also benefited from shoulder sealing. Further shoulder sealing will be done on 13 km of Merriang Road (High Street), and 7 km of Craigieburn Road later this year.

High St, Epping

High St in Epping also has new bike lanes from from Kingsway Drive in the south to Findon Dve in the north, although sections are yet to be completed.

Principal Bicycle Network (PBN) routes include:

• Edgars Rd, Thomastown
• Childs Rd, Mill Park
• McDonalds Rd, Epping
• Yan Yean Pipe Track path, Mill Park
• Plenty Rd, Bundoora.

VicRoads will fund the installation of bike lanes on PBN roads.