The Town of Claremont has released its draft traffic management plan, called CONNECTINGClaremont. The plan has eight objectives, one objective relates to cycling and that is given as:

To improve community safety

Our streets have been constructed as corridors rather than as places. This conveys an expectation to
motorists that they have priority over everyone else. Roads can be unsafe, particularly for vulnerable users
such as pedestrians and cyclists. The number and vulnerability of these users is likely to increase with the
ageing of the Town’s community, people with disabilities, and other external factors such as increase in fuel
prices leading to other modes of transport.

Therefore, the TMP seeks to continue to improve the safety and perceived safety of the Town’s transport networks.

The traffic management plan (TMP) has a section focusing on Walking and Cycling with a very clear focus on walking rather that at least a balanced focus on both walking and cycling.  In this section four position statements are put forward. Of those four position statements, only two mention cycling.  They are:

WC:P3  Monitoring and maintenance of pedestrian and cycle paths and public spaces will be increased. This will incorporate footpaths and shared paths in the Town’s Infrastructure renewal programme.

WC:P4  Provide strategic management, advocacy and coordination of walking cycling initiatives in the Town.

The TMP goes on to suggest nine actions. Whilst these proposed actions do mention cycling, only one of the actions is actually focused on cycling with the remainder having a pedestrian emphasis.  While it is important to improve pedestrian access, there is a need for good quality cycling infrasture as cyclists have distinctly different needs from pedestrians. Lumping cyclists in with pedestrians is not an ideal outcome will achive little in the way of encouraging and promoting cycling in the Town.

Time is short to provide the Council with feedback on the plan as the deadline closes on Wednesday May 6, 2009 but please do consider providing feedback to the Council.  Details on how to provide feedback  can be found on the Council’s website.

My thanks to the BTA EBulletin for raising awareness of the TMP.

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Tags: Safety for Cyclists,Town of Claremont,Traffic Mangement Plans
Categories: Bicycling, Commuting and Recreational
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Regretfully I felt the need to once again report a Transperth bus driver. I have learnt to endeavour to record as much detail as possible and will now report all incidents to Transperth via their online reporting form and to the WA Police via their online reporting form.

I filed the following report on April 2, 2009.

I was heading west on Grantham Street on my bicycle just west of Crosby Street at 7:25 AM when the driver of TP1110 came up right behind me and commenced to blow his horn. This was threatening and intimating behaviour which put me at risk. The driver was delayed for no more than 35 seconds as we progressed through a narrow section due to the island. In fact within three minutes I passed the driver as they stopped for a time stopped (?) on The Boulevard. The driver then passed me again further along The Boulevard some five minutes after the initial incident.

I have received two responses. The one from the Western Australian Police Department does nothing at all to reassure me that the Western Australian Police are serious at road safety net alone cyclist safety. Their default response is as follows:

Thank you for your Traffic Complaint Report received on 02/04/09. The information you provided will be forwarded to the Western Australia Police Traffic Intelligence Services.

Your Report will be investigated and if further assistance is required you may be contacted by Police. In addition the information you provided will be used to target offenders and/or ‘hot spots’.

The response I have received from Wayne Harvey, Operations Supervisor Karrinyup Depot, Transperth is more promising.  Wayne’s response follows:

I am responding to your recent complaint regarding an incident between your self and a bus from our company.

I do believe that this has happened to you before.

PATH Transit does not condone unprofessional driving at any time and accordingly I have taken appropriate steps to draw the attention of our staff to the contents of your complaint.

Right to safe passage on the roads is not restricted to any class of vehicle and consideration for all road users is an issue that we emphasise to our staff both during training and throughout their career.
Unfortunately, the combination of a relatively slow bicycle and a bus frequently stopping at bus stops can result in bus and bicycle overtaking each other several times in a short stretch of road.

The driver concerned will be checked by an independent assessor. The results of that report will determine what action the company will take with regard to the driver.

As you stated in your complaint, the Police have been notified so I will wait for a call from them.

I have informed the driver that the Police have been notified and may request a meeting at some time.

In light Wayne Harvey’s response I encourage all cyclists to take the trouble to report any incidents.  It may well make a difference.  Transperth’s online reporting form can be found here.

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Tags: Road Safety,Safety for Cyclists,Transperth
Categories: Bicycling, Commuting and Recreational
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The following video has been prepared by the Cycling Promotion Fund to promote cycling safety.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Tags: Safety for Cyclists
Categories: Commuting and Recreational
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