The Mayor of Wyndham City returned my call/email yesterday. I got the impression he was a bit surprised that motorcycle & scooter riders would want to be included in the commuter race. He said a council officer would send a response explaining how the event was organised. I'll post it here when it comes.
And, we got a reply from Wyndham City Councillor too. See below.
The point is our elected officials do not know our problems unless we tell them. No one else will. VicRoads carefully cleanses what Roads Minister Mulder sees. Go to your MP's office and tell the staff what you want as a rider. Ask for a meeting. He/she is your representative.
www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members
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In an exercise to promote bicycle riding, the Wyndham City Council south west of Melbourne ran a race for commuters on April 2, 2014. The competition was over 30 kms to Federation Square in the CBD. Competitors used public transport, cars and bicycles.
And, we got a reply from Wyndham City Councillor too. See below.
The point is our elected officials do not know our problems unless we tell them. No one else will. VicRoads carefully cleanses what Roads Minister Mulder sees. Go to your MP's office and tell the staff what you want as a rider. Ask for a meeting. He/she is your representative.
www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members
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In an exercise to promote bicycle riding, the Wyndham City Council south west of Melbourne ran a race for commuters on April 2, 2014. The competition was over 30 kms to Federation Square in the CBD. Competitors used public transport, cars and bicycles.
The Age newspaper reported the results and showcased Melbourne's chronic traffic congestion.
These sorts of stunts are not new. And, true to form, the race excluded motorcycles and scooters. The Independent Riders Group and the Victorian Scooter Riders Association would have been happy to enter motorcycle and scooter riders in the event.
Many of Victoria's 326,000 bike licence holders feel there are only two possible explanations for excluding motorcycles and scooters from this race. Bigotry and/or ignorance.
Bigotry in that race organisers just don't like people who ride motorcycles and scooters.
Ignorance in that race organisers know nothing about commuting by motorcycle or scooter.
But, it is more likely that race organisers felt that motorcycle and scooter riders would easily win and so the bicycle promotion would be a bit of a flop.
The number of commuters making the legitimate choice to ride to work in Melbourne grows steadily. But, local and state governments are reluctant to promote safe commuting on powered two-wheelers.
The Federal Department of Infrastructure report on Australian Cities 2012 documents the benefit to our cities from commuting on motorcycles and scooters. Minister Mulder and the Wyndham Council should read it. Pages 81, 82 and 83.
Damien
Thank you for your email.
I was going to bring this up with our Council because two people spoke with me about this race yesterday. I was asked the question also - why did we not include motor bikes and scooters in this race to the City?
Damien, it was not a bicycle race - it was all forms of travel and highlighting the congestion on our roads
Thank you again for bringing this to our attention
Heather Marcus
Iramoo Ward Councillor
City of Wyndham
Thank you for your email.
I was going to bring this up with our Council because two people spoke with me about this race yesterday. I was asked the question also - why did we not include motor bikes and scooters in this race to the City?
Damien, it was not a bicycle race - it was all forms of travel and highlighting the congestion on our roads
Thank you again for bringing this to our attention
Heather Marcus
Iramoo Ward Councillor
City of Wyndham
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