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Budget allocations

State budget allocations are slipping behind what is needed to match the growth in bike riding

Billions funnelled to tunnel
Pennies & farthings for bikes

8 May 2013. Most of Victoria's most urgently needed bike infrastructure projects have been delayed for at least another year as the 2013 State Budget largely overlooks bike transport in favour of the economically dubious extension of the Eastern Freeway.

This is the second year running that the Coalition Government has stalled Victoria's bike infrastructure program, with only a trickle of projects to see the light of day.

After more than a decade of steady bike infrastructure investment from both sides of politics—leading to spectacular growth in bike riding for both transport and recreation—essential spending has been strangled.

A huge gap is opening up as the numbers of riders rapidly outstrips the provision of bike facilities.

More than 1.1 million Victorians now ride a bike each week. Car use peaked in Melbourne in 1991. World-leading cities are pulling freeways down rather than building them.

The return to a 1980's Freeway mindset will put Melbourne's status as the World's Most Liveable City under threat. Congestion will reach choke-point.

Box Hill-Ringwood get funding nod

One major positive in the budget was the funding of the Ringwood to Box Hill rail trail.

This project was a commitment of the Coalition before the last election and it now appears to be going ahead, but details are still sketchy.

The Budget does not identify the cost, but notes that the project is yet to be confirmed.

This is likely to be because construction will be coupled with the the nearby grade separation projects along the rail corridor, tenders for which are yet to be finalised.

More details on this much anticipated development are expected to emerge soon.

Darebin-Yarra Link moves forward

Another welcome boost is the allocation of $5M for the start to construction of the previously announced Darebin Bridge.

Funded out of Minister Mathew Guy's Planning Ministry, and being built by VicRoads, this high profile, multi-year project will be well and truly underway after a battle lasting almost two decades.

Everything else gets $2.5M

The Budget also list $2.5M for other bike projects, but so far these are unspecified.

It may be intended for some of the high priority projects that we suggested to the Premier and Treasurer in our priority lists (Metropolitan priorities are outlined below; refer 18 April story. Regional Priorities are outlined here.

But the most critically important of those projects were estimated to cost a total of $25M, so it appears that most of the projects that really matter to Victoria's bike riders will be ignored for another exasperating year.

Congestion levy to fund bike growth?

2 May 2013. Millions of dollars raised in congestion taxes could finally flow to the best congestion-buster of all—bikes—following a decision by the State Government to increase the levy on city car parking spaces.

According to Treasurer, Michael O'Brien, the levy will from next financial year raise about $44M annually for improved transport infrastructure and services.

This should be ample to fund the 2013-14 bike budget, with plenty left over for other congestion reducing initiatives.

The excuse that no money is available for the VicRoads bike budget—which was used last year—will no longer be tenable.

As bikes are known to be the most cost-effective way of reducing commuter congestion, they must surely figure prominently in the thinking of a government "committed to delivering an economically responsible Budget for all Victorians".

“The public transport and road initiatives in the Budget will benefit all Victorians, including those who operate in Melbourne’s CBD. It is therefore appropriate that a small portion of the funding for these new initiatives be supported by this adjustment in the city car park levy,” Mr O’Brien said.

The levy was introduced on 1 Jan 2006 to reduce congestion in Melbourne’s CBD. Money raised is intended to fund congestion-free transport alternatives.

It applies principally to long-stay car parking spaces in the Melbourne CBD.

The City of Melbourne will in the future be allocated $7M a year from the levy receipts, up from $5M a year. This should result in an acceleration in congestion-busting bike investment by the City in the next few years.

The State Government released its Cycling Strategy and a Cycling Action Plan late last year, and is clearly aware of how the explosion of bike transport in Melbourne is reducing congestion pressure.

The congestion levy is an obvious, straightforward and simple mechanism to discourage car commuting on the one hand, and fund the growth of alternatives on the other.

Our State budget for bikes

18 April 2013. New Premier Denis Napthine and new Treasurer Michael O'Brien will be having a tough time getting this year's State Budget ready so soon after taking the reins, so to help them out, we have completed the bike budget for them.

Premier Napthine will be especially pleased that these high priority projects will deliver great value to Victorians.

And the Treasurer O'Brien will be thrilled that with these projects he can buy so much transportation for such a tiny amount of money.

With rider numbers into the city topping 13,000 a day and climbing fast, every extra bike on the road is saving the tax payer the pain of coughing up the fortune it would cost to move these same people via freeways or public transport.

The Baillieu Government lost the plot last year when they sliced the VicRoads bike budget to zero, thus ending the modest but regular program that provided many important sections of Victoria's bike network. Inexplicably, it eradicated the best value-for-money transport program in the Government.

The projects outlined below would probably take about two years—or two budgets—to complete. We are supplying a two-year list so that the Government can choose those that are most attractive to it now, yet keep in sight the longer term priorities.

We estimate our top priorities for the 2013 budget would cost about $25M.

The most urgent priority is to get started on the Shepherds Bridge bike crossing replacement. This Western Gateway project would also involve linking the Footscray Road path form the Maribyrnong River to Footscray (Napier/Buckley) and to the Regional Rail Link corridor(West Footscray Station crossing) with a separated path.

Priority two would be to build the missing link from Westgate to CBD fringe on the south-side the the Yarra, utilising the rail corridor which the Ports Corporation have told us they have abandoned and no longer want or need. With all the talk from the government about developing Fisherman's Bend, one would expect this to be a likely prospect.

Back in the West, next priority is to link the Footscray central activities district out to Sunshine and on to Caroline Springs as part of the Regional Rail Link. This is good economics as it would make great use of the investment made to link all the way into the CBD.

Across in the East a start need to be made to the Lilydale to Yarra Glen Rail Trail between Beresford Road, Lilydale and Yarra Glen Rail Station. This would supplement the heavily used Warburton Rail Trail and take riders into the heart of Yarra Valley winery country.

Next priority is the Syndal to Ringwood path along the waterpipe, improving access from Syndal, TallyHo centre, numerous schools and activity centres, and support the Box Hill to Ringwood project, already in train.

Others in our $25M budget for 2013-14 would be:

See this table for the complete two year program.

Please note we also have a list of priority projects for regional Victoria which we will launch prior to the Budget in early May.

Will Premier Napthine bring the bike budget back?

21 March 2013. There is a new leader of the government in Spring Street, promising new energy and quicker decision-making, but there is a question 1.1 million bike-riding Victorians want answered: will Denis Napthine bring the bike budget back?

Victoria had long been the Australian leader in bringing efficient and healthy bike transport and recreation to the community.

Governments of both political persuasions consistently provided solid budget investment in bike infrastructure. These budgets were never spectacular, but they resulted in steady and incremental improvement.

Victorians, who had long wanted to get on their bikes, streamed onto the roads and paths as the facilities rolled out.

But then came the blunder. Who will forget the Big Fat Zero for the VicRoads Bike Program in the 2012-13 budget? To this day there has never been an explanation of what went wrong.

But with a new Premier and and new Treasurer, the follies of the past can quickly be erased.

The 2013-14 budget for the VicRoads Bike Program is now more important than ever, with a bulging back-log of projects on the urgent list.

You can help get the Premier's new team off on the right foot.

Please write to the Premier now, asking him about his plans to restore the bike budget in this year's State Budget. Tell him about your bike riding, and why riding is important to you and your loved ones. And let him know how getting more people riding bikes leads to healthier communities.

Preparations for the next State Budget are at a critical stage, so make this step a priority.

Darebin Bridge rally

27 November 2012. Your help is needed to get the government moving faster on the Darebin Bridge project.

Bicycle Network Victoria is inviting every rider who cares about the development of this crucial link to attend a rally on:

Sunday, 9 December, at Sparks Reserve, Ivanhoe: 10:00-11:00am.

Lock it in the diary now!

This project is of the highest priority, has the required permits, has the support of all political parties, and yet progress remains glacial, stymied by the Baillieu Government's deep freeze on many critically important bike initiatives.

Your participation will build a bridge of support for this venture. Now it is time for the people to send a clear message to the Government that they are tired of waiting years for the short, missing link to be completed.

Building the Darebin Bridge will link six of Melbourne’s most popular trails and give easy access to hundreds of kilometres of popular bike paths throughout the metropolitan area.

While attending the rally you will be able to envision how the network will mesh together and provide access to a magnificent riding environment.

There is no excuse for more delays on this project. As the six local Mayors pointed out in their recent letter to the Government, see below, there is low cost preparatory work which can be underway right now.

Timely funding and development of this trail is more important than ever, as the final link into Sparks Reserve is currently underway and the planning permits for the remaining works have already had to be renewed due to inaction from the State.

It is puzzling that this Government, facing a health epidemic related to low levels of physical inactivity, this year has decided to turn its back on recreation trail projects, by shuttering the Metropolitan Trail Network program.

Help us shake them out of their lethargy.

It is now time to get the funds flowing and bring the Darebin Bridge to completion.

See you at the rally!

Join facebook rally event

 

 

For more information on the Darebin Bridge Project click here.

Change of heart on bridge

22 August 2012. In the wake of a storm of protest the Baillieu Government has just confirmed it will fund a new bridge to improve riding conditions on the Main Yarra Trail in Abbotsford.

The committment is the first sign that the Baillieu Government is reconsidering the ill-concieved cuts to bike infrastructure announced in the State Budget.

The move to slash the VicRoads Cycling Program to zero dollars has proved deeply unpopular across the community. 

Transport Parliamentary Secretary Ed O’Donohue has written a letter to a member confirming the new bridge at Clarke Street, that will cut out the long-hated Gipps Street steps.

Bicycle Network Victoria understands that a small project team has been reactivated to develop plans for the Bridge, which should be constructed in 2014.

O’Donohue’s commitment follows a protest rally by large numbers of riders at the steps on July 29 and is the second time the Baillieu Government has committed to building the project.

Last year the project stalled despite Premier Ted Baillieu committing to it as he rode a wave of national pride when Cadel Evans won the 2011 Tour de France.

Bicycle Network Victoria had been campaigning to improve that part of the Main Yarra Trail since 2005.

Bicycle Network Victoria Chief Executive Officer Harry Barber told the July 29 rally the new bridge will have significant health, recreation and transport benefits.

“I don’t know how many of these demonstrations we will hold until the Government reinstates the Bike Budget but we will keep going until they do,” Mr Barber told the rally.

Prominent Victorians join chorus to bring back the bike budget

Thursday, 9 August 2012 Four prominent Victorians - including a former Liberal Minister – have written to Premier Ted Baillieu urging him to Bring Back the Bike Budget.

Brian Dixon, former Minister for Sport and Recreation, Ron Barassi, AFL legend and Legacy, Worksafe and Bluearth Ambassador, Brian Buckley, public policy analyst and former advisor to the Federal Treasurer, and Keith Dunstan, Bicycle Victoria founding president co-signed a letter to the Premier, Treasurer and Roads Minister asking for bike funding to be restored.

“We write to express our concern that the Government has cut funding in its 2012/13 budget for the VicRoads Bicycle Program, given the strong link between cycling and improved physical and mental health, urban amenity, and reducing traffic congestion,” the letter said.

“Regular physical activity and low impact exercise, such as bike riding, are cost effective measures to help reduce the strain on the State health budget from the increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and obesity.

“With more people using their bicycles for transport and even more wishing they could, there is a fundamental need to improve infrastructure in Melbourne to support safe cycling. There is strong public and voter support for this,” the letter said.

The letter highlighted the “long standing tradition of strong funding support from your Party” for bikes including:

• Brian Dixon, initiated funding for the Yarra River trail;
• Mark Birrell, funded the floating boardwalk along the Yarra River, the path past the Collingwood Childrens Farm and bike trails in linear park in North Carlton and Brunswick;
• Geoff Craig, funded bike lanes from St Kilda Junction to Glenhuntly Rd; and,
• Graeme Stoney, advocated state funding for rail trails.

“We ask that you review the decision and restore funding for bicycle infrastructure projects, including segregated bicycle lanes, signaling, intersection and other improvements to support safer cycling.”

 The letter highlights that the abolition of the VicRoads bike program in this year's Baillieu State Budget has caused anger throughout the community, especially among those Baillieu would have expected to count on as supporters.

Bike Budget campaign shifts up a gear

6 August 2012. The campaign to Bring Back the Bike Budget is in full swing after major rallies on the steps of the Victorian Parliament building and on the Main Yarra Trail in Abbotsford in the past month.

More rallies are being planned with the campaign focus to remain on the Baillieu Government and the many places that missed out on planned bicycle facilities.

We will keep you up to date on campaign developments but at this stage plans include activities in:

• the west – everyone agrees that we should invest in transport infrastructure to take the pressure off the Westgate and we will show how it can be done;
• the north – we’re sure the people of the northern suburbs will be interested how there is not enough funding to close a 500 metre gap in the network that will give them much improved transport and recreation choices;
• the east – we know many conservative voters are appalled by what the Premier has done to the bike budget….we know because they’ve contacted us to say so! We’ll show how they have missed out on simple, easy-to-build infrastructure that would make an enormous difference to their lives; and,
• the south – the people of the southern suburbs will be surprised to know that straightforward, cost-effective bike infrastructure could be built to improve their train journey or car trip with a bike budge.

All of these stories will form important strands of the campaign.

Want to know how you can take action to Bring Back the Bike Budget? This page includes ideas on how to get involved, including writing to the Premier and your local MP.

NON-opening signals new phase of Bike Budget campaign

Sunday, 29 July 2012 Large numbers of riders have rallied at the much-maligned Gipps St steps on the Main Yarra Trail in Abbotsford to remind the Baillieu Government of its broken promise to remove a well-known blight on Melbourne’s bike network.

The group conducted a “non-opening” of the proposed bridge at Clarke St that will cut out the Gipps St steps. Last year the project stalled despite Premier Ted Baillieu committing to it as he rode a wave of national pride when Cadel Evans won the 2011 Tour de France.

At the rally, blue ribbons festooned the step rails as an outward sign of riders’ determination to see the steps replaced, to alert other path users to the Bike Budget campaign, and to remind everybody they need to write to the Premier and write or call their local MP to demand they Bring Back the Bike Budget.

Bicycle Network Chief Executive Officer Harry Barber told the rally Bicycle Network Victoria had been campaigning to improve that part of the Main Yarra Trail since 2005

“This is going to be a terrific bridge. It’s going to make people healthier and prevent disease. By cutting out the steps it is going to allow people to walk, jog, ride, walk the dog and in many ways get the physical activity and social connection that is vital to their health,” Mr Barber told the rally.

“It is going to provide transport choices for CBD commuters and reduce congestion as well as creating another transport option for people wanting to get to the Collingwood Children’s Farm and the Abbotsford Convent. These are both really important reasons to invest,” Mr Barber said.

Mr Barber said six out of ten people today died from chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancers caused by sedentary lifestyles.

“Today we need this bridge so that people don’t get heart disease, can avoid getting breast cancer, can avoid getting diabetes, which are now the main causes of admissions to hospitals,” Mr Barber said.

“From a financial perspective the Baillieu Government’s sickness budget, its hospital building budget is the biggest single part of the State Budget, and these costs are going to rise.

“To pay for this bridge from the health budget we only need to get 250 people to avoid diabetes – so this bridge is important.

"And it’s important from a transport point of view. The Government tells us we are standing in a part of Melbourne where the transport problems are so great that we need to build a $10 billion tunnel that will, they claim, remove traffic from Melbourne’s inner-arterial roads, particularly at Hoddle St where the Eastern Freeway ends. This is where 100,000 drivers arrive every morning, a problem that the Government thinks is significant enough to spend $10 billion.

“Based on those costs, to pay for the Clarke St bridge from the transport budget we only need to get 50 people to switch to riding their bikes. The reality is that when this part of the trail is open it will carry 2000 people, a $200 million return.

“So I say to the Premier, the Budget might be tight, but when you spend money on bikes you are addressing important issues of health and transport quickly and cost effectively.”

Mr Barber paid tribute to two former Liberal Parliamentarians for their support of bike budgets in previous years:
• Brian Dixon, Minister for Sport and Recreation in the Hamer Government, commissioned the first sections of the Yarra Path from the city out past the Botanical Gardens, a project that quickly grew in popularity; and,

• Mark Birrell, Conservation and Environment Minister in the 1990s; “He set his mind to establishing the link between Clarke St and Johnson St running between the Convent and the Farm and the link went through despite strong opposition,” Mr Barber said.

“I don’t know how many of these demonstrations we will hold until the Government reinstates the Bike Budget but we will keep going until they do,” Bicycle Network Chief Executive Officer Harry Barber said.

Bring a blue ribbon to the rally on Sunday and help Bring Back the Bike Budget

26 July 2012. This Sunday at midday (29 July) we are rallying to Bring Back the Bike Budget at the much-maligned Gipps St steps in Abbotsford.  Bicycle Network Victoria is asking all attendees to please bring a length of blue ribbon that can be tied to the rails of the steps.

The rally is to remind the Premier of the commitment he himself made twelve months ago to build the bridge that will remove the steps from the Yarra Trail.

Since then the Baillieu Government has turned its back on people who want to be able to ride, cutting the bike budget to zero.

"A year ago Ted Baillieu stood with us all in Federation Square to celebrate Cadel’s victory in the Tour. His Government told Victorians the Gipps St steps would be replaced and we doubled our celebrations,” Bicycle Network Victoria Chief Executive Officer Harry Barber said.

“But the band has stopped playing, the cameras are gone, Ted has put his yellow shirt away - and the Gipps St steps are still there!

“The Premier was happy to ride the wave of excitement when it suited him but his Government has since snubbed the 1.1 million Victorians riding a bike every week and turned its back on the million more who want to join in but are waiting for appropriate facilities to appear.

“We want to tell the Baillieu Government we are amazed and disappointed that they seem to think doing nothing on bike infrastructure is an option – it’s not. Mr Baillieu, his Government and his zero bike budget are failing Victorians,” Mr Barber said.

Come and get in the photo as we pass the blue bike path down the steps.

The 41 steps at Gipps St are a significant obstacle for riders using, or wanting to use, the Main Yarra Trail and to commute into the City or ride along the river to the nearby Abbottsford Convent and Collingwood Children’s Farm. Bikes need to be carried up or down the steep ramps, making access difficult for all riders and impossible for many children, the elderly and disabled.

Bicycle Network Victoria have been working for more than seven years to get the bridge built that will eliminate the steps.

The fight goes on in the battle to Bring Back the Bike Budget!

12 July 2012. A second rally to Bring Back the Bike Budget will be held at the much-maligned Gipps St steps in Abbotsford from midday, Sunday 29 July.

Bike riders of all ages and from across the political spectrum will demand the Baillieu Government honour its commitment to remove the steps, made 12 months ago as Premier Ted Baillieu rode a wave of national pride after Cadel Evans won the 2011 Tour de France.

The rally will continue the protest against the Baillieu Government’s decision to cut funding for bike infrastructure to zero.

- Bicycle Network Victoria is inviting every person who is impacted by Baillieu's broken promise and the $0 bike budget decision to attend the rally at Gipps St steps from midday on Sunday 29 June to express their disappointment at the Baillieu decision.

 

 

Photo courtesy of Zimbio

Rally location

Fighting on many fronts – campaign underway to Bring Back the Bike Budget!

28 June 2012. The campaign to bring back the bike budget is in full swing less than a week after hundreds of riders rallied on the steps of the Victorian Parliament.

The campaign will remain focused on the Baillieu Government but we will be seeking to influence them in a number of ways.

We plan to take the story to all of the places that will now miss out on planned bicycle facilities. We will let you know when the ‘in person’ or ‘online’ campaign bus is in your area.

One of the ‘would you believe it’ stories is in the electorates of Mitcham and Box Hill. The Government have got themselves in a complete tangle here.

Before the election they committed to a link between Box Hill and Mitcham following the railway line. Their advice was faulty and their costing guesstimate for the link was too low.

Now the zero budget decision has cut off a source of funds that they could have used to make up the difference.

In another budget move they committed to two grade separations along the railway but did not include pedestrian and bicycle connections parallel to the line. Not only would this have made it hard for people to get to the station but it put two barriers along the bike route committed in the election. In one stroke the Government broke its commitment to mainstream bicycle infrastructure when building other transport projects, and made its election commitment even harder to build and fund.

To honour their election commitment the Government will either have to spend more on the rail cutting to make room for riders and pedestrians, or build two multi million dollar bridges or put in some signals effectively replacing the level crossing the grade separation is intended to remove.

These and other local stories will form an important strand of the campaign.

In a sign the Government is sensitive to the wave of criticism it is has received since cutting the bike budget, Transport Minister Terry Mulder this week released two pages detailing the Coalition’s investment in cycling infrastructure.

The problem was the Government still haven’t got their story straight, claiming “Around $10 million has been allocated by VicRoads for bicycle infrastructure in 2012/13 including a number of major projects”.

Subsequently challenged by a transport reporter from The Age newspaper, a spokesman for the Minister conceded there was no funding in the next state budget for VicRoads’ bicycle infrastructure projects.

You can see our line by line response to the Minister’s release here.

As to the dooring sticker Minister Mulder announced – there is little evidence that this initiative will be effective. We believe a small scale pilot would have saved them committing the money until there was some evidence it would work.

Bicycle Network Victoria Chief Executive Officer Harry Barber said all riders would have to do their bit if the Baillieu Government was going to be persuaded to re-invest in bikes.

“We are all going to have to do our bit – young and old, experienced riders and novices, men and women, short distance and long haul riders, fast riders and those who pedal in the slow lane,” Mr Barber said.

“There is another group whose help we need – perhaps the key group – the people who would like to ride but are waiting for better conditions such as separated facilities, bike path connections and bike lane upgrades. All the things that get built when you have a bike budget. If you know someone who would like to ride, please encourage them to write to the Premier.

We will keep you up to date on the campaign as it develops.

Taking it to the streets - Rallying to Bring Back the Bike Budget!

21 June 2012. Driving rain did nothing to stop hundreds of bike riders jamming the steps of the Victorian Parliament building this morning to condemn the Baillieu Government’s decision to cut funding for bike infrastructure to zero.

Bike riders of all ages and abilities and from across the political spectrum gathered to tell the Baillieu Government funding for critical bike infrastructure must be reinstated.

Bicycle Network Victoria Chief Executive Officer Harry Barber told the rally today was the first shot in what would be an ongoing campaign.

“We are all going to have to do our bit – young and old, experienced riders and novices, men and women, short distance and long haul riders, fast riders and those who pedal in the slow lane,” Mr Barber said.

“There is another group whose help we need – perhaps the key group – the people who would like to ride but are waiting for better conditions such as separated facilities, bike path connections and bike lane upgrades. All the things that get built when you have a bike budget.

“It’s amazing and disappointing that Premier Baillieu has gone for zero.”

The 2012 Budget papers show the government has allocated zero funding to the VicRoads Bicycle Program. Some already-announced commitments from previous budgets are still trickling through and the Baillieu Government is trying to hide behind these carry over items, Mr Barber said.

No high priority infrastructure projects planned for next year have been funded and desperately needed lanes, signals, intersections and other urgent safety improvements have been scrapped. The decision will increase the level of risk for existing riders and stop new riders joining in an activity that improves community health and cuts congestion.

Mr Barber said the Baillieu Government’s decision to defund the bike budget this year wrecked 20 years of support from all sides of politics for bike infrastructure.

“As I look back over the last twenty years one of the things that I have enjoyed the most about bike riding is that it is not a party political issue. Everyone supports it - the Greens, Labor, Nationals and the Liberals. This bike budget began under the Liberals -
Jeff Kennett’s Government kicked it off, Steve Bracks took the baton and passed it to John Brumby, and in their first year in office this Coalition Government kept it going,” Mr Barber said.

“Bike riding has strong Liberal support. I would like to send a Cheerio to three Liberals. Graeme Stoney a Liberal MP who got the rail trails going. So when you are riding on a trail think of Graeme. Mark Birrell, a Liberal Minister, he commissioned the floating boardwalk along the Yarra, so when you are riding there think of Mark. Geoff Craige the Roads Minister he built the bike lanes from St Kilda junction to Glenhuntly Road. So think of him when you are riding there.

“Why are we here? For the first time in 20 years? It defies logic. In the face of so many problems such as health and congestion. In the presence of so many opportunities we have the Premier’s commitment to do nothing.”

Media Release available here.


 


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Riders rallying to the call: Bring Back The Bike Budget

15 June 2012 Bike riders of all ages and abilities and from across the political spectrum will deliver a loud and unambiguous message to the Baillieu Government next Thursday, 21 June: “Bring back the bike budget”.

Momentum is building fast behind a morning of protest by the riding community on the steps of Parliament House following the Baillieu Government’s decision to cut funding for bike infrastructure to zero.

"Ted Baillieu’s Government has snubbed the 1.1 million Victorians riding a bike every week and ignored the million more who want to join in but are waiting for appropriate facilities to appear,” Bicycle Network Chief Executive Officer Harry Barber said.

“We’re going to tell the Baillieu Government that we are amazed and disappointed that they seem to think doing nothing on bike infrastructure is an option – it’s not.

“The Baillieu Government have not grasped the unique ability of bikes to improve the carrying-capacity of our already congested road network. The simple truth is more cars can’t be added to already jammed roads but what we can do, for a small investment, is move thousands more people along existing roadways just by installing appropriate bike facilities.

“Thousands are already riding every day, thousands more want to ride but are waiting for the Government to act – Mr Baillieu, his Government and his zero-bike Budget are failing Victorians.”

Support for the rally is growing across the bike riding community. A number of groups and clubs have organised riders to travel to the rally together. Meeting places so far include:

The Moreland and Yarra Councils have also passed resolutions supporting the rally. Moreland Council is promoting the rally and encouraging all staff who want to attend to do so. Yarra Council has adopted a similar supportive position and also “authorises a City of Yarra banner or banners being taken to the rally and displayed”.

High performance riders are also getting on board. The North Road Group - a regular Thursday early morning training ride to Mordialloc for road riders - has modified its course and timing and will now finish at the Parliament House steps in time to join the start of the rally at 7.30am.

The 2012 Victorian Budget papers show the government has allocated zero funding to the VicRoads Bicycle Program. (Some already-announced commitments from previous budgets are still trickling through. The Baillieu Government is trying to hide behind these carry over items.)

No high priority infrastructure projects planned for next year have been funded and desperately needed lanes, signals, intersections and other urgent safety improvements have been scrapped. The decision will increase the level of risk for existing riders and stop new riders joining in an activity that improves community health and cuts congestion.

- Bicycle Network Victoria is inviting every person who rides a bike and cares about the safety of our streets to attend the before-work rally from 7.30-8.30, Thursday, 21 June to express their amazement and disappointment at the Baillieu decision.

Baillieu Government firing blanks in response zero budget community concerns

14 June 2012 The Baillieu Government is hiding behind weasel words and misinfomation in its attempt to justify its decision to cut funding for bicycle infrastructure to zero.

The Government's response to community demands for it to explain why it cut funding for the critical VicRoads Bicycle Program to zero exposes an adminstration badly out of touch and often plain wrong.

Click the image on the right to see how is trying to claim previously funded projects are part of the de-funded VicRoads Bicycle Program.

You can show your support by letting the Baillieu Government know you want to see more of your taxes spent on bikes. Click here

 

 

Stand with us

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can show your support by letting the Baillieu Government know you want to see more of your taxes spent on bikes. Click here

Riders Rally to Bring Back Bike Funding

Zero-bike budget rally, Victorian Parliament steps, 7.30-8.30am, Thursday 21 June.

1 June 2012 Thousands of Victorian bike riders will jam the steps of Parliament later this month to condemn the Baillieu Government’s decision to cut funding for bike infrastructure to zero.

Bike riders of all ages and abilities from across the political spectrum are planning to send the loudest and clearest possible message to the Baillieu Government that bike funding must be reinstated.

Bicycle Network Victoria is inviting every person who rides a bike and cares about the safety of our streets to attend the before-work rally on Thursday, 21 June to express their outrage at the Baillieu snub.

The 2012 Budget papers show the government has allocated zero funding to the VicRoads Bicycle Program. (Some already-announced commitments from previous budgets are still trickling through. The Baillieu Government is trying to hide behind these carry over items.)

No high priority infrastructure projects planned for next year have been funded and desperately needed lanes, signals, intersections and other urgent safety improvements have been scrapped. The decision will increase the level of risk for existing riders and stop new riders joining in an activity that improves community health and cuts congestion.

“We’re urging all bike riders to gather on the steps of Parliament to tell the Baillieu Government that 20 years of bi-partisan support for bike investment cannot be abandoned,” Bicycle Network CEO, Harry Barber said today.

“The massive switch to bike transport in the last decade has significantly reduced road congestion and public transport overload, and all Victorians have benefited.

“More and more Victorians are riding – 1.1 million every week and rising – and a competent government would move to ensure that facilities kept pace.

Bi-partisan support wrecked

"But the Baillieu Government has ignored decades of steady progress by both sides of politics and scrapped funding to the highly-effective VicRoads Bicycle Program.

"The 1.1 million Victorians who ride a bike each week no doubt felt bewildered and abandoned when the news first came through – now they’re finding their voices to express their outrage.

"We want to tell the Baillieu Government that doing nothing on bike infrastructure is not an option," Mr Barber said.

The one year shutdown of the bike infrastructure program rips more than $20 million away from bike facilities investment. And as many studies show money invested in bikes actually reduces the burden on the budget and taxpayers. So rather than saving money, the government's decision is costing us money.

By our calculations, by the end of next financial year the Baillieu Government will be in the red to bike riders to the tune of $25 million.

Cuts will cost, not save

Ultimately this expenditure gap will have to be made up. This will be costly for the government as steady continuous investment is always much more efficient that programs that lurch to a stop and then splutter to a start.

This means the government will need to commit at least $33 million to the VicRoads Bicycle Program in both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 financial years.

"The Baillieu Government's decision to run a bike funding deficit will be costly in terms political support and it will end up costing them more financially than they think they have saved," Mr Barber said.

"The government seems blind to the growing numbers of riders on the streets, are ignoring the number of people that want to join in but are waiting for appropriate facilities to appear and can’t grasp the unique ability of bikes to improve the carrying-capacity of our road network.

“It just isn’t possible to jam more cars down many of Melbourne’s already-jammed roads, and where it is the cost would prohibitive. But what we can do for relative peanuts is move thousands more people down existing roadways just by installing appropriate bike facilities. Thousands are already riding, thousands more want to ride but are waiting for the Government to act – Mr Baillieu, his Government and his zero-bike Budget are letting the Victorians down.

"It’s inevitable the government will come to its senses and get back on track, but it has burned up a huge amount of credibility and goodwill—it will be some time before their claims to be good transport managers will be taken seriously again.”

Baillieu turns the dial to zero

2 May 2012. The 2012 budget papers show that the government has made a deliberate decision to slam the door on Victoria's bike riders.

The foundation of the State's bike infrastructure investment, the VicRoads Bicycle Program, has been slashed to zero. (Some commitments from previous budgets are still trickling through.)

None of the high priority infrastructure projects which were planned for next year have been funded.

Desperately needed lanes, signals, intersections and other urgent safety improvements have been dropped.

"We never expected that the Baillieu government would reverse 20 years of gradual progress by both both sides of politics and shut down one of the most popular and effective programs in the government," said Bicycle Network CEO, Harry Barber.

"The 1.1 million Victorians who ride a bike each week will feel bewildered and abandoned.

"This decision is clearly not the result of a careful and measured budget reduction process—it is a deliberate policy decision to do nothing," Mr Barber said.

The one year shutdown of the bike infrastructure program rips more than $20 million away from bike facilities investment.

While this will be a massive loss for bike riders, it is totally insignificant in the context of the $41 billion infrastructure budget.

And as every study shows, money invested in bikes actually reduces the burden on the budget and taxpayers. So rather than saving money, the government's decision is costing us money.

As the graph shows, Baillieu will have some ground to make up.

By our calculations, by the end of next financial year the Baillieu government will be in the red to bike riders to the tune of $25 million.

Ultimately this expenditure gap will have to be made up. This will be costly for the government as steady continuous investment is always much more efficient that programs that lurch to a stop and then splutter to a start.

Effectively this means the government will need to commit at least $33 million to the VicRoads Bicycle Program in both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 financial years.

"The government's smack-down of the bike riding community will be costly in political support, and it will end up costing them more financially than they think they have saved," Mr Barber said.

"I think it is inevitable that the government will eventually come to its senses and get back on track, but it has burned up a huge amount of credibility and goodwill—it will be some time before their claims to be good transport managers will be taken seriously again.

Baillieu must meet budget challenge

3 April 2012. Victoria’s Budget is due next month and spending to tackle transport congestion problems across Melbourne will be a major focus.

Population growth is outstripping the ability of our road and rail systems to cope and efficiency is now the only path and bicycle use for transport is nothing if not efficient. The Budget must tackle congestion across the system – here’s why:

The money to build bicycle facilities in Victoria can come from all three levels of government and from many different areas of government responsibility.

Bicycle Network Victoria works hard, often behind the scenes, to ensure that the commitments to build facilities are increased or maintained and that the investments are high value.

One of the key funding streams is the VicRoads bicycle program. This money is spent extending and improving the Principal Bicycle Network. It is the largest single fund aimed at bicycle transportation in the State and therefore gets a lot of our attention.

As the Budget and Expenditure Review Committee (BERC) is in the final stages of its deliberations for next year’s state budget it is appropriate to sum up our work over the last year to maintain and increase this fund.

Last year the Government committed $15m a similar amount to that spent in the last year of the previous government.

The growth challenge

The big challenge in transport across many cities in Australia is growing population which drives increased congestion. Brisbane, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne are all experiencing the congestion caused by increasing population.

In the year to June 2011 Melbourne’s population increased by 84,000. Over the next twenty years Melbourne is going to grow by 25% from 4 million to 5 million people.

All of these extra people will have to fit on our existing road and rail systems. Yet today the road and rail systems are close to capacity.

The unavoidable strategy is to buy efficiency, to invest in projects that get more people from A to B down the existing road or rail line.  

Happily, this is a good strategy when money is tight, as efficiency costs a lot less than building new roads and rail lines.

Bikes the efficient option

Bicycle Network Victoria has made the case that an investment in bicycle transport is a transport efficiency measure. For example the narrow bike lane across Princes Bridge carries more people than either of the neighbouring travel lanes for drivers during the AM peak. Similarly the buses on Hoddle Street have only one of the four lanes in the morning peak but they carry nearly 40% of the people.

Of all the efficiency measures available to the government, moving people by bike is the most cost effective. It is also popular, many people would like the option to ride and, as we have seen over many years, when that option is provided, many take it up.

We have based our submissions to VicRoads, and our negotiations with the Government, on these principles. VicRoads has made a strong submission to BERC along the same lines.

Today we are able to make for the first time a case based on strong data including an emerging economic benefit analysis. We think the arguments are stronger and clearer than ever before.

Albert Street example

The controversial Albert Street bike lanes illustrate the approach.

Since the lanes went in two years ago, the usage has grown by 250%. The road used to carry 200 riders in the morning peak but already carries 500 in the morning peak. 150 of these riders have taken up bicycle transport as a result of the lanes.

Data collected by the Melbourne City Council shows that there are also slightly more drivers on Albert Street than before the bike facility went in.

The Albert Street lanes have made the road more efficient at moving people.

We expect that this number will rise to 1,200 in the morning peak when it will carry as many people as one of the travel lanes on the road. At this stage we will be able to say that we have increased the throughput of people along Albert Street by 50%.

Best return for taxpayer

We can also tell – thanks to work for Transport and Main Roads (TMR) in Queensland – that Albert Street was a good investment. The TMR value calculation is that 1,000 riders are worth $15m over 30 years. These benefits include the health dividend from the physical activity generated by bike transport as well as saved motor vehicle costs to the individual and congestion reduction benefits. The TMR assessment is that the health benefit is worth $1 a kilometre.

Using this rule of thumb we can see that today’s 500 riders on Albert Street are worth $7.5m over thirty years. When we divide this value by the cost of the project, we see that the Benefit Cost Ratio of the project is 20. In common parlance, we have spent a dollar and got a return of $20. As the rider numbers increase, so does the return.

This return is about ten times the standard benchmark for transport projects which are usually built for a BCR of 2 or even less for public transport.

It has been made clear to the State Government that a commitment of $30m is appropriate and necessary to take advantage of people’s willingness to ride and the efficiencies and benefits that flow from those decisions.

Victoria rides are looking forward to the results of the Government’s deliberations and as usual we will inform you when the budget papers are decoded.

Budget numbers falling short

3 November 2011. By every measure rider numbers in Victoria continue to rock along at a rapid rate, but matching budget numbers from government are rocky rather than rocking.

Right now in Spring Street the funding bids are in for next year and the numbers are no doubt being finessed and, if this government is just like every other previous government, cross-referenced for benefit-cost ratios and marginal seat pork-barelling.

Somewhere in the ledgers, a keen-eyed accountant with a very powerful magnifying glass would just be able to detect the comparatively minuscule amount being allocated to bikes.

It seems hard to believe but one of the biggest social changes in half a century—the huge rise in bike transport—is being funded by a $14.5M or so sliver from the State Government.

In the context of the total budget this is about the size of a hydrogen molecule.

And most councils are doing little better. The annual Bicycle Expenditure Index (BiXE) to be released soon will tell a sorry tale.

According to VicRoads riding to work increased 45 per cent between 2001 and 2006.

When the 2011 census results pop up next year we will know what has happened since then. Or at least what has happened in the winters since then, for as we are all aware the census takes place in the depth of the Melbourne winter when riding is at its annual low point.

Other counts by Bicycle Network and councils indicate that riders have probably doubled since then.

Last year City of Melbourne cordon counts showed that bikes represented over 10 per cent of vehicles entering the inner CBD zone, up from 3.9 per cent in 2007.

The latest VicRoads data is also impressive. The agency has had 26 loop counters in place for more than five years years now and seven more have just been added.

The inner Melbourne loop counter reveal a jump of 23 per cent in August this year compared to the same time last year, August being census month.

We know from the loop counter data that the November or February figures will be about 50 per cent higher.

Royal Parade has recently witnessed a 28 per cent jump in rider numbers. Remember that in April Roads Minister Terry Mulder announced the addition of Vibraline and green bike lanes to the route, and as a consequence riders have drifted across from parallel routes to this improved facility. This was a modest investment but it delivered a great return on investment.

But overall the network is struggling. Many routes such as Gardiners Creek, NorthBank and Footscray Road are overflowing and the rider experience is deteriorating.

Just to stand still the VicRoads bike budget probably needs a 50 per cent lift. Parks Victoria probably needs an even bigger boost if it is to start eating away at its massive backlog of off-road trails construction. If the BiXE $5 per capita benchmark were applied to the State Government their bike budget should be north of 27 Million.

Around Australia and around the world we are seeing dramatic increases in bike facility investment as authorities realise that a steady-as-she-goes approach is actually marching them backwards.

Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne have a good record of slow, but incremental growth in bike infrastructure investment. That got us where we are today.

But that was then.

More is required now. Bike spending needs a rocket under it.

You can show your support by letting the Baillieu Government know you want to see more of your taxes spent on bikes. Click here