If I Ride

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Cycling in Yass

As I back out of cycling advocacy in Sydney (Currently I am VP of BikeSydney (http://bikesydney.org and I was Pres for 8 years – and VP of Bicycle NSW for a number of years as well). I turn my mind to my new patch – Yass. Now the Federal Gov has been passing out Stimulis Packages for infrastructure. So far there has been a general one and one for cycling. Councils could apply for this money – well Yass has applied for nothing cycling related. Time they realised there is a cyclist in the village.

Looking at the Yass Council website I find this

Yass PAMP and Bike Plan

In 2005 Yass Valley Council engaged the services of Community Development Initiatives Pty Ltd to prepare an integrated Pedestrian Mobility Plan (PAMP) for the township of Yass and a PAMP strategic overview for the villages of Murrumbateman, Bowning, Binalong, Gundaroo and Sutton. The project included a review of the existing Bike Plan for the township of Yass and was funded by the Roads and Traffic Authority and the Motor Accidents Authority

Key aspects of the development of the PAMP and Bike Plan were:

• To facilitate improvements in level of pedestrian access and priority, particularly in areas of pedestrian concentration.
• To reduce pedestrian access severance and enhance safe and convenient crossing opportunities on major roads.
• To facilitate improvements in the level of personal mobility and safety for people with disabilities, older persons, children and other user groups, through the provision of pedestrian infrastructure and facilities which cater to the needs of all pedestrians.
• To ensure pedestrian facilities remain appropriate and relevant to the surrounding land use and pedestrian user groups.
• To link existing and planned road user plans in a coordinated manner, such as maintenance programs.
• To meet obligations under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act (1992).
• Increase bicycle usage in the Yass Valley Council area.
• Encourage alternative methods of transport.
• Improve community health.
• Provide safer routes for bicycle users.

A number of community consultations were held in each of the towns and villages as part of the development process. This also included individual meetings with representatives of community groups such as the Access Committee, aged care facilities, community centres and schools. In total 54 consultations were held, with 27 group/services and 27 individuals being consulted. For further information please contact Yass Valley Council Road Safety Officer on 6226 9249.

Nothing else, but pointsbelow are encouraging

• Increase bicycle usage in the Yass Valley Council area.
• Encourage alternative methods of transport.
• Improve community health.
• Provide safer routes for bicycle users.

As I cannot find anything else on the website regarding this or cycling. I quickly fired off an email this aftrenoon.

Hi there, I have noticed in 2005 that there was a Yass PAMP and Bike Plan. Could I get a soft copy of this as I cannot find it on the Yass Council website (obviously if it is on the website could you email me the URL).

Also did Yass council apply to any of the Federal Gov stimulus packages in relation to  cycling? There has been at least two packages that could be used.
Package: $40 million National Bike Path Funding as part of the Jobs Program
Package: Regional and Local Community Infrastructure (CIP)

If no request were made for the above, where is Yass Council up to in adopting the Yass PAMP and Bike Plan in particular in regards to the points mentioned on your website?

* Increase bicycle usage in the Yass Valley Council area.
* Encourage alternative methods of transport.
* Improve community health.
* Provide safer routes for bicycle users.

Andrew Dodds

Lets see what they make of this

Posted in Bikes, Yass | 4 Comments »