SOUTHERN CAIRNS and KURANDA RANGE:

Integrated Land Use and Transport Studies - 1999:
Information is available from the study web sites :-Southern Cairns and Kuranda Range

People who ride bikes, walk and use wheel chairs are invited to make submissions direct to:- Kuranda Range Study, Reply Paid 114, ERM Mitchell McCotter, PO Box 7069, Cairns 4870. Freecall 1800 66 11 88.

Visit the consultation office during business hours:- ERM Mitchell McCotter, Shop 12, Andrejic Arcade, 62 Grafton St, Cairns.

CBUG had two members on the Community Reference Groups, being representative of cyclists' interests as well as being concerned for issues affecting all the community, in planning for future roads and development. Cairns is a growing population with the need to provide road infrastructure, residential development, business opportunites, keeping in mind the impact on the environment. We believe that bicycle transport plays an important part in our daily lives and should be part of all planning of our communities into the future.

For more information and especially your comments and opinions, please contact:-

Kuranda Range: Stan Evans, Vice President CBUG, Phone 07 4054 1756
Southern Cairns: Lenore Evans, Projects and Reports Officer, CBUG, Phone 07 4054 1756
Email or write to, CBUG, 17 Gordon St, Earlville, Cairns, Queensland, Australia 4870.

BIKE WEEK - Sun 10th to Fri 15th Oct 1999:

Ride to Work - 13th October 1999 - Increased attendance - good omen for Cairns:

Approximately one hundred (100) bicycle riders took advantage of the free breakfast at the Cairns City Council chambers this morning in response to the call for Cairns citizens to ride to work on this day as part of the activities to celebrate Bike Week in Queensland. The caterers at the council chambers were flat out keeping up with the unexpected extra demand of hungry cyclists. The increase of participants this year is particularly pleasing and encouraging, not only to the organisers (Cairns City Council and Cairns Bicycle User Group), but to the government transport providers, Main Roads, Council, Queensland Transport and Road Safety staff.

Bicycle riders of all descriptions were present from a one year old who rides in a child seat while mum rides to work, an adult who hadn't ridden for a long time, young and old cyclists, blue and white collar workers and the licra brigade (racing cyclists and mountain bike riders), who add colour and excitement to any cycling event. Words of appreciation were presented by Desley Boyle, State Member for Cairns and Cr Fran Lindsay, Division 2, Cairns City Council.

This increased attendance would also reflect people riding to work across other regions of Cairns and the community should be congratulated on their response to this event. Hopefully Ride to Work will encourage people to make cycling a personal activity on a regular basis for their own well being and that of their community.

The major prizes will be drawn next Monday 18th October.

Activities:

The following activities are being planned in Cairns by the Cairns City Council and CBUG will help from Bicycle Queensland and Queensland Transport.

1. Peter's Junior Bike Ride - Sun 10th Oct:

   Time: 10.00 am to 12.00 md
   Location: Northern end of Cairns Esplanade (near the Endeavour Fun Ship)
   The Peter's Junior Bike Ride will start at the Endeavour Fun Ship, ride south along the Esplanade to the children's playground at Peace Park and then return to the Endeavour Fun Ship.
   Children will receive a complimentary ice-block upon completion of the ride and face-painting, bubble blowing and balloons activities will be available for entertainment.

2. Ride To Work Day - Wed 13th Oct:

   Ride to work and be in the draw for some "great prizes" and a "free breakfast" at the Cairns City Council, Spence St, Cairns between 6.30am and 8am.

   Ride to Work Day is one of the events staged over Queensland in conjuction with Bike Week. For more information click here:- Bicycle Queensland.

   Workers are encouraged to leave their cars at home and try riding to work. You will not only be doing yourself a favour but helping your community, your country, the whole world in fact. The advantages and cost saving to human kind is enormous and it is marvellous to think that a simple action such as riding a bike could have such an effect on our well being.

   Advantages of riding a bike are:- healthy citizens who work better and live longer; no air pollution; very low cost personal transport; no damage to roads; economical infrastructure; sporting, recreational and tourism persuits; very social - close to people and to natural scenery; a link to bus and rail stations and much more.

   Competition:

   Email us and state in 10 words why you will ride to work on 13th October and win a CRAZY PRIZE.

3. Cycle versus Car Challenge - Fri 15th Oct:

   Two cycle versus car challenges will be held during morning peak hour traffic. One will travel from Woree to City Place while the other will travel from Stratford to City Place.

   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New: Download the latest CBUG Newsletter #1 dd 27/06/1999 here! (568Kb RTF file, readable on most platforms)

   CAIRNS BIKEWAYS - ROLE MODEL

   CBUG PRESENTATION

   • Cairns is on track and leading the way in Queensland by providing bicycle lanes, approach bicycle lanes at intersections, bicycle detection at traffic lights, bicycle paths, foot bridges and underpasses in accordance with the Cairns Bikeway Strategy.

   • At the meeting of the Cairns Cycling Forum, Thursday 19th August, the State Cycle Unit Manager, Helen Whan, from Brisbane, stated that Cairns was a role model for other local authorities to follow in providing facilities for people who ride bicycles, tricycles, wheel chairs, push prams, walk and run.

   • Councillor Fran Lindsay, Cairns City Council and Lenore Evans, Cairns Bicycle User Group gave the commentary on a mini-bus tour to show visitors an on-site inspection of our bikeways covering Edmonton, Redlynch by-pass, Capt Cook Highway, The Esplanade, foot bridges at Brinsmead Shopping Plaza and bicycle detection at Kingsford St/Givens St and at General Aviation and much more.

   • A forum held in the afternoon was well represented by the State Cycle Committee (Helen Whan, Michael Yeates), Cairns City Council (Cr Fran Lindsay, Verda Clayton), Queensland Transport (Townsville Eion Wheeler and Cairns David Welsby), Queensland Police (Cairns Traffic Branch, Innisfail Sgt Michael McKey), Road Safety (Townsville June Powell, Cairns Brian Hughes), Australian Bicycle Council Representatives (Sydney Fiona Campbell), Dept Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Jillian Houston-Boyd), and Groups representing cyclists, Ben Wilson (Bicycle Queensland), Michael Yeates (Bicycle Federation of Australia), Cairns Bicycle User Group (Stan and Lenore Evans, Jack and Andree Foley, Margaret Pestorius), Cairns Cycling Club (Damien Parker), Cairns Mountain Bike Club, Trinity Cycles (Oliver Wacek) and People Working for Equity of Access (Malanda Robyn Gobert).

   • The aim of the forum was to create a formal link with the State Cycle Unit and the State Cycle Committee. Another important aspect of the forum was to create awareness of the need for all agencies involved in cycling to communicate and work together. Presentations were delivered by Helen Whan (SCU), Cr Fran Lindsay (CCC), Verda Clayton (CCC), Brian Hughes (RS), Ben Wilson (BQ), Lenore Evans (CBUG), David Welsby (QT and MR), and Eion Wheeler (QT).

   • The Cairns Bicycle User Group appreciates very much the works that have been funded by the Federal, State and Local Governments which have created such a cycling role model. This does not mean that everything is perfect. There are still improvements to be made and works to be constructed. It means that we are heading in the right direction and bicycle facilities can only get better.

   • On Friday 20th, Forum attendees were invited to the meeting of the Australian Bicycle Council, which is the highest cycling group in Australia, advising the Federal Government. This is the first time that this committee has met outside a capital city and Cairns was the venue. This has been a marvelous opportunity for people from all over Australia to stay in our area, see our wonderful city and then go away and tell others to come here because of our good cycling facilities.

   CAIRNS AND DISTRICT CYCLING FORUM - THURSDAY 19TH AUGUST 1999:

   The Cairns City Council and Queensland Transport Northern Region will host a forum to:-

   bring together stakeholders (government and non government) from Cairns and surrounding districts in a forum for networking and gaining understanding of the issues involved in increasing safe cycling in the Cairns and district area; and

   provide a forum for discussing the strengthening of the current Cairns City Council committee as a formalised regional cycling committee for the Cairns and district area.

   The forum is supported by the State Cycle Unit in Queensland Transport (the state-wide policy setting body for cycling in Queensland) and the State Cycle Sommittee (key advisory body to the Minister for Transport on cycling issues which has both government and non-government members).

   Staff of the State Cycle Unit and members of the State Cycle Committee have been invited to attend the forum for the purpose of learning more about regional issues and to give government agencies and stakeholders in the Cairns area an opportunity to influence state-wide cycling policy.

   AUSTRALIAN BICYCLE COUNCIL - CAIRNS - FRIDAY 20TH AUGUST 1999:

   A meeting of the Australian Bicycle Council (comprising Managers of the various state cycle units) is being planned. Members of the ABC have also been invited to attend the forum.

   MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 1999: CBUG wishes to express appreciation of everyone who has worked so hard this year for the betterment of our communities. There are lots of organisations and individuals who are concerned for the well being of their fellow human beings, and the planet on which we exist. Especially we are concerned for the provision of bicycle facilities "on" and "off" roads and the safety of people who move anywhere and everywhere by non-motorised means (or very small motors at low speeds). This includes everyone, cyclists, tricyclists, pedestrians, special needs people such as wheel chairs, children in perambulators, animals and more. Thankyou to all you bicycle activists and organisations, critical mass riders, bicycle sports, public servants, politicians, bike shops, manufacturers and tourists operators for all your hard work during the past year. Let's look forward to 1999 being even more successful and full of achievements and satisfaction.

   "GOOD ON YA - BIKE".

   MEETINGS, FORUMS, INSPECTIONS, SUBMISSIONS, REPORTS, VIEWING PLANS AND REPORTS, CONSULTING, RIDING BIKEWAYS, DRAWING PLANS, you name it, we've been doing it.

   Cairns; Regional; State; National; International

   CAIRNS:

   The Esplanade:
   26 Feb 99; The Cairns City Council is right behind this project to construct a swimming area, beach, landscaping etc and is confident that funding will be available. CBUG made a submission supported by plans to the Cairns City Council for separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians. CBUG will have a special meeting with the consultants in about a months time. We will view plans and talk about bicycle and pedestrian paths and support facilities such as bicycle parking, toilets and water fountains.

   Reservoir Rd - Redlynch By-pass - Brinsmead-Kamerunga Rd:
   26 Feb 99; CBUG will meet with Main Roads to ride and inspect new paths along Reservoir Rd that have been damaged by water from the recent cyclone. We will also inspect underpasses and see if they can be connected to the road shoulders on the highway. The Redlynch by-pass has not been opened to the public. New bridges and roads with 2 metre shoulders, will make this an all weather access and provide a link between the Bruce and Captain Cook Highways. Paths and foot bridges are more vulnerable in wet weather and flood conditions. CBUG has requested that Brinsmead-Kamerunga Rd is shoulder sealed from the Redlynch by-pass to north of the Kamerunga bridge. A crossing is also required such as a signalised intersection or an underpass south of the Kamerunga Bridge.

   Portsmith Rd:
   26 Feb 99 CBUG will veiw the plans on public display for the four laneing and upgrade to Federal road status of this road. We will then have the opportunity to have a meeting with Main Roads and make a submission.

   Cairns Plan:
   26 Feb 99; The preparation of a new planning scheme for the amalgamated City of Cairns has called for public comment on issues. CBUG will submit a response.

   REGIONAL:

   Southern Cairns and Kuranda Range Integrated Land Use and Transport Studies:
   26 Feb 99; CBUG attended the first stage of the public consultations. Summary reports are available at ERM Mitchell McCotter, Andrejic Arcade, 62 Grafton St, Cairns 4870. Freecall phone 1800 661 188. CBUG has nominated to be a member of the Community Reference Group.

   Ministerial Regional Community Forums:
   26 Feb 99; CBUG will attend the first forum at the Cairns International Hotel, on 5th March 1999. Two State Cabinet Ministers will listen and respond to issues raised by regional communities. The Regional Communities Program is conducted by the Queensland Department of Communication and Information, Local Government and Planning.

   NATIONAL:

   National Bicycle Strategy:
   Following on from the workshop 31st August, the NBS Steering Committe has deliberated on the VISION STATEMENT and the current draft now reads, "Increased cycling for transport and recreation : enhancing the well-being of Australia and all Australians". More information on National Reports.

   VELOZITY and the NATIONAL BICYCLE STRATEGY: They go hand in hand. The strategy, cycling Australia was launched at this conference 17th - 19th February 1999. Peter Couchman had a very important message to give us. It is:-

   COUCHMAN COMMENT
   They say if you only get one good idea out of a conference it’s achieved something. The best piece of advise I got out of day one at VelOZity came from the trucking industry – the mortal enemy of cyclists!!
   
   Also Steve Shearer told us about the realities of political lobbying. Be clear about your objectives. Present a well researched plan with a practical solution that can be implemented. But above all tell any politician how it can save money !!

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