Supported by Maribyrnong City Council

Campaigns

Melbourne's East West Transportation
Submission on behalf of Maribyrnong Bicycle Users Group (MazzaBug) regarding future developments in Melbourne's East West transportation as it relates to cycling, especially around the City of Maribyrnong.
East West Needs Assesment Letter
Port of Melbourne Letter

Feedback on Footscray Road

Our topic is the condition and signage of the Footscray Road bike path.We would like to hear the feedback from MazzaBUG members and others on what they do and don't like about the path. For example the road surface on Shepherd's Bridge.
Send us your thoughts and we will collate it and pass it on to Vicroads and Maribyrnong Council.
Please write to mazzabug@hotmail.com

Maribyrnong Bicycle Users Group is a volunteer bicycle organisation run by residents of the Maribyrnong/Footscray area

 

Save the Westgate Punt

Like the Orange Bellied Parrot, The Westgate Punt is an endangered species:
Patronage at the moment is an encouraging 40 - 60 trips a day, and has almost hit 100 at its peak!

I think it is important that the service continue through winter:

    • for the intrepid souls who use it
    • to build the awareness that it is a service that is “always there”

The stakeholders at present are VicRoads, Parks Victoria, Hobsons Bay Council, City of Melbourne, City of Maribyrnong, City of Port Phillip and Port of Melbourne Corporation with Bicycle Victoria drawing them together.

It is probably too many organisations to support the service on an ongoing basis. It only needs one of these organisations to withdraw to put the entire service in jeopardy. I think the best result would be for one of the state government bodies to take it on in its entirety.

Given the following facts, I think we have a good chance of getting the funding required which I understand is about $120K a year.

    • Cycling continues to grow as a commuter mode
    • Petrol is expensive and will become more so
    • Transport solutions seem to be the flavour of the month
    • An accident on the Monash a couple of weeks ago threw the entire metropolitan area into chaos
    • It is an election year
    • On one side of the river is the premier’s electorate
    • On the other side is the deputy premier’s

If you would like to help campaign to save the punt and have it operating all year ‘round, please email to richlest@westnet.com.au put “punt” as the subject.

In the mean time you could write to papers or politicians, or ring talkback radio:

Some good tactics:
A real letter to the electorate office is less likely to get lost than an email to parliament house.
Compliment them on something good the government or council has done

You might like to make some of the following points:

    • Cost of Fuel
    • Global Warming
    • Localised air pollution
    • No bicycles allowed on bridge
    • Road congestion – you will have to resume driving over the Westgate
    • Increasing numbers of cyclists commuting
    • Important to maintain the consistency of the service
    • The punt carries more passengers than many buses
    • Fishermans Bend and other local areas are developing rapidly
    • Its fun you should try it!!