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30 July, 2001
The Director
Centennial Park Moore Park Trust
Locked Bag 15
PADDINGTON NSW 2021
Dear Director
Centennial Parklands Transport Access & Parking Plan Response
Marrickville and South Sydney Bicycle Group (MASSBUG) is a Bicycle User Group (BUG) affiliated with Bicycle New South Wales (BNSW). We represent the residents in the local government areas of Marrickville and South Sydney who use bicycles as a regular mode of transport.
MASSBUG actively campaigns to improve cycling conditions and facilities in our region, both for the benefit of current cyclists and for those potential cyclist who are currently deterred by the poor existing amenities.
MASSBUG contributed to the formation of the draft plan as a member of the Project Reference Group.
This document represents our further considered response to the findings of the draft plan released for public comment during July 2001.
Principles
We support the principles, defined in section 4 of the Draft Plan, on which the strategies in the plan are based. We support the specific mention of bicycles in Principles 6, 7 and 8.
MASSBUG recognises the quality of our local environment is seriously degraded by motor vehicles and strongly supports the modal shift away from private motor vehicles proposed by Principle 8. A large proportion of the visitors to the Parklands live in nearby suburbs, travelling less than 5km to access the Parklands. Such short distance trips are the most important to convert from car to bike as they are within a an easy cycling distance for cyclists of any experience level as well as being the distance where internal combustion engines operate least efficiently, having insufficient time to reach their ideal operating temperature. A particular group which should be encouraged to consider bicycles as transport to the Parklands are the large number of people who currently carry their bicycles to Centennial Park in their cars to use for recreational cycling within the Park. A modal shift from cars to bikes would also benefit the local residents of Principle 10 in the form of decreased car volumes on their streets.
We also particularly support the inclusion of Principle 6 which recognises the importance of bicycle access across the Parklands. The Parklands are not only a destination but are a major hub for non-motorised transport in the Eastern Suburbs. All the local Bicycle Plans (South Sydney, Randwick, Woolhara and Waverley) converge upon the Parklands. With the dearth of regional cycle routes, cyclist cobble together these local routes to traverse the region. The way-finding information systems of Principle 9 are of vital importance in knitting together the surrounding cycle routes.
The issue of safety in Principle 6 is of particular importance to our members. As our members cycle primarily as a means of transport, we are usually cycling alone. This brings up different issues than present to the highly visible packs of training cyclists. Being less visible we are at greater risk of collision with other park users. We are therefore strongly in favour of designs and rules which slow all traffic and clearly separate different modes and directions of traffic. Personal safety of lone cyclists traversing across the Parklands is of particular concern at night.
Draft Action Plan
Access to the Parklands – Table 5.1
Currently there exists a mismatch between cycle routes, crossings and Park entries.
Rather than provide high quality separate cycle paths alongside the major roads
surrounding the Parklands, all the local cycle plans preferred the use of routes
or lanes on quieter roads. The intersections of these quieter roads with the
major roads encircling the Parklands are not equipped with safe cycle crossings.
Even if there were crossings, the routes do not match the Parklands entries,
which are located at the busy road intersections. Thus while Action 6 recognises
the huge room for improvement at the current intersections around the perimeter
of the Parklands, and Action 2 and 3 add several new access points, there is
a need to coordinate all the bicycle routes converging on the Parklands with
matching crossings and entries. This treatment is also required for routes to
nearby cycle rental companies.
In order to encourage visitors to convert to transport modes such as cycling, as proposed in action 10, it is imperative Actions 2, 3 5 and 6 are implemented to overcome the current major deterrents to cycling.
Access within the Parklands – Table 5.2
As with crossing the perimeter roads, we approve of Action 2: the addition of
safe crossings within and between the parks.
We approve of the provision of secure bike parking facilities as described in Action 3
The design of the pedestrian bridges in Action 4 should be investigated to incorporate the inclusion of ramps to enable cycle access.
The upgrade of Federation Drive in Action 5 should include bicycle access to Fox Studios.
MASSBUG recognises that the Parklands are also used by sporting cyclists who train together in large groups and travel at speed. These cyclists tend to use the park at particular times (approximately one hour early in the morning and again at the end of the day.
Very few places exist in Sydney where these riders can ride in a relatively traffic-free road environment and the Parklands have traditionally been an area where they do this.
BIKEast believes that within Actions 11 and 12 it may be possible to find a solution which accommodates all users through consultation, an agreed code of behaviour and a revised Park management plan.
A possible solution may be to delay the opening of the Park gates for a one hour period in the morning to allow a period of car-free use. Alternatively this regime could also be trialed in the late afternoon.
Managing parked vehicles - Table 5.3
MASSBUG approves of any reduction in car parking as calculated in Action 5,
and are quite happy for the Trust to introduce parking charges as suggested
in Action 10. Our members would also be glad to see the Moore Car Park permanently
revert to Moore Park. Reduced parking will eventually result in reduced car
traffic, particularly if improvements in pedestrian and cycle access are successfully
promoted with appropriate campaigns to visitors who live nearby. Reduced car
traffic will benefit both all park users and nearby residents.
Centennial Parklands Internal Arrangements – Table 5.4
MASSBUG is in favour of all moves to decrease car movements in the Parklands,
and as such approves of closing the centre of the Park as described in Actions
1 and 2.
We approve of moving the parking the health of the trees as in Action 3, however we are have some minor concerns about the cycle lane being placed closer to the trees. The cycle lane will need to be constructed to be impervious to root damage and frequent cleaning of the very sticky figs will be required.
Given the switch of parking and cycle lanes in Action 3, Action 4 makes practical sense. It avoids the unfamiliar situation of slow moving cycle lanes to the right of the cars and also permits cyclists (most of whom don not use rear vision mirrors) a clear view of possible conflicts with cars before overtaking slower cyclists or roller-bladers. Strict controls on cars will be required to ensure they do not overtake into oncoming cyclists. Cycle access through the Parklands would be much more convenient if cyclists are also permitted to ride in the Grand Drive car lane in the same direction as the cars, thus enabling 2 way access for bicycles only, as in Action 7. In this case extra width might be required in uphill sections of Grand Drive to enable safe overtaking.
The pedestrian crossings proposed in Action 6 would improve safety for all road users. We suggest a form of the landscaping and traffic calming of Action 5 be incorporated on the approaches to these crossings. A textured surface, such as cobblestones, would be particularly effective with cyclists (although would require detailed consultation with roller-bladers!).
Conclusion
MASSBUG is in favour of the Draft Centennial Parklands Transport Access & Parking Plan. We encourage the Trust to aim for the most extensive reductions in car traffic and parking proposed by the Plan and would like to see all cycle routes to the Parklands be provided with crossings and entries.
We request that the Centennial Park Moore Park Trust consider these comments and provide an acknowledgment of receipt.
We look forward to further assisting Centennial Park Moore Park Trust in its efforts to improve Park access and use.
Yours sincerely,
John Harrison
MASSBUG Centennial Park and Moore Park Representative
0418 663 083
mailto:jharrison**(at)**massbug.org.au(Replace**(at)** with @)
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