Sunday, 11
February 2007
Media Release
Green Candidate
on a Bike in Sundays Annual Sydney Bike Art Ride
Green’s candidate
for Coogee Kelly Marks has called for the doubling of bike commuter trips in
Sydney over the next parliamentary term.
Ms Marks made the
call after painting herself with green body paint to take part in last Sunday’s
annual Sydney Bike Art Ride.
She said after
last Sunday’s ride,
”I think it a
reasonable goal for the elected politicians of the next NSW Parliament to
commit to raising the percentage of commuter bike trips in the community by
100% over the next four years.
It would be a real
goal that the new parliament could achieve to address climate change.” Ms Marks
elaborated,
”RTA bicycle
count data shows a 45% increase in bike traffic between 2002 to 2005 in the
Sydney CBD. Despite this increase, the RTA's bike budget has actually been
slashed by 66%. The Greens want the new parliament to increase the funding of
bike infrastructure to meet demand.”
“Bicycle use
helps to cut green house emissions, as well as address the plague of obesity
facing Australia. This win/win solution to traffic congestion has flow on
benefits to community health.”
“The NSW
government could also fund a program of advertising and community education to
increase commuter and lifestyle bicycling in the community to increase public
health and quality of life.”
CONTACT: Greens Candidate for Coogee Kelly
Marks 0422059542
ADDENDUM:
The Greens NSW
bike policy is to
create a safe and
secure network of dedicated bike routes, parking and end-trip facilities.
allocate at
least 5% of RTA budget to bicycle programs in NSW.
provide free
passage on public transport for bikes and require that new buses and trains
provide bicycle storage.
provide secure
undercover bicycle storage facilities at train, bus, ferry and light rail
stations ensure all new developments of commercial or large residential are
built with secure bike parking, shower and locker facilities.
create a system
of bicycles for hire at transport interchanges and major stations that can be
returned to any other station or interchange.
increase
signage to remind motorists that bicyclists share the roads.