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Premier's bike love affair stops at funding
Sunday 21 March 2010
Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on Premier Kristina Keneally to boost spending on bicycle infrastructure to five per cent of the road's budget and to ensure this money is allocated across the state, not just in Sydney.
See Sydney Morning Herald feature article today and related article on the delayed NSW bike plan.
The NSW Upper House last week passed a Greens motion (see below) calling on the government to immediately release "an updated, comprehensive bike plan for NSW".
"Ms Keneally's love affair with bike riding stops at allocating sufficient funding to build world-class bike infrastructure for Sydney and meet the growing enthusiasm for cycling," Ms Rhiannon said.
"The wheels are turning very slowing for NSW's new bike plan, now nine months overdue.
"The Metropolitan Transport Plan released earlier this year allocated $15.8 million a year for ten years for Sydney cycling facilities.
"This is a kick in the teeth for cyclists, especially when you compare it with the $4.4 billion budget for roads allocated last financial year.
"And it does not stack up when compared with the City of Sydney's $28 million spend this financial year.
"Our bike riding Premier has achieved few changes within the NSW government since the days of former roads minister and bike sceptic Michael Costa.
"Premier Keneally has failed to return the bike budget to the $25 million a year allocation set out in Labor's original Bike Plan 2010 announced a decade ago.
"The new bike plan will be dubbed another failed transport plan unless the Premier quickly finds the funding needed to turn a glossy brochure into action and ensures the plan is for the whole state and not just Sydney.
"The allocation of funding is going backwards in real terms, at a time when research repeatedly highlights the cycling renaissance sweeping Sydney.
"The City of Sydney is putting NSW's dismal efforts on cycling in the shade, dedicating itself to funding the programs and infrastructure that residents want," Ms Rhiannon said.
For information: Lee Rhiannon - 0427 861 568
Motion passed on 18 March 2010 by NSW Upper House:
Delay in releasing the NSW bike plan
I move that this house notes:
1. That in August 2008 the NSW government announced that the Premier’s Council on Active Living had been commissioned to prepare a new bike plan for NSW.
2. The plan was expected to map out the new programs and facilities needed to support the development of cycling for recreation and transport.
3. Submissions were called for and submitted by a range of individuals and groups.
4. The government is well overdue in releasing the plan, with no fixed date set for its publication except that noted on the Premier's Council on Active Living website: 'finalisation and release of the PCAL NSW BikePlan is awaiting the State’s overarching transport strategy'.
5. Cycling is increasing in NSW, yet funding and infrastructure remains inadequate to meet demand or promote cycling as a way of tackling climate change, peak oil, congestion, poor air quality and to reduce accidents and deaths from poor quality cycling facilities.
I move that this house:
1. Calls on the government to recognise the real need for an updated, comprehensive bike plan for NSW and related funding and infrastructure.
2. Calls on the government to immediately release the promised bike plan to the community.
