2010 -2021 City of Perth Cycle Plan – Feedback Collection

[rolandp]

Thanks to Councillor Reece Harley from CoP who passed on the agenda for tomorrow's Works Committee.

Item 1 - CYCLE PLAN 2029 – IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM

Have a read and see where CoP are with implementing their cycle plan, and the new schedule for the remaining items.

It also notes that cycling numbers have increased by 6% for 2014 compared to 2013.

[wellington_street]

Mounts Bay Road - at least this has started - just not much progress last time I looked

Is this the shared path adjacent to the busport?
If so, it is open, but has been terribly designed. There is a big tree and a maze of traffic signal poles to weave around, complete with signs at face height so be careful not to cut yourself open. Effective width of the 'shared path' narrows to approx 1m at the pinch point due to aforementioned obstacles.

[rolandp]

Bringing up an old, but still very relevant topic.

The City of Perth Cycle Plan had approved a project to allow cycling in the malls, which they approved back in 2012. This was to be part of the critical east-west connection which is sadly missing in the CBD area.

Minutes from last week's Council meetingshow a different story:
The originally advertised change to Clause 7(b) of the proposed Amendment Local Law was intended to give effect to the formalisation of cyclist movements in the Hay and Murray Street Malls by removing the existing prohibition in the Principal Local Law. However, the City of Perth Executive Leadership Group has further considered this proposal and it is now considered that, due to the potential risk and enforcement issues, Clause 7(b) should not be amended.
Given that the use of the Hay and Murray Street Malls as an east-west route was endorsed by the Council at its meeting held on 9 October 2012, it is considered to be important that alternative options are investigated by the City of Perth in the near future.

So let's think about this carefully, this leaves Wellington St, which as indicated in earlier posts was meant to have cycle lanes with the City Link Project which have not occurred. And of course, St Georges Tce which the City of Perth spent millions upgrading to not have cycle lanes. Will be very interested in what the alternative options will be considered in the 'near future' - definition of near is a very loose concept to the City of Perth, as per their Cycle Implementation Program, allowing us to ride through the malls was to occur in 2013/14, so lets discuss this for a little longer and look for 'alternative options'.

But in addition, the Works and Urban Development Committee 8-Sep-2015 provides interim feedback on the Murray St West Two-Way project. This project included 'cycle lanes', if anyone who has ridden on Murray St West would hopefully agree, 'cycle lanes' are not what I would call them. The report included a Independent Road Safety Audit of Concept Design which identified:
As part of the evolution of the street design process, an independent road safety audit of the draft concept design plan was commissioned. This independent study of road safety, on the concept two way configuration of Murray Street, identified a number of findings and recommended solutions to issues such as, but not limited to:
 potential ‘car-dooring’ of cyclists as they pass parked vehicles;
 risks to cyclists as they pass the crossovers;
 buses stopping on road and integration with revised streetscape;
 integration of project with proposed Harvest Terrace cycle route;
 signal phase improvements for safety;
 Integration of line marking and signage for safety,
 sight line improvements due to the new direction of travel (westbound);
 road alignment and intersection layouts; and
 removal of parking to increase safety buffer for cyclists.

and yet the City went ahead and build them - really, why undertake these audits at concept design if you are not going to use the information provided. Unclear from this report where the City of Perth is going to do with this information, if you read the report and can find an outcome, please let me know. But hey, if we can't ride through the malls now, it buts a blocker on Murray St anyway as a East-West route - unless of course you enjoy riding 3 blocks on 'cycle lanes' which don't connect to cycling infrastructure at either end.

[rolandp]

Could this all be changing - new election in October?

As well as some available positions:
Manager Transport
The Transport Unit is a new unit that will provide innovative direction and advice on a range of strategic traffic and transport issues for the City of Perth. In addition to setting the strategic direction for the City's transport, the Transport Unit is also responsible for delivering transport solutions on a range of matters including network management, transport modelling and active transport plans. This role will integrate the strategic and practical traffic and transportation planning with a range of disciplines implementing the objectives of the City of Perth.

Active Transport Planner
The objective of the Active Transport Planner position is to promote, develop and integrate sustainable transport initiatives such as public transport, walking and cycling with local transport, land use and community development opportunities in the City of Perth. This will include facilitating the implementation of the Cycle Plan 2029 for the City that integrates the City’s overall transport needs. This role will also be the key focal point for all cycling related issues for the City and will assist with other Transport programmes and projects within the Transport unit and also influence internal and external decision making relating to transport projects within central Perth.

[wellington_street]

I doubt the appointment of 2 new bureaucrats will achieve much given the road block appears to be in the 'Executive Leadership Group'. The best we can hope for is that Lisa Scaffidi is voted out and Reece Harley voted in - i have a lot more faith that he will push on with cycling projects as opposed to Lisa who has never really supported cycling when it comes down to the tough decisions.

The lack of action on the mall is a disgrace. Compare this to the work Clover Moore has been doing in the City of Sydney despite the barriers put up by the State Govt there.

[Red Rider]

Another example of inaction on basic infrastructure, I emailed CoP in March this year asking if bike racks could be installed along Murray St west of William. I was told they'd be installed in April. Half a year later nothing has happened.

[Aushiker]

The best we can hope for is that Lisa Scaffidi is voted out and Reece Harley voted in - ....

Or fund a nice trip for Lisa and her hubby to the next Olympics ... maybe throw in some tickets to the cycling

Andrew

[rolandp]

Late agenda item submitted at last weeks council meeting.

The late agenda item provided an update on the CoP's budget, which included $255,000 REDUCTION in the Bike Plan Implementation for 2015/16. When the original budget was only $600,000, that's a lot of cycle lanes not being built.

Has the City of Perth got their priorities correct , when a lot of the projects in the Bike Plan are now late, and available funds continue not to be spent on items identified in the Bike Plan?

[Sinner]

I can't see that in the Council minutes, Roland - the schedules just aren't available and it's not mentioned in the report.

[Update] - I've established that you are correct, Roland. $255,000 has been taken out of the City of Perth Cycle Plan budget. This is to fund Stage 2 of the Harvest Terrace Cycle Improvement scheme.

Same result - different budget.

[rolandp]

I can't see that in the Council minutes, Roland - the schedules just aren't available and it's not mentioned in the report.

[Update] - I've established that you are correct, Roland. $255,000 has been taken out of the City of Perth Cycle Plan budget. This is to fund Stage 2 of the Harvest Terrace Cycle Improvement scheme.

Same result - different budget.

You are correct, the minutes do not include the schedules - not good when the focus at this time is how they are functioning. The number of questioned from Public Time is significant and large number relate to CCC findings.

I had a cached copied of the schedule, where the $255,000 underspend for the Bike Plan is occurring which includes a note:
Harvest Terrace stage one complete. Stage two - draft brief being developed to investigate preferred route alignment

My reading is Harvest Terrace is part of the Bike Plan, not a separate budget. There is no line item called 'Harvest Terrace Cycle Improvement Scheme' which will then need $255k extra - all projects needing a top are also listed in the missing schedule. Can you let me know your source of information.

I will be asking City of Perth where is the missing schedule from their minutes.

[rolandp]

From The West
City of Perth chief executive Gary Stevenson's contract has been terminated 18 months early in a surprise move the city chalked up to the need for a “new direction”.
Councillors voted today to part ways with Mr Stevenson, who was appointed in September 2012 on a five year contract.


Will a change in a CEO provide better direction for cycling infrastructure in City of Perth priorities?

[worzel]

From The West
City of Perth chief executive Gary Stevenson's contract has been terminated 18 months early in a surprise move the city chalked up to the need for a “new direction”.
Councillors voted today to part ways with Mr Stevenson, who was appointed in September 2012 on a five year contract.


Will a change in a CEO provide better direction for cycling infrastructure in City of Perth priorities?

It might if you apply?