Whitehorse Easy Ride Route (ERR) Survey
This survey is now closed.
Thanks to all who participated!
No matter how you choose to travel about in Whitehorse, we’d like to know your views.
To reward you for taking the time, we’ve arranged with some local traders to offer a range of prizes which we’ll randomly award to some lucky survey participants.
The survey closed on December 15th 2023 when the prizes will be drawn. Winners notified by email.
A report on the survey results is being prepared and will be published soon.
NOTE: Several articles in this newsletter are repeated from previous newsletters – some with updates. We think the messages in these articles are very important, and need repeating.
AND…very unfortunately, we’ll probably have to repeat these messages again in the future!
Contents
- Whitehorse-Easy-Ride-Route-(ERR)-Survey
- The choices we make (1)
- We all want more of a good thing
- How to kill a great idea
- Can you expect 30km/h streets anytime soon?
- More about 30km/h
- Encouraging walking and cycling isn’t hard
- Economic benefits of cycling & walking – but e-scooters?
- The radical activist?
- Choices we make (2)
- We’ve asked this question before
- Out of the mouths of babes
- Walking to school mythbusters
- Better Streets
- Do YOU think this crossing point is safe?
- Choices we make (3)
- Some steps are STILL missing
- Eastsider News – not to be missed
- Two TOP resources
- Interested in being Active too? Here’s how
- Some questions for YOU
- Your view
The choices we make (1)
This article from The Conversation article of November 17, 2023 says:
“The world’s 280 million electric bikes and mopeds are cutting demand for oil far more than electric cars.
We hop in the car to get groceries or drop kids at school. But while the car is convenient, these short trips add up in terms of emissions, pollution and petrol cost.
Close to half (44%) of all Australian commuter trips are by car – and under 10km. Of Perth’s 4.2 million daily car trips, 2.8 million are for distances of less than 2km.
This is common in wealthier countries. In the United States, a staggering 60% of all car trips cover less than 10km.
So what’s the best solution? You might think switching to an electric vehicle is the natural step. In fact, for short trips, an electric bike or moped might be better for you – and for the planet. That’s because these forms of transport – collectively known as electric micromobility – are cheaper to buy and run.
But it’s more than that – they are actually displacing four times as much demand for oil as all the world’s electric cars at present, due to their staggering uptake in China and other nations where mopeds are a common form of transport.”
What are your thoughts? Click here to comment on this.
We all want more of a good thing
(We’re repeating this from last time ‘cos its vital for the ongoing viability of WATAG!)
We really value the fact that we have LOTS of newsletter subscribers.
But we want more- MORE Members!
We’d love YOU to show you love US and really want to help us – and the community too – by becoming a Member
Annual Membership is due NOW.
It’s only about 20c/week – ie $10/year. Pretty reasonable eh?
We’d love you to give it a go! Just Click here to check it out.
Or if you are new to this Newsletter, click the Subscribe button in the right column to be sure you get future editions approx. every two months, and think about joining as a Member too.
If you’re already a Member – THANKS.
Click here to comment on this.
How to kill a great idea
A joint submission by the Victorian Government Road Safety Partnership to a state parliament inquiry into road trauma earlier this year referenced research supporting the benefits of lower speed limits. The group includes Victoria Police, the Transport Accident Commission, the Department of Justice and Community Safety, and the transport, justice and health departments.
The Age (16/11/2023) reports that the submission says:
“A pedestrian or cyclist struck at 50km/h experiences a 90 per cent chance of being killed in the impact compared to a 10 per cent chance of being killed if struck at 30km/h,”… and that…
“Successive studies have shown that 30km/h is the maximum impact speed for a healthy adult before death or very serious injury becomes increasingly likely.”
The submission references government data showing that every year before the COVID-19 pandemic, on average, two pedestrians were killed in crashes in 40km/h zones, six died in 50km/h zones and 15 died in 60km/h zones….says The Age.
BUT…
Victoria Police’s chief commissioner, Shane Patton, has dismissed as “ridiculous” .
He told ABC Radio on 16/11/2023 – morning program:
“I just think that’s ridiculous … 30 kilometres,”
“Thirty kilometres isn’t the answer, in my point of view. I think no one’s going to obey it … it’s ridiculous.”
As Police Commissioner in Victoria, it is very unfortunate that Shane Patton is not fully aware of the world-wide change to 30km/hr in cities in a great many countries and the UN General Assembly’s Resolution of September 2020 to support this.
We reported on this in detail in April 2021. Check it out now and see if you agree with the Police Commissioner.
Click here to comment on this.
Can you expect 30km/h streets anytime soon?
We posed this question a couple of years ago. Has anything changed?
“We want to create streets that everyone can enjoy – whether they are walking, driving or riding. We want people to feel safer, which in turn will make them more likely to spend time in the streets.”
Yarra City Council
Research from around the world shows us that 30km/h is the safe speed for areas where there are pedestrians and cyclists. International examples and a growing body of evidence show us that lowering speed limits in these areas is the right route to take.
Road safety strategies from around the world, including Victoria’s own Road Safety Strategy – Towards Zero 2016-2026, recognise this.
Research shows that a fatal injury to a pedestrian is at least twice as likely to occur in a crash at 40km/h than at 30km/h.
Overall, if average speeds are reduced by just 1km/h, road crashes are reduced by 2-3%.
Research also shows that reduction in speed limits in urban areas has minimal impact on travel time. Travel time in built-up areas is related to how much time is spent slowing and stopping at intersections, parking and in local congestion. Maximum travel speed has very little to do with travel time in these areas.
30km/h (or 20mph) speed limits are working in cities and towns all over the world. It’s time to bring them to Australia.
Your thoughts? Click here
More about 30km/h
Attitudes and opinions are changing.
Local and national authorities are taking matters into their own hands.
City after city are implementing 30km/h as default.
- NSW speed limit guidelines now have official recommendations for 30km/h speed zones. Check this LinkedIn post from Lena Huda of 30please.org
- The Dutch lower House of Representatives voted for 30 km/h as the new standard (though still not mandatory).
- The Spanish Government decided to limit speeds to 30 in urban areas on all single lane roads.
- Helsinki implemented it a couple of years ago and Oslo increased it’s number of 30 kph zones, and the result? Not a single cyclist or pedestrian death in 2019!
- Whilst Spain adopts 30km/h for all single lane town roads Bilbao announced that it will have a 30 km/h limit across the entire city
- And Paris implemented 30km/hr in 2021
- Brussels has a 30 kph inside its petite ceinture, and became default 30 kph across the whole Brussels region from January 2021
- Munich has 80% of its roads at 30
- And Graz has been 30 since 1992!
AND…
Dublin is taking 30km/h VERY seriously with a very comprehensive community consultation program to ensure full acceptance. Check out this video – for those with a deep interest. It does run for 2 hours!
The European Cycling Federation recommends 30km/h as the default speed in urban areas.
Ministers from around the world adopted the “Stockholm Declaration” at a conference held in February 2020. It includes a commitment to 30km/h speed limits in any areas where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix. Read report here.
In September 2020, the General Assembly of the United Nations has called for “the strengthening of law enforcement to prevent speeding and mandate a maximum road travel speed of 30 km/h in areas where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix in a frequent and planned manner, except where strong evidence exists that higher speeds are safe” See report.
YET…
In Victoria the DoT (VicRoads) Traffic Engineering Manual does not list 30km/h as an allowable speed! Under the guidelines, 30 km/h speed limits are effectively not an option available to road managers without taking extraordinary steps to enable it.
A Parliamentary Inquiry into the Increase into Victoria’s road toll reported this. Check out section 4.4.1 – Urban speed limits (page 72-76)
It also noted that:
“Local government stakeholders in this Inquiry in favour of introducing 30 km/h speed zones told the Committee that the current procedures in place to achieve speed limit reductions were ‘cumbersome’ and ‘inefficient’,”
and:
“[Councils] suggest that government simplifies the process for local government to implement speed limit reductions on both local and arterial roads … This would be particularly applicable in neighbourhoods where walking trips form a large part of the mode share due to local services such as schools and community centres”
It concluded:
FINDING 13: Local councils involved in this Inquiry have found the application process to change speed limits in specific areas to be extremely difficult to navigate. They believe the application process should be streamlined.
WATAG totally endorses the local Council views, and asks that the Minister take action to review the speed options available. Also needed are changes to the Road Management Act to delegate appropriate authorities to local Councils. This will make it easier for Councils to try out, and implement speed changes appropriate for their local suburban streets.
Like to comment? Click here
Encouraging walking and cycling isn’t hard
The Conversation gives three tried and tested methods
This Conversation article is written about the UK, but the three methods suggested are totally applicable here in Australia.
- 20-minute neighbourhoods
- School street closures
- Scale up plans into city-wide schemes
The Conversation article specifically talks about two 20 minute neighbourhoods in UK.
Orford Rd Walthamstowe was part of a “Mini Holland” program to make the streets safer to walk and ride and to reduce pollution – plus many other benefits.
The street used to have 7000 vehicles per day. The before and after photos above show the difference after the plan was implemented.
There were many protests about the traffic restrictions when they were first implemented. Now it looks like the kind of picturesque street we’d all love to have in our area. See photo on left.
It’s not surprising that a longitudinal survey done in the following years showed that less than 2% of residents would get rid of it.
On a similar note, the Islington Council in London, wanted to make St Peter’s Streets more ‘people friendly’. They introduced measures to be trialed over 18 months. You can read about the details here:
It is interesting to read some of the comments posted when the changes were first introduced – a divergent set of views. Some loved the changes and many hated them because they were a bit inconvenient for them personally. But, importantly, Islington Council kept track of progress and provided a monitoring report after 6 months. It’s very positive and shows that Councils must lead the community, and seriously try things out. Then give them time to “settle in” adapt and get used to the changes. You can read the report here.
Another local Conversation article asks the question: “People love the idea of 20-minute neighbourhoods. So why isn’t it top of the agenda?”
In fact Plan Melbourne 2017–2050 – the Victorian Government’s long-term plan to ensure Melbourne remains liveable, sustainable and accessible to people of all ages and abilities – is guided by the principle of 20-minute neighbourhoods, liveable places where people can access most of their daily needs locally without needing a car.
It’s excellent that the Whitehorse 2040 Vision prepared by a Community Panel, included as a Key priority for the Movement & Public Space theme:
“Create low-traffic neighbourhoods where people can move safely. We should aim to create 20-minute neighbourhoods”
You can read about the Whitehorse 2040 Vision here
Like to comment? Click here
Economic benefits of cycling & walking – but e-scooters?
Well done WeRide Australia on producing such a comprehensive report and to the many who gave a 👍to the report.
Read here for some thoughts on this. And maybe Click here to give your thoughts too!
The radical activist?
Your thoughts? Click here
Choices we make (2)
What is your view? Click here
We’ve asked this question before – it still needs an answer!
How many times does one need to ask this question? When will someone from local Councils or the State Government give an answer?
See below for the kinds of answers they DO give about an unsafe road crossing.
More info? Refer to https://www.betterstreets.info/blog
What are your thoughts? Click here to comment on this.
Out of the mouths of babes
Walking to school mythbusters
(Hint: you may need to use Google Chrome browser or Microsoft Edge to see the document below)
There is plenty of internationally recognised research to back up the above with conclusions like this:
“To increase AT (Active Transport) to school it is worth investing in infrastructure designed to improve walkability around schools, coupled with campaigns that target whole households to promote
Ref: Carver et al, Journal of Transport and Health 12 (2019) 115-129
age-appropriate independent mobility rather than adult accompaniment, which tends to involve
children being driven.“
PLUS these significant papers all with the same conclusions.
- Children’s independent mobility – is it influenced by parents’ perceptions of safety?
- Bicycles gathering dust rather than raising dust
- Independent mobility among urban and rural dwelling Australian children
- Parental chauffeurs: what drives their transport choice?
- Neighbourhood safety and children’s physical activity
- Walking, riding or driving to school: what influences parent’s decisions?
- and many, many more!!!
Better Streets
WATAG was very pleased to join with the Better Streets coalition of community groups, businesses and individuals, advocating for better streets in Australia.
Here’s the Better Streets Vision
(A perfect ‘fit’ for WATAG!)
We’re calling for safe, healthy, people-friendly, climate-friendly streets that are accessible to all of us, to give people more options to move around safely and enjoyably.
- Safe streets – with safe space to walk, cycle and cross on busy roads and quiet, low-traffic streets in neighbourhoods
- Healthy streets – where walking, wheeling, or riding is the natural choice for short journeys, children can play, get physical, and move easily outdoors and infrastructure is provided equitably
- People-friendly streets – with lots of plants and seating, and where motor traffic doesn’t dominate – especially in town centres
- Climate-friendly streets – that promotes the growth of zero-carbon shared mobility options so that all residents have suitable, sustainable, transport choices on their doorsteps.
You might like to join the Better Streets Movement too. Click here.
Click here to have your say about this.
Do YOU think this crossing point is safe?
A long time ago we reported that it was six months since we started a petition to Whitehorse Council to work with the Victorian Department of Transport (now Department of Transport and Planning – DPT) to make it safe for people to cross Blackburn Rd at two key places.
Then we reported it was NINE months
IT’S NOW EIGHTEEN MONTHS – AND STILL NO ACTION!
Back then we noted that:
“This section of State Highway in suburban Melbourne is 1.4km without a safe crossing. This forces parents with young children, elderly people, walkers and cyclists to cross the road at midway points without guidance. No other State Highways in this region have such an extended distance between safe crossing points.”https://watag.org/2022/09/18/crossing-blackburn-rd-should-be-safe/
The community agreed and 734 people registered their support. Check here for the report from last time with all the details.
What conclusions can be drawn from the responses from Council and the DPT?
Here’s what local politicians think.
Because there are no records of deaths or serious injury at these locations, they are considered by the DPT to be safe.
Would the bureaucrats, traffic engineers, Councillors and Politicians let their own children, grand children or elderly parents using mobility devices cross at these points un-accompanied?
That’s a much more realistic measure of whether it’s safe for the rest of the community.
If you are concerned about this delay, why not contact your MPs, and local Council now?
- Paul Hamer MP – Box Hill MP, Victoria
- Will Fowles MP – Ringwood MP, Victoria
- Matthew Bach MP – North Eastern Metropolitan MP, Victoria
- Shaun Leane MP – North Eastern Metropolitan
- Hon Melissa Horne MP – Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Victoria
- The Hon. Daniel Andrews MP – Premier of Victoria
- Simon McMillan – CEO Whitehorse City Council
- Jeff Green – Whitehorse Director City Development.
Click here if you’d like to comment on this.
Choices we make (3)
Your thoughts? Click here
Some steps are STILL missing
We’ve said before that we’d love to report that as a “Good News” headline!
But sadly, we can’t.
In April 2022 we reported “Fix needed for Spotlight access from Gardiners Creek Trail” (check it out).
Due to there being steep steps stopping access for bike users, mums with prams, the disabled and elderly, a WATAG Member suffered suffered a serious injury caused by being hit by a car when she was forced to take a much longer detour route to her destination.
We sent a petition to Whitehorse Council signed by 239 people.
Pleasingly we reported in August 2022 “that Council has followed through with this, and has made Spotlight aware of the problem. We hope to be able to report next time that they have come to an agreement about implementing a solution which solves this problem.”
Along with the rest of the community, we’ve been patiently waiting (with a little bit of prompting to Whitehorse Council).
SADLY another year and a half has passed and we can’t use the headline above.
If you think that kind of delay is unreasonable (we think it’s totally unacceptable!) perhaps you can help by emailing:
- Simon McMillan – CEO Whitehorse City Council
- Jeff Green – Whitehorse Director City Development.
- Your local Whitehorse Councillor – check the list here.
Your thoughts? Click here
Eastsider News – not to be missed
Click here to subscribe to get Eastsider News delivered to your inbox every two months. Its FREE!
Click here to comment on this.
Two TOP resources
Bicycle Network’s’ Newsroom where you’ll find great articles like this one from a study published in The Journal of Physiology.
” Six minutes of vigorous bike riding boosts the brain” and up-to-date cycling related news too about campaigns they are running.
Victoria Walks has terrific information about the benefits of walking, research, urban planning, road management, behaviour change, walking route resources including maps etc. for Victoria – urban and rural. And much more. Check it out.
Click here to have your say.
Interested in being Active too? Here’s how
Join as a WATAG Member and help the whole community to be active.
See above
Join a local group that enables you to be active and social too!
- Like walking (and some bike riding too)?
2. Or is regular bike riding your idea of fun?
Whitehorse cyclists
We are a happy group of men and women who love the outdoors, enjoy riding bicycles and thrive in other people’s company.
Bike parking is easy for morning tea time at Aqualink Box Hill during a Whitehorse Cyclist’s Easy Tuesday ride.
Around 25 riders getting fitter and enjoying the company of friends.
Good for local business too by putting money back into the local community.
Some questions for YOU
- If you HAVEN’T received these newsletters regularly every two months, this question is for YOU.
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Your view
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