From: Dimitrios Thanos 
Sent: Tuesday, 16 March 2004 8:57
To: massbug@massbug.org.au
Subject: Re: RE:


I cannot open the file that you sent me.

Anyways, my 2 bobs worth on bycicles are as follows.

Bicicles are an environmentally sustainable method of travel for short to medium distances (and long distance if you have the fitness, stamina and time).
I personally prefer to walk whenever I can, mainly because of my fear of riding a bicicle on the street ( a childhood thing that my parents are probably responsible for).

In the cities of today bicicles would be a far better method of travel that cars or motorbikes for a number of reasons:
1) they promote an active rather than sedentary lifestyle
2) they cut down on pollutants
3) lowering of speed limit decreases chances of fatal accidents
4) promotion of fitness acivities lowers the incidence of heart and muscular diseases as well as other diseases that are associated with obesity and sedentary lifestyles.

Bicicles do become a problem in the cold weather and in the rain. So it is not realistic to expect that a total transfer from motorised vehicles to human-powered transport is likely. However bicicle riding can and should be supported wherever possible so as to increase the options available to the public when the question of transport arises.

As to the question of how this can be done things get a little more difficult.

The obvious answer is the provision of bicicle corridors to the city, and in the city. Also cycling paths in the inner west and outer suburbs would be good. This requires planning at a level that is beyond my ability to provide answers for. Funding is another issue. Councils resourses are stretched as it is. We would have to look at this issue in greater detail to determine what is possible with what we already have before we start looking at new infrastructure.

Basically at the end of the day it comes down to particular interest groups such as yourselves lobbying the people in power continuously and with logical reasoning untill they see your point of view.

The reason I say this is that when I first got elected I didnt care much about cycling issues. To be truthfull I was dead set against spending any money on new infrastructure on bicicles. However this changed after quite a few roudy meetings that I am sure you no doubt remember. My point of view changed not because I am worried about your votes but because I can see the logical reasoning of your argument. 

Finally I would like to say that although we may disagree at times I have the utmost respect for any individual who practices an ideal that they preach - and you most definitely do!

I hope that this small essay answers some of the things that you would have asked in your e mail to me.

With sincerity
Dimitrios Thanos