Driver Fined for Littering

BY TYLER FARDELL


A Hunter man who thought it would be funny to throw a ice-filled drink cup at a cyclist as they traveled along Maitland Road in Hexham as had his comeuppance.

The Environment Protection Authority fined the man $450 for aggravated littering and said it's lucky the cyclist was alright after the incident which occurred in October last year.

The drink hit the man on the head and damaged his glasses and helmet but he was able to safely pull over.

The dangerous act was recorded on the cyclists bike camera and the footage was handed in to police.

Hunter Director of the EPA Karen Marler criticized the act, calling it reckless and stupid.

"Litter damages the environment", she said. "It can harm wildlife and marine life, injure people and make our surroundings more dangerous".

NSW police are continuing to investigate the matter.

Australians Afraid of the Bike

BY TYLER FARDELL

It appears many residents across Australia and the Hunter have given up cycling due to safety concerns.

The Medical Journal of Australia today released the results of a recent study, showing a doubling of hospitalised major trauma for cyclists in the last nine years.

The data is even more shocking when you note there has been a decrease in the level of bike riders over that same period.

So why has there been an increase in accidents when the number of riders has dropped? The Australian Cycling Promotion Foundation is blaming the lack of infrastructure for cyclists.

Australia doesn't have separate bike paths and lanes like other countries, forcing many riders to either ride on the busy footpaths and roads or not ride at all.

Stephen Hodge of the Cycling Foundation is calling on the government to act now and make cycling safer and more viable for casual bike riders.

"The government should focus on getting people out of their cars and onto their bikes, but the infrastructure needs to improve before that can happen", he said.

"The development of safe and well-connected bike lanes along with a more positive legislative attitude towards cycling is what we're calling for".

Source; ABC

Parking Paranoia for Newcastle CBD

BY PARIS WRIGHT

As the Newcastle CBD skyline continues to grow exponentially, those in the area will begin to experience strain in relation to parking facilities. The city has turned into a construction site bustling with developments and high rise bringing with it the promise of new businesses and residential buildings. Whilst the changes are exciting for the health of the city's economy, the lack of consideration for the already difficult parking is of paramount concern.

The Newcastle City Council has begun to address the future inconvenience by urging the public to consider alternative means of transport to and from the workplace by devising the Cycle Safe Network; a yet to be funded plan that will enable residents to be within a few hundred metres of a safe cycleway. Active transport like this provides a healthy alternative to the usual car commute.

With the University of Newcastle's Business and Law precinct moving into their city campus at the commencement of next semester, these alternative means of transport are becoming more imperative than ever. Owner of Metro Cycles, Bernard Hockings has noticed a change in the nature of his regular customers, with an increasing rate of student's, not just recreational cyclists. He claims Newcastle is becoming a "cycling city" as residents are beginning to find parking nearly impossible. A recent survey of regional NSW demonstrates the area's higher than average participation rate in this activity, with 16.3% of residents claiming to have cycled in the past week.

The Government and City Council are being urged to consider the impending traffic and parking concerns associated with extensive construction around the CBD to avoid future havoc.

Newcastle Cycleways Movement

CBD bike plan revealed

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT

The state government has unveiled another transport option for commuters in the Newcastle CBD.

It has unveiled a new cycle pathway that will run alongside the soon-to-be-installed light rail on Hunter Street, while also visiting key sights in the inner-city.

The state government's plan for Newcastle's CBD cycle way.

Places like the University of Newcastle's NeW Space, as well as Queen's Wharf, and the historic East End will also be part of the cycle path.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says bike usage in the city is currently at around 2 per cent, with the goal being to lift it at least 10 per cent.

"We want to attract more people to take up cycling by making it a viable travel option, for either and end-to-end journey or to connect with public transport hubs," Mr MacDonald said.

Those consulted raised the need for the light rail to be compatible with bikes, which Mr MacDonald said is a plan that has been adopted.

Cyclists will be able to take their bikes onto the light rail, and then continue to use them after getting off.

Newcastle cycling advocate Bernard Hocking is largely supportive of the plan but has criticised the government for not committing funding to it.

"The opening lines of the strategy recognise the importance of cycling, but then defer responsibility for delivery to the local government," Mr Hocking said.

"You'd think if the state government is spending half a billion dollars on two-and-a-half kilometres of light rail, they could put a tiny percentage of that towards safe cycling infrastructure."

Cycle paths are in the domain of local governments, but Mr MacDonald said the consultation process showed residents wanted a collaboration approach between the two levels of government.

"I think that has happened; it's been a good outcome'" Mr MacDonald said.