Welcome
If you are interested in safer, more convenient and healthier transport options, you’ve come to the right website!
Your Choice
To those readers not in WATAG’s local area, please forgive us for unashamedly promoting something very local, but it’s Whitehorse Council election time. And 47 hopeful candidates are vying for just 11 Councillor positions – one for each of the new 11 Wards.
Covid-19 restrictions has made normal campaigning impossible. So how will voters choose between them?
We thought you’d like to know their thoughts about issues such as:.
- council consultation with the community
- walking and cycling, cycle lanes, paths in parks
- support for small business
- planning and development, tree cover, multi-units
- re-purposing street space for café/restaurant use
- rates and budgets
So we asked those questions in an online survey, and we’ve published the results here.
Together with our friends at CROWAG, we’ve walked the streets, as part of our allowed exercise, and because Active Transport is what we do, and we’ve circularised 12,000 homes in Whitehorse with a flyer giving the link shown below.
Click here to read the candidate responses.
WATAG promotes Active Transport
Here’s just one good reason why. Health, Safety and Convenience are perhaps even more important.
Total cost to society per commute – Coburg to Melbourne CBD
Source: Deloitte Access Economics
Read the latest “Active Whitehorse News” click here
Active Whitehorse News is a very readable web-based bi-monthly newsletter.
Here’s the highlights in this edition:
- Your Choice
- Well done Whitehorse
- Living on a safe street
- Do you keep good company?
- School travel
- Footpath width and walkability
- Walking and cycling – which one prevails?
- A bicycle has always meant freedom!
- Who invented the bicycle?
- An OLD favourite?
- Or EVERYONE’s favourite?
- Power and responsibility
- Walking: best, free and healthiest
- Active Transport is healthiest
- Driverless cars or less car drivers?
- Dumb traffic lights
- How to build a car-lite city
- Car-lite city or light car city?
- Do YOU like being taken for a ride?
- Are suburbs unsafe for kids?
- Is 30km/h what we need?
- BikeSpot Survey 2020
- Interested in being Active too? Here’s how
- Some questions for YOU
Check out our news sources below and the rest of our website too.
Interested in Box Hill’s development?
Active Whitehorse News – Special Box Hill Edition
What’s ‘In the News’
These are interesting single items of news published on an ad-hoc basis a few times a month. These items are sourced from from all-over, and have an emphasis on or relevance to Active Transport. Some would say these articles are essential reading for those involved in transport planning and delivery, and those seeking to influence them.
Check out WATAG on TWITTER
We are @WATAG10. See most recent tweets in the side column on the right or click here.
Box Hill’s Future – a Pictorial View
What’s approved, under construction, planned, or just in the pipeline for Box Hill. This is an older item, but still very relevant. Click here for an overall view and a closer look at each development. Click here for some great ideas about a possible future for Box Hill.
Active Transport – What is it?*
Active transport refers to any form of human-powered transportation – walking, cycling, using a wheelchair¹ or even in-line skating or skateboarding. (*Definition adapted from the Public Health Agency of Canada) ¹Note: We include private mobility carts used instead of a wheelchair to enhance mobility.
Bruce Horsburgh B.App.Sc.(Hort)
Mob: 0435 094 876
bruhors@hotmail.com
There are many ways to engage in active transportation, whether it is walking to the bus stop or train, cycling to school to work or to the shops, or going by wheelchair or mobility cart to the library or to visit a friend. You can even run your business on a bike! Bruce Horsburgh of Blackburn North runs a Gardening business and can often be seen on the Koonung Creek Trail or around Whitehorse, Balwyn, Kew and Canterbury traveling to his clients. That’s very Active Transport for a very active Active job! What are the benefits? There are many reasons to encourage people to use active transport rather than a car.
- Health – Active transport provides an opportunity to be physically active on a regular basis.
- Social – Active transport is accessible to virtually everyone and increases social interactions.
- Convenience – Active transport reduces road congestion and increases road safety, and encourages people to use public transport
- Environmental – Active transport and associated public transport use is environmentally-friendly and can contribute to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
- Economic – Active transport saves personal money on fuel and parking, and reduces the need for expensive additional public expenditure on road infrastructure for cars.
Why have an Action group?
In a few words … To achieve improved health and environmental sustainability We believe this can be achieved by:
- Promotion of safe participation in active transport for all people – walking, cycling and mobility travel
- Promotion and advocacy for greater access to, and use of, public transport for all people
- Promotion and encouragement of safe and respectful behaviour towards other transport users when ‘on the move’.
And by liaison with:
- Relevant local, state and federal governments and authorities in relation to the planning and construction of active transport infrastructure for walking, cycling, accessibility and public transport connectivity.
- Other like-minded groups to achieve the above outcomes.
Your interest or involvement?
WATAG Inc is a representative community group, so the interest and support of people like you is essential. Refer to About Us page for details of how WATAG Inc. is structured.
- Like most community organisations, WATAG has Members and interested Friends. You can apply to be a Member here or join our Friends list here.
- WATAG also welcomes donations to help turn our AIMS into ACTIONS. Click here.
