'Some' news is good news :)

"Wednesday 3rd August, 2005

$448,000 BUDGET BOOST FOR CYCLISTS IN MAROONDAH

State Labor Member for Kilsyth, Dympna Beard today announced the
Bracks
Government was delivering on its commitment to enhance and extend
Victoria’s bicycle network, with $448,000 in funding for cyclists in
Maroondah.

The funding will create approximately 3.9km of exclusive bicycle lanes
on
Mt Dandenong Road, from Maroondah Highway to Wicklow Avenue.

Mt Dandenong Road is on the Melbourne Principal Bicycle Network and
provides the direct connection between Ringwood and the Mullum Mullum
Creek
off-road bike path. Exclusive bicycle lanes will be created in both
directions as well as an exclusive parking lane in some sections.
“This will create safer travel for cyclists and maintain two traffic
lanes
at all times, the project will include line marking, signage and some
kerb
and channel work and is due to commence late this year,” Ms Beard
said.

The Bracks Government has allocated more than $3.84 million on bicycle
projects in Victoria in the 2005-06 State Budget, creating 52
kilometres of
new bicycle paths and lanes for Victorians.

In Metropolitan Melbourne, $2 million will be spent delivering 9
kilometres
of bicycle facilities to encourage cycling as an environmentally
friendly,
healthy transport alternative."

AND

5 August 2005

BUDGET BOOST FOR BOROONDARA CYCLISTS

media release
BOB STENSHOLT MP, STATE MEMBER FOR BURWOOD

The Bracks Government is delivering on its commitment to enhance and
extend Victoria's bicycle network, with State Labor Member for
Burwood, Bob Stensholt, today announcing $111,000 for four projects to
improve safety for cyclists in Boroondara.

The Bracks Government will spend more than $3.84 million on bicycle
projects in Victoria in the 2005-06 State Budget, creating 52
kilometres of new bicycle paths and lanes for Victorians.

Projects in Boroondara include:

• Canterbury Road, between Burke Road and Stanhope Grove – line
marking to create exclusive on-road bicycle lanes in both directions,
advisory bicycle symbols on the road surface, dedicated bicycle
stopping areas at traffic signals and necessary road signage
• Belmore Road, between Burke Road and Balwyn Road – install advisory
bicycle lane symbols on the road surface and dedicated bicycle
stopping refuges at traffic signals
• Doncaster Road, between Kilby Road and Bulleen Road – line marking
to create exclusive on-road bicycle lanes, install advisory bicycle
lane symbols on the road surface and dedicated bicycle stopping
refuges at traffic signals
• Yarra Boulevard, 800m section south of Wiltshire Bouelvard – install
advisory bicycle lane symbols on the road surface and better line
marking to clearly separate the bicycle lanes from the roadway.
Bob Stensholt said that introducing measures that separate cyclists
from busy traffic streams was a key action in the Bracks Government's
Metropolitan Transport Plan, and this latest funding boost was part of
putting that plan in to action.

"On-road bicycle lanes are located next to existing traffic lanes and
are designated to separate cyclists from other types of traffic," Bob
Stensholt said.

"Designated bike lanes offer a safer and more enjoyable ride for
cyclists, particularly commuters and for those shorter trips to the
shops or other community facilities.

"They also remind drivers of the need to look out for cyclists and
share the road more cooperatively," Bob Stensholt said.

In metropolitan Melbourne, $2 million will be spent delivering nine
kilometres of bicycle facilities to encourage cycling as an
environmentally friendly, healthy transport alternative.

The Bracks Government's Metropolitan Transport Strategy aims to
improve safety and access for cyclists, in order to encourage more
people to get on their bikes."


--
flyingdutch

flyingdutch Wrote:
"Wednesday 3rd August, 2005
$448,000 BUDGET BOOST FOR CYCLISTS IN MAROONDAH
State Labor Member for Kilsyth, Dympna Beard today announced the
Bracks
Government was delivering on its commitment to enhance and extend
Victoria’s bicycle network, with $448,000 in funding for cyclists in
Maroondah.


Another one from today, not so good: Freeway to leave a huge scar
http://www.theage.com.au/news/nation...302570139.html

...buried down the end of the article....

"....Bicycle Victoria also criticised the proposed routes, which,
despite their proximity to Deakin University, do not include bicycle
paths. "We are very strongly urging VicRoads that they need to do
something about that," said general manager Harry Barber...."

Pfff, reads like the classic Some-One-Should-Do-Some-Thing-About-That
Scenerio. Policies? Strategies? Vehicular cycling? Let alone the
bleeding obvious, script some decent copy before talking to the media.
Sheessshhhh.


--
cfsmtb

flyingdutch wrote:
"Wednesday 3rd August, 2005

$448,000 BUDGET BOOST FOR CYCLISTS IN MAROONDAH

when I read this, I think "Half a million bucks! That buys
a lot of bikepath".

But, it's just painting the road. Wow, that's expensive
paint!

Not that the lanes are a bad thing per se, but I guess I'm always
amazed at how expensive it is to do very little these days.

I know .. you have to pay a crew to spend a number of hours with
an expensive piece of machinery, and stencils ... and a road
engineer ... but it does seem a -lot- of money for painted lines.

I wonder how much it cost to do something like the Koonung trail?

Bleve Wrote:


when I read this, I think "Half a million bucks! That buys
a lot of bikepath".

But, it's just painting the road. Wow, that's expensive
paint!

Not that the lanes are a bad thing per se, but I guess I'm always
amazed at how expensive it is to do very little these days.

I know .. you have to pay a crew to spend a number of hours with
an expensive piece of machinery, and stencils ... and a road
engineer ... but it does seem a -lot- of money for painted lines.

I wonder how much it cost to do something like the Koonung trail?

dunno. at a guess 1-2mill?
Oh hang on, lots of bridges. you can probably add 2-500k for each of
those!

BoroondaraCouncil's recent budget includes 65k for each of its main
offroad trails (works according to bikePathAudit). Im just hoping that
65k isnt just a maintenance thing.
A set of traffic lights can cost 10k easy.
A pram ramp 1k
Chandler/Tooronga and some WKLs along Riversdale and another road were
220k altho the green lanes on Chandler would be a bit


--
flyingdutch

flyingdutch wrote:

I wonder how much it cost to do something like the Koonung trail?

dunno. at a guess 1-2mill?
Oh hang on, lots of bridges. you can probably add 2-500k for each of
those!

Wow .. I guess I'm showing my age, but I always thought of
a million as a *serious* lot of money.

I guess these days it only just gets you a house or something ...

Bleve wrote:

Wow .. I guess I'm showing my age, but I always thought of
a million as a *serious* lot of money.

I guess these days it only just gets you a house or something ...

Yep, 1/4 million is a "renovators delight" in outer sydney and close to
1/2 million buys a new house in the mid to outer sydney, nothing
pretentious mind you.

If you want to retire and live off being a Slum lord, then you need
about $3-5 Million worth of properties in the outer Sydney area. I only
mention this because as one stage, return on investment (rent) in outer
Sydney properties was double housing in middle Sydney (Parra - east).

"Bleve" wrote in message
oups.com...

flyingdutch wrote:

I wonder how much it cost to do something like the Koonung trail?

dunno. at a guess 1-2mill?
Oh hang on, lots of bridges. you can probably add 2-500k for each of
those!

Wow .. I guess I'm showing my age, but I always thought of
a million as a *serious* lot of money.

I guess these days it only just gets you a house or something ...


I think I read somewhere that bikepaths work out to about $150,000/km so
$1,000,000 would get you just under 7km.

flyingdutch wrote in
:


Bleve Wrote:


when I read this, I think "Half a million bucks! That buys
a lot of bikepath".

But, it's just painting the road. Wow, that's expensive
paint!

Not that the lanes are a bad thing per se, but I guess I'm always
amazed at how expensive it is to do very little these days.

I know .. you have to pay a crew to spend a number of hours with
an expensive piece of machinery, and stencils ... and a road
engineer ... but it does seem a -lot- of money for painted lines.

I wonder how much it cost to do something like the Koonung trail?

dunno. at a guess 1-2mill?
Oh hang on, lots of bridges. you can probably add 2-500k for each of
those!

BoroondaraCouncil's recent budget includes 65k for each of its main
offroad trails (works according to bikePathAudit). Im just hoping that
65k isnt just a maintenance thing.

It'll be either maintenance or the appointment of a full time officer to
manage the trails. 65k is not a lot.

A set of traffic lights can cost 10k easy.

The controller for a set of traffic lights is 66k by itself. Installing
signals without modifying the road will generally cost between 110k to
185k

A pram ramp 1k

A minimum of 2 men with a truck for most of a day. Normally between 1
and 1.5k.

Chandler/Tooronga and some WKLs along Riversdale and another road were
220k altho the green lanes on Chandler would be a bit


Coloured asphat costs around 250 to 300/t vs about 100/t for standard
stuff.

Bike path (concrete (75 - 100mm) with compacted subbase (100mm)
generally costs between 150k/k and 200k/k on flat ground. Savings are
made because the bridging standard is much lower and we dont build cycle
lane interchanges and signalised intersection.

How cool would that be - a stacked diamond bike interchange. Hill
training for various levels of fitness.

Cheers

BrettM

"BrettM" wrote in message
.51...
flyingdutch wrote in
:


Bleve Wrote:


when I read this, I think "Half a million bucks! That buys
a lot of bikepath".

But, it's just painting the road. Wow, that's expensive
paint!

Not that the lanes are a bad thing per se, but I guess I'm always
amazed at how expensive it is to do very little these days.

I know .. you have to pay a crew to spend a number of hours with
an expensive piece of machinery, and stencils ... and a road
engineer ... but it does seem a -lot- of money for painted lines.

I wonder how much it cost to do something like the Koonung trail?

dunno. at a guess 1-2mill?
Oh hang on, lots of bridges. you can probably add 2-500k for each of
those!

BoroondaraCouncil's recent budget includes 65k for each of its main
offroad trails (works according to bikePathAudit). Im just hoping that
65k isnt just a maintenance thing.

It'll be either maintenance or the appointment of a full time officer to
manage the trails. 65k is not a lot.

A set of traffic lights can cost 10k easy.

The controller for a set of traffic lights is 66k by itself. Installing
signals without modifying the road will generally cost between 110k to
185k

*chokes*

What on earth is in that controller? I would have thought that you could
damn near get the constituent bits and pieces from the local Dick Smith
store for $30! Failing that, the guts of an old 286 desktop for about the
same amount.

Resound wrote:
"BrettM" wrote in message
.51...

flyingdutch wrote in
:


Bleve Wrote:


when I read this, I think "Half a million bucks! That buys
a lot of bikepath".

But, it's just painting the road. Wow, that's expensive
paint!

Not that the lanes are a bad thing per se, but I guess I'm always
amazed at how expensive it is to do very little these days.

I know .. you have to pay a crew to spend a number of hours with
an expensive piece of machinery, and stencils ... and a road
engineer ... but it does seem a -lot- of money for painted lines.

I wonder how much it cost to do something like the Koonung trail?

dunno. at a guess 1-2mill?
Oh hang on, lots of bridges. you can probably add 2-500k for each of
those!

BoroondaraCouncil's recent budget includes 65k for each of its main
offroad trails (works according to bikePathAudit). Im just hoping that
65k isnt just a maintenance thing.

It'll be either maintenance or the appointment of a full time officer to
manage the trails. 65k is not a lot.


A set of traffic lights can cost 10k easy.

The controller for a set of traffic lights is 66k by itself. Installing
signals without modifying the road will generally cost between 110k to
185k


*chokes*

What on earth is in that controller? I would have thought that you could
damn near get the constituent bits and pieces from the local Dick Smith
store for $30! Failing that, the guts of an old 286 desktop for about the
same amount.


Nononono, they use specialized equipment in the controllers in order to
make the lights in the other direction stay green when there's no
traffic coming, and the green lights in your direction change to amber
just as you approach...
Plus, they have to be sensitive enough to register the proximity of a
cyclist...

;-)

--
BrettS