Hi guys thanks to everyone who has viewed, commented and helped with my wordpress blog. I have now decided to move the blog to a hosted service this is mainly due to the restrictions placed on us by wordpress.com. WordPress have been so so awesome and I am sticking with them but mentioned on my own server.

I would be so greatful and happy to see all you guys update your rss feeds and blogrolls to the new address of www.cyclingaddict.com which is already live and had the posts imported.

You can also add to your technorati favs as well

I am also really wanting people to help me out with the blog and become contributors by reviewing products they have bought or just post about there cycling experiences.

Have a great weekend

Craig

Bicycle registration is a weighty issue – about eight kilograms, in fact

I object to Pat Farmer’s ill-informed call for a bike levy (“Cyclists should pay, says MP”, February 8). Like many cyclists, I also own a car. Despite choosing to cycle to work, I pay rego for a minimally used vehicle, helping to pay for roads on which Farmer can waste no end of natural resources driving from Mosman to Campbelltown. Instead, I suggest Farmer pays an extra levy for speaking without thinking.

Briony Bowman Marrickville

So cyclists “saved more than $82 million in public health costs, almost $64 million in traffic congestion-related costs and $9 million in greenhouse gas-related costs”. I reckon the Government should pay us.

Anne Wagstaff Oatley

I understand that vehicle registration is based on the tare weight of the vehicle, hence heavier trucks, which do more damage to the road, pay more than a small car. My 1984 Corolla, which travelled a little over 2000 kilometres last year, just cost me $51 to register. Given my car has a tare weight of 921 kilograms, and my bicycle weighs a little over eight kilograms, who should I send my 44 cents to ?

Bernie Carpenter Winston Hills

The levy Farmer suggests is to “legitimise cyclists’ place on roads”. He may be surprised to know that cyclists already have a legal right to ride on roads in NSW. To impose a levy and/or registration system on cyclists would simply create yet another barrier for cyclists to exercise that right.

Matthew Taylor Kotara

Farmer perpetuates the myth that registration pays for infrastructure. It is a weight tax (check your rego form, Pat). Perhaps he means that our taxes should be more equitably spent to fund cycling infrastructure. The current measly 0.2 per cent of the Roads and Traffic Authority’s annual budget for clean, green transport keeps NSW well behind the rest of the country.

Fiona Campbell Marrickville

Rather than charging cyclists a levy, let’s get rid of car registration charges and third-party insurance and instead collect the required amount by increasing the taxes on petrol and diesel. This is a simple user-pays system; the more you drive heavy vehicles that degrade infrastructure and destroy the environment and health, the more you pay.

This has to be a better method than slugging cyclists with a levy as well as having them pay registration for the car in their garage.

Paul Gittings Russell Lea

Why pick on cyclists? Each day millions of pedestrians walk on footpaths without contributing a red cent to the cost. A levy, administrable through shoe stores, could help legitimise this shameless behaviour.

Scott Ratcliff Strathfield

While you’re at it, make runners using the roads pay registration. And dogs.

John Garrett Northbridge

cycling

bicycle

bicycles

bikes

transport

australia

BICYCLE riders should pay registration fees to help legitimise their place on the roads and pay for infrastructure and safety campaigns, says the Federal Opposition spokesman on sports, Pat Farmer.

His plan has received a mixed response from bicycle lobby groups. It is less than a month since the NRMA questioned spending taxpayer dollars on barely used cycle paths.

Mr Farmer said motorists often complained it was unfair for cyclists to use roads without paying registration costs. A bicycle levy would make such an argument redundant and could increase government funding for bike lanes, he said.

“We need to work with cyclists and cycling associations to come up with a levy … so that we’ve got some money to support them with much-needed infrastructure and to justify them being on the road.”

Mr Farmer, who recently moved from his western Sydney electorate of Macarthur to Mosman, is yet to determine the cost of the levy but said it could be administered at bike shops and applied to people over the minimum driving age.

The Minister for Roads, Eric Roozendaal, dismissed the idea, saying bike riding would remain a free activity in NSW.

“Mr Farmer should get himself a long-distance Malvern Star racer and enjoy the free bike ride between his new home in Mosman and his electorate in Campbelltown,” he said.

Bicycle NSW said it supported initiatives that seek to legitimise cycling. “A form of bike registration or levy may help achieve this,” said its chief executive, Alex Unwin.

But the Cycling Promotion Fund, a bicycle industry lobby group, said a levy would discourage bicycle use.

“There is no country around the world which has registration for bicycles, and the revenue raised would be quite low,” said the organisation’s program director, Rosemarie Speidel.

Preliminary results from a study undertaken on behalf of the Department of Health and Ageing found cyclists saved more than $82 million in public health costs, almost $64 million in traffic congestion-related costs and $9 million in greenhouse gas-related costs.

linky

cycling

bicycle

bicycles

bikes

transport

australia

030220081536

Originally uploaded by craigdurkee

Had a short break at Gippsland over the last few days, had some great times and riding. The rail trails and tracks are awesome.

I will be posting a ride report over the next few days but for now check out the pics from the trip here

cycling

bicycle

bicycles

bikes

transport

australia

SCOTTSDALE – Homeowners and bicyclists are squaring off in a gated community on Scottsdale’s border with Fountain Hills.

Homeowners in Hidden Hills complain that cyclists are using 145th Way, a steep private street at the end of Via Linda, as a training ground where they speed down the long, curving hill en masse and invite accidents.

Cyclists say homeowners are exaggerating problems with a minority of riders and reneging on their subdivision’s 2000 agreement with Scottsdale to allow a non-motorized connection to Fountain Hills.

“If this is not abated, tempers will continue to flare,” homeowners’ association president Sandra Goldenberg recently warned the Scottsdale Transportation Commission.

The debate raises the tricky issue of how private streets mix with public access, particularly in a city that touts its designation as a bicycle-friendly community.

Worried about bike riders invading their neighborhood, members of the Hidden Hills of Scottsdale Community Association petitioned Scottsdale in November to abandon its easement along 145th Way.

The easement runs for eight-tenths of a mile along 145th Way before it ends near a hilltop bordering Fountain Hills.

It’s easy to see why bike riders find this area so inviting.

Via Linda, the road leading up to 145th Way, has designated bike lanes. Signs at the start of 145th Way, near the adjacent Sunrise Trail parking lots, say autos must yield to bikes. The gates of Hidden Hills are spaced apart to allow bikes to proceed, anytime.

Scottsdale retained the easement as part of a deal with the subdivision’s developer that shelved plans to make Via Linda a four-lane public street. Instead, the two sides agreed on the easement that envisions a 145th Way connection to give cyclists, pedestrians and emergency vehicles an alternative to busy Shea Boulevard.

Since the last homes in Hidden Hills were built in late 2005, the street has turned from a sparsely used commuter route into a popular cycling destination.

Homeowners and cyclists alike now accuse each other of dangerous speeding and tailgating, swearing and other rude behavior.

Homeowners say packs of riders grind their way up the street, then use the cul de sac at the top as a gathering spot – and occasional outdoor restroom – before speeding back downhill.

Worried about hitting bikers

Homeowners say they dread backing out of driveways for fear of hitting riders, and worry about liability and property values.

“I’ve really had enough of this,” homeowner Laura Fogleman told the Transportation Commission in January. “It only takes one accident, and the cyclist won’t be at fault, and our association will be sued.”

Cyclists say 145th Way is actually safer than most roads because of its low traffic volumes and because its long hill provides an aerobic workout and strength training.

They say they take less than 15 minutes to ride up and down, often braking to keep near the 20 mph speed limit. The few riders who are rude are disciplined by bike groups, they say.

“I haven’t seen anyone being rude to homeowners unless they feel their safety is in jeopardy,” Stephen Stromberg said while riding 145th Way. “I don’t understand the argument to exclude or ban us . . . Why push us to the main roads where it is more dangerous?”

Keeping off 6-lane, 50 mph Shea

Fountain Hills, for its part, has asked Scottsdale to keep the easement.

“The whole reason we support it is because it would provide an avenue for bikes to get to Fountain Hills without taking their life into their hands on Shea,” town spokeswoman Katie Decker said.

Three lots stand between the easement and Eagle Ridge Drive, the next available roadway, Decker said. Fountain Hills expects development along Eagle Ridge to start in two to five years, at which time the roads could connect.

Because 145th Way is a private street, Scottsdale can’t enforce the speed limit with motorists or cyclists, the city attorney’s office said. Nor can the city pay to install speed bumps on a private street, an idea many Hidden Hills homeowners oppose, anyway.

Scottsdale transportation staffers are researching the legal questions of whether the city even has the power to abandon an easement meant for the general public, bike/pedestrian coordinator Reed Kempton said.

Building an alternate paved route would be difficult given the rugged terrain, he added.

Issue still before commission

The issue is in the Transportation Commission’s hands. Commissioners have been reluctant to surrender the easement but agree a solution to the conflict is needed.

For now, the city plans to revive its outreach to cyclists and warn them to follow the rules of the road and treat neighbors courteously.

Neighbors say a similar effort in 2005 wore off long ago.

Cycling groups say they’ve resolved similar issues with Paradise Valley and the nearby Scottsdale Mountain subdivision, and can try to do the same with Hidden Hills.

Preston Miller, director of Tri-Scottsdale and ride coordinator for Gainey Village Health Club & Spa, said homeowners have some valid concerns. Education is needed on both sides, he said.

“People feel threatened and you think they are vandals, but they (cyclists) are doctors, lawyers, teachers and business people,” Miller said. “This is just education and understanding.”

article here

bicycling

What can I say I never met or knew him but I learned most of the stuff I know from him.

His articles made sense, easy to follow and often done with a great sense of humour. He will be missed.

I have also set up a tribute page were you can leave messages in honour please visit and leave some kind words here

The Greens Mark Parnell is asking the Rudd government to bring
forward its promised $500 million Green Car Innovation Fund.

Unfortunately hybrids, alternative fuel and diesel vehicles still
emit greenhouse gases. The mining, manufacture and transport of raw
materials, components and finished vehicles also involves
considerable environmental damage.

Green cars do not solve obesity, traffic congestion or road rage.

Wouldn’t $500 million go a long way to kick starting an Australian
cycle industry?

Over a million bikes sell here every year, almost all imported. Five
dollars per bike would be a minimal investment to constructively
employ some of the skilled labour retrenched from the car industry.

Talk to your local MPs.

Macarthur Bicycle Users Group leader Ken Hall says Macarthur MP Pat Farmer’s new proposal is “the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard”.Mr Farmer wants to introduce bike levies and on-road costs for cyclists.

He wants every rider on the roads to pay a registration fee.

“For far too long motorists have said I pay my registration fees to use the roads and cyclists get on having paid nothing for the privilege and slow me down,” Mr Farmer said.

“I believe the true way forward is to charge a small fee right across the board.

“The administration could be done through the cycling shops for every cycle sold to people over a certain age.”

Mr Farmer said that in return for the registration fee the Government would make sure there was a designated bike lane for every new road that was built.

He said there would also be programs to educate motorists about cyclists on the roads and sharing the road.

Ken Hall says this plan could stop people from cycling.

“Bike riding is environmentally friendly,” Mr Hall said. “It cuts down the increase of pollution and it helps people stay healthy.

“I think Pat is better off at Mosman.”

The Macarthur cycle group has been lobbying for safer bike riding zones for years.

Mr Hall said other councils in Sydney had used money to build bike lanes in their local areas without registration fees, but that Campbelltown Council had ignored the need for a better infrastructure to accommodate bike riders.

He said Mr Farmer’s idea to charge the public to build the lanes was “absolute rubbish”.

“What a joker!” he said.

“Why on earth would we need a levy?

“Just because Pat Farmer walks, he doesn’t have to pick on bike riders.

“This is insulting, because we reduce the impact of parking and fuel consumption and we don’t damage anything.”

Mr Farmer said he mentioned the idea to sport and recreation shadow minister George Souris, who he said supported the idea.

“George was fine with it, but it needs to be implemented federally, not just in NSW,” Mr Farmer said.

“I am looking at all the states.”

article here 

010220081484Originally uploaded by craigdurkee

Well it was time to take the Kona Smoke out on her first run. I decided that a quick 20km or so ride up the Bike Track just down the road was the order of the day. Dressed in just a pair of shorts and tshirt I decided that proper bike gear was not going to be necessary for some reason. I was right the bike is so comfy and nice to ride, I didn’t even notice that I was hardly dressed for the occasion, even the things on my feet were great on those big chunky platform pedals that came with the bike…. Awesome.

The ride was pretty uneventful but also very enjoyable, we took our time lapped up the sights and sounds it was great.

After lunch then I had a few jobs to do such as popping to do the laundry and take some DVD’s back to Blockbuster. I loaded up the rear pannier with the clothes and off i went, its around 3k to the DVD store and then around another 6 or so to the laundry so again another very enjoyable ride with some magazine reading whilst waiting for the laundry.

010220081484Originally uploaded by craigdurkee

I have to say riding this big tank around you get a feeling of never being in a rush, just enjoying ambling around the city with no cares in the world… I love it…

I’m beginning to also think that with a few upgrades this bike would make a fine tourer, the frame itself is solid enough for sure and if the components over time were upgraded I would have no hesitation in taking this little puppy on a multiday tour for sure. If the tour was close to civilisation I would probably be happy to do it straight off.

IMGP0264

Originally uploaded by craigdurkee

Ok I have for some reason decided to get another bike, can you have to many….. I dont think so.

This is a weird one as I have a road bike and a commuter/touring bike already. I couldn’t really leave it there for the a$300 asking price. It is a Kona Smoke 06 model hence the price. Its built like a tank and thus weighs about the same as one as well but I love it. It’s amazingly relaxed to ride very upright position and asorbs the bumps like there not even there.

I am going to be using this for commuting in the winter and also for the great bike paths and rail trails that Victoria and Australia in general have to offer.

I am also going away this week on a weeks camping trips, taking the bikes of course so this will be a good first outing for it. Of course I’ll post a review when I have done some riding on it.