SharkBike, a bicycle user group affiliated with BicycleNSW, was formed recently by Shire residents who wish to promote the many benefits of cycling in the community. One of SharkBike’s key objectives is to Council to develop and implement plans for improving cycling facilities in the Sutherland Shire. Consequently, SharkBike supports Council in its preparation of the Bicycle Network Plan.
SharkBike considers that the Shire could be a leader in the provision of a quality cycling network and related facilities. As regular cyclists, SharkBike members feel they have the experience and knowledge to assist Council to effectively establish cycling as a key component of the Shire’s healthy lifestyle. Cycling contributes to this lifestyle by providing:
· Active and sustainable transport
· An enjoyable form of recreation
· Exercise that has many health benefits for the whole community
· A popular competitive sport that has given the Shire an international profile through its cyclists and triathletes.
This submission commences with the broad policy context at the national level through to how it can be implemented on the ground through selected areas where our members have compiled detailed comments on certain routes. Some of these comments pertain to the choice of route, while others relate to details of required treatment. We hope the latter comments will be of value at the detailed costing and design stages. A number of recommendations have been made throughout the submission to assist Council in increasing the level of cycling in the Shire.
Bicycle Strategy
The draft Bicycle Network Plan is currently a network plan showing desired bicycle routes. To achieve the implementation of these routes on the ground, Council requires more than a plan that outlines cycle routes. Council requires a comprehensive Bicycle Strategy to outline how it is going to construct the required infrastructure with identified actual and potential funding sources amongst other initiatives to increase the level of cycling in the Shire. The Bicycle Strategy would address how cycling in the Shire can mesh with related initiatives in Council’s “Blueprint for Action” such as health, transport, sport and recreation, environment and education at all levels, including how council activities relate to State and Commonwealth initiatives. The Bicycle Network Plan should be the “map of the infrastructure” component of the Bicycle Strategy.
The RTA has published a document titled “How to prepare a Bike Plan (RTA 2002) which would assist Council in producing an effective Bike Plan.
Recommendation 1 – Council should develop a comprehensive Bicycle Strategy with clear and measurable targets. The Bicycle Strategy should address:
· Funding
· Links with related Council initiatives such as health, recreation, environment and education
· How Council activities relate to State and Commonwealth initiatives.
The Bicycle Network Plan should be the map of the infrastructure component of the Bicycle Strategy.
Cycling has been recognised at the national level as an important part of the Australian community. The Commonwealth Government launched the National Cycling Strategy in 1999. The Strategy states that “increased participation in cycling will contribute to transport, urban development, economic, environment, health, and equity goals, leading to an improved quality of life for all Australians. Local government has a key role in implementing the Strategy through its local initiatives such as bike plans. Some of the objectives that highlight local government responsibilities include:
Objective 2 – Policy and Planning that integrates cycling as a valued element
· Target – Measures aimed at increasing cycling are included in all relevant policies and plans of the three spheres of government by 2004
Objective 3 – Facilities exist that support increased cycling
·
Target
–
The objectives in the National Cycling Strategy highlight the need for the Council to take a proactive role in finalising the Bicycle Network Plan and developing a Bicycle Strategy to define the time frame for its implementation with associated goals and targets. The Bicycle Strategy should state how Council is meeting the objectives of the National Cycling Strategy. For example, increasing the number of bicycle trips in the Shire from the current ~1% to 5% of total trips in the next 10 years.
Recommendation 2 – The Bicycle Strategy should set targets to increase the proportion of trips in the Shire made by bike. For example, increasing the bicycle proportion of all trips from the current level of ~1% to 5% by 2012.
Other national initiatives arise from time to time that
relate to cycling, for example the National Greenhouse Strategy and Roads to
Recovery. These initiatives often present additional opportunities to fund
cycling facilities. For example,
Gosnells Council in
Recommendation 3 – Council has an ongoing responsibility to actively seek external funding from the Commonwealth to fund the implementation of the Bicycle Strategy and Bicycle Network Plan.
Action For Bikes 2010
(NSW)
The State Government, in 1999, launched a comprehensive transport plan, Action for Transport to provide transport choice and reduce car usage. Action for Bikes – Bike Plan 2010 is one of its component initiatives aimed at building a network of cycleways in the metropolitan area using $251m of State funding. Action for Bikes highlights two off road routes to be constructed in the Sutherland Shire by 2008:
·
Loftus -
· Hurstville – Cronulla
Council should clarify if these routes are still the intended regional routes for construction and if not the funding should be reallocated to other priority regional routes in the Shire.
Action for Bikes states that the NSW Government “supports and funds the installation, by councils, of bike facilities such as bicycle parking and storage facilities at railway stations, recreation venues, shopping centres, and other major community facilities”. This presents an opportunity for the Council to secure State funding from RTA and the Department of Transport for end of trip facilities (racks, lockers etc) at key locations.
Recommendation 4 - The Sutherland Bicycle Strategy needs to clearly establish and state its relationship with Action for Bikes and capitalise on funding opportunities outlined by Action for Bikes for all cycling infrastructure including end of trip facilities.
The Bicycle Strategy should also recognise State infrastructure projects such as rail and road corridors, (interchanges) and seize opportunities to install cycling infrastructure when they arise, eg new projects or enhancement/redevelopment of existing infrastructure.
Recommendation 5 – Council lobby and liaise with State Government to ensure that quality cycling infrastructure is established as part of State projects such as the duplication of the Cronulla-Sutherland rail link and the future use of the F6 transport corridor.
Integrating Landuse
and Transport (ILUT) - A Planning Policy Package
The State Government is developing a policy package, containing a draft State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) No. 66 and a set of guidelines. It is part of series of initiatives supporting Shaping Our Cities and a joint initiative of Planning NSW, Transport NSW and RTA. It applies to urban areas of NSW and aims, by planning to moderate unsustainable growth in car travel and create opportunities for non-car access, including cycling. This is by locating and designing development so that it encourages access by public transport, walking and cycling and by travel demand management. Particularly relevant are Part 1, Accessible Development Principles, Principle 7: Improve cycle access at p16 and Part 4, Practice Issues and Initiatives – Pedestrian and bicycle plans at p52.
The draft SEPP applies to all stages of
the planning process, including strategic policy and planning, land use
planning, development codes and guides, and project design and assessment (ie
development control). It should be used with existing planning
documents/instruments and when preparing new documents.
Recommendation – See Recommendation 8
Other State policies and programs that relate to cycling include:
· EPA’s Action for Air, a high level plan with targets
· EPA’s recently announced “clean air initiatives” funding program
·
Health initiatives such as recommendations
relating to active transport as a result of the NSW Childhood Obesity Summit
(held in
· PlanningNSW’s Urban Improvement Program, Living Centres Program and the Metropolitan Greenspace Program)
· Department of Sport and Recreation grant programs
· The potential to develop a “safe routes to school” program with the Department of Education.
Recommendation 6 - Council actively seek out links with and funding from other State Government Programs (ie in addition to Action for Bikes) that relate to cycling.
The Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils
(SSROC) which includes Sutherland Shire Council has been involved in
development of the Botany Bay Trail concept as a result of funding from the
Commonwealth under the Coast and Marine Planning Program. The Trail concept has since been supported
with State funding under the Georges River Foreshores Improvement Program and
extended to include the
Recommendation 7 – The Botany Bay Trail,
The many health, environmental and other benefits of cycling are recognised in Council's draft Blueprint for Action, which listed the bicycle network as a key action under four distinct strategies: air quality, integrated transport, recreation and community health. A Bicycle Strategy would provide links to other Council initiatives and enable more effective and efficient cycle facility implementation.
The Integrating Land Use and Transport Policy Package discussed above, outlines opportunities to include cycling facilities in the local planning and development process. Meeting the objectives of ILUT at the local level should include recognising the bicycle network in the local planning instrument (LEP) commensurate with appropriate zonings that facilitate the construction and cycle infrastructure and associated facilities. Other local government planning responsibilities under the Development Control Plan, Master Plans and the Section 94 (EP & A Act) Contributions Plan and the development assessment process, should all clearly state support for the installation of cycling and related facilities.
Every development provides an opportunity to improve cycling infrastructure through potential Section 94 (EP& A Act) contributions. Major commercial residential and retail buildings should also house appropriate on-site end of trip facilities such as showers, lockers and an appropriate location and facilities to park or store bicycles
Recommendation 8 - Council effectively link the Bicycle Strategy with the land use planning and the development process (as per the ILUT policy) by building the elements of the Strategy into local planning instruments, the development assessment process and associated guidelines.
The draft Bicycle Network Plan requires some improvements to enable it to be effectively implemented on the ground and used by the community. These improvements include identification of:
· The intended purpose(s) of routes such as whether they are suitable for children, adults, recreation and suitability for mountain bikes or road bikes
· Construction standards and design that will be applied to each section
· Priority of routes for funding and construction
· Budget and timeframe for construction.
The map itself also needs annotation for locations to be easier to read.
Recommendation 9 – The Bicycle Network Plan needs improvements (eg identify priority, suitability of routes, design standards), and an identified costing and timeframe for implementation (via the Bicycle Strategy).
The Bicycle Strategy should outline how the Bicycle Network Plan integrates with other Council activities related to cycling some of which already have been mentioned earlier in the submission. These include:
· Development application assessment
· Street design
· Roadworks (whether on bike network or not)
· Transport policies and local area traffic management
· End-of-trip facilities
Ø Secure under-cover parking
Ø Showers, change rooms, lockers
· Encouragement and promotion, eg:
Ø Incorporate cycle promotion into events run or sponsored by Council
Ø Bike week activities
Ø Policies to encourage Council staff to cycle to work
Ø Working with schools to encourage student cycling
Other Principles
Relevant to Both the Bicycle Strategy and the Bicycle Network Plan
Quality
To significantly raise cycling levels facilities must be safe and convenient which often requires a significant investment (see AustRoads Part 14 (1999) for relevant construction standards).
Connectivity
To be useful, cycle routes must link residential areas with key destinations.
Focus on high-density,
high-use areas
Cycle facilities should be developed as a priority for major destinations eg Cronulla Miranda Sutherland and Gymea (see pilot proposal below).
Monitoring
Council should monitor the use of the finished product and seek feedback from community on the use and quality of facilities. The information received should be used to improve planning, construction and management of future routes and facilities.
Recommendation 10 – The Bicycle Strategy should outline how the Bicycle Network Plan integrates with other Council activities related to cycling (See also Recommendation1).
SharkBike would like to see the selection of at least two priority routes to be established in the Shire. The first should be a suitable route (spine) from Sutherland to Cronulla which would attract both transport and recreational cyclists. The second should be the early completion of a portion of the Botany Bay Trail from Taren Point to Cronulla which would attract many recreational cyclists. These routes would safely link a significant proportion of the Shire (Kurnell, Cronulla to Sutherland and surrounds) and parts of the St George area to the Shire.
In addition to priority routes for the Shire, a Pilot network should be developed in an area where bicycle usage for all purposes, recreation, transport, health and training, can be developed. Cronulla is an ideal area for a Pilot project due to its:
· Relatively high population density and diverse age distribution
· Proximity to local facilities such as shops, schools and various community facilities
· Need for traffic reduction, particularly during the popular summer period
· Location on a peninsula with no through traffic
· Popularity as a recreation destination for all ages
· Proximity to major transport node (Cronulla railway station) to encourage bimodal (cycle-rail) transport to work and people who visit Cronulla by train
· Proximity to Botany Bay (Botany Bay Trail) and Kurnell to provide links for recreation and training cyclists of all ages, intentions and abilities.
Recommendation 11 – The Bicycle Network Plan should establish two priority routes such as:
· A spine form Sutherland to Cronulla
· Taren Point to Cronulla portion of the Botany Bay Trail.
Recommendation 12 – The Bicycle Strategy and Bicycle Network Plan identify Cronulla as a Pilot Project to establish quality facilities and demonstrate the desire and practicability of all aspects of cycling (recreation, health, transport, sport and community benefits).
The Bicycle Network Plan requires funding. The amount of base funding should be outlined in the Bicycle Strategy. However, many funding opportunities may arise, as discussed above, from various sources and new initiatives. To capitalise on this funding, Council should create a “Cycling Strategist” position. The employee holding such a position would seek funding for implementing the Bicycle Strategy from all possible sources such as Commonwealth, State, private industry (sponsorship etc), community and in-kind contribution through the development process. The Cycling Strategist would also ensure that cycling is recognised in all of Councils responsibilities such as planning, health, recreation, environment, education, transport and engineering.
Recommendation 13 – Council employ a Cycling Strategist to:
· Oversee the implementation of the Bicycle Strategy and ensure that all sectors (eg planning, health, transport, recreation, environment, education and engineering) of Council implement the Strategy.
· Seek external funding from the Commonwealth and State Governments and also investigate opportunities for partnerships between the Council, the private sector and the community (eg the Cycling Promotion Fund).
SharkBike would be happy to provide community input towards developing the Bicycle Strategy and the Bicycle Network Plan. As regular cyclists, we are also able to offer valuable practical comment on details of proposed construction works. Enclosed is a recent article from Cyclist magazine in which a Coffs Harbour Council staff member describes the positive contribution made by their local bicycle user group towards Council bike plan implementation.
Recommendation 14 – SharkBike be represented on a standing committee established by Council to oversee implementation of cycling facilities in the Shire.
Some SharkBike members have prepared detailed comments via “Saddle Survey” on some of the routes outlined in the Draft Bicycle Network Plan (Appendix A). Comments include suggestions on the proposed routes and additional routes, as well as detailed comments on the engineering treatments needed.
Recommendation15 – Council modify the draft Bicycle Network
Plan in response to the route suggestions made by SharkBike.
Recommendation 16 – Council note the comments on engineering treatments required and incorporate these in their detailed engineering design prior to route construction.
SharBike understands that there is much work to be done for cycling in the Shire and this submission should be seen as a starting point to SharkBike’s input and involvement in an evolving process. There is much detail about the routes that could be built in the Shire, which has not been provided in this submission. However, SharkBike believes much of the detail input to the development and implementation of the Bicycle Strategy and Bicycle Network Plan can be provided through an ongoing commitment from the Council to work with SharkBike and other interested community members in relation to cycling matters.
Recommendation 1 – Council should develop a comprehensive Bicycle Strategy with clear and measurable targets. The Bicycle Strategy should address:
· Funding
· Links with related Council initiatives such as health, recreation, environment and education
· How Council activities relate to State and Commonwealth initiatives.
The Bicycle Network Plan should be the map of the infrastructure component of the Bicycle Strategy.
Recommendation 2 – The Bicycle Strategy should set targets to increase the proportion of trips in the Shire made by bike. For example, increasing the bicycle proportion of all trips from the current level of ~1% to 5% by 2012.
Recommendation 3 – Council has an ongoing responsibility to actively seek external funding from the Commonwealth to fund the implementation of the Bicycle Strategy and Bicycle Network Plan.
Recommendation 4 - The Sutherland Bicycle Strategy needs to clearly establish and state its relationship with Action for Bikes and capitalise on funding opportunities outlined by Action for Bikes for all cycling infrastructure including end of trip facilities.
Recommendation 5 – Council lobby and liaise with State Government to ensure that quality cycling infrastructure is established as part of State projects such as the duplication of the Cronulla Sutherland rail link and the future use of the F6 transport corridor
Recommendation 6 - Council actively seek out links with and funding from other State Government Programs (ie in addition to Action for Bikes) that relate to cycling
Recommendation 7 – The Botany Bay Trail, Georges River and Woronora Trail concepts be recognised and supported by Council and the Bicycle Strategy and further funding opportunities be explored to ensure their implementation. Cycling facilities should be an integral component of the Trails’ implementation in areas where landscape and environmental constraints permit.
Recommendation 8 - Council effectively link the Bicycle Strategy with the land use planning and the development process (as per the ILUT policy) by building the elements of the Strategy into local planning instruments, the development assessment process and associated guidelines.
Recommendation 9 – The Bicycle Network Plan needs improvements (eg identify priority suitability of routes, design standards), and an identified costing and timeframe for implementation (via the Bicycle Strategy).
Recommendation 10 – The Bicycle Strategy should outline how the Bicycle Network Plan integrates with other Council activities related to cycling (See also Recommendation 1).
Recommendation 11 – The Bicycle Network Plan should establish two priority routes such as:
· A spine form Sutherland to Cronulla
· Taren Point to Cronulla portion of the Botany Bay Trail.
Recommendation 12 – The Bicycle Strategy and Bicycle Network Plan identify Cronulla as a Pilot Project to establish quality facilities and demonstrate the desire and practicability of all aspects of cycling (recreation, health, transport, sport and community benefits).
Recommendation 13 – Council employ a Cycling Strategist to:
· Oversee the implementation of the Bicycle Strategy and ensure that all sectors (eg planning, health, transport, recreation, environment, education and engineering) of Council implement the Strategy.
· Seek external funding from the Commonwealth and State Governments and also investigate opportunities for partnerships between the Council, the private sector and the community (eg the Cycling Promotion Fund).
Recommendation 14 – SharkBike be represented on a standing committee established by Council to oversee implementation of cycling facilities in the Shire.
Recommendation15 – Council modify the draft Bicycle Network
Plan in response to the route suggestions made by SharkBike.
Recommendation 16 – Council note the comments on engineering treatments required and incorporate these in their detailed engineering design prior to route construction.
APPENDIX A
SHARKBIKE
SADDLE SURVEY OF SELECTED ROUTES EXHIBITED IN THE DRAFT BICYCLE NETWORK PLAN