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CSIT RTW Bulletin #17: Nov 2001
http://cs.anu.edu.au/csitRTW/bulletins/RTW.17.Nov01.html
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With daylight saving back and warmer (albeit windy) weather, its a great
season for riding!
In a response to
last Bulletin's bit:
Well, the form this authorization is taking is of a cute Bicycle signal,
next to the Pedestrian Walk signal. A rather expensive solution
one might think, and perhaps this explains why they have only appeared on 3 of
the 100's of ACT crossings so far ...
Peter Lamb has correctly pointed out that there were more than 3
bicycle signals at the time (16 had in fact been claimed by MLA Brendan Smythe),
but agreed indeed that this is an awkward
way of solving a problem created by the LA's refusal to modify
the National Road Rules 2000 in the first place.
Not a bad result for cycling it seems, with Shane Rattenbury (PP member
and competition cyclist) getting in this time. I was pleased also that
the Green's Kerrie Tucker, championing cycling causes throughout last
term, kept her seat. Jon Stanhope, who also strongly supported
modifying the NRR in ACT for cycling, looks like
becoming Chief Minister.
Postscript: Shane in fact missed out narrowly in the final stages of counting :(.
But Simon Corbell, another PP member, got a seat, and is on the
Ministerial line-up :).
But the proof will be in the pudding... Over the next next term,
issues such as Road Rules, paths / bicycle lane improvements, and the
Gungahlin Extension will be worth watching.
You may remember Markus Buchorn's article on
Cyclegaines . Well two intrepid cyclists from DCS, Sam Taylor and
John Zigman, gave it a go last September at the pine forests near Mt
Majura and thought it was great! See Sam or John for more details.
- CSIT Ride #1: CSIT to Mt Stromlo (Oct 13):
Seven riders met at 9:30 that Saturday to enjoy a moderate-paced ride
out to Mt Stromlo. Sam Taylor made the ride up Stromlo (3.7 km long,
with a rise ~150m) look easy. But then there were mugs of coffee
plus extremely generous servings of cake at Red Belly Black to
compensate us and to restore our energy levels for the ride back.
But with an exhilarating ride back down Mt Stromlo, and the
wind behind us most of the way, this passed quite quickly,
returning to CSIT by noon.
- Ride-To-Work Breakfast (Oct 17):
This event was held at Veteran's Park Civic for the launch of the
Canberra Festival of Cycling, and pretty well attended. Although PP
holds such events several times per year, this was the 1st one I
attended. I met quite a few interesting people including the RTW
Co-Ordinator Tim Singh, who incidentally is a friend of Steven Blackburn
(a once and hopefully future member of DCS who has toured Europe by
bike). While a free breakfast was provided, it was more like snacks
than a proper meal.
- DCS Riders meet the Tharwa Challenge!
(Oct 28):
Yes, it was again our intrepid riders from the Cyclegaine who made it
on mountain bikes in under 5 hours... Again, they can fill you
in with details. Congratulations Sam and John!
This will be a relaxed bike ride around the western basin of Lake Burley
Griffin, meeting out the front of CSIT Building at 9:20am for a 9:30am
departure. Finishing at Tosolini's (Bailey's Corner), for coffee
and reminiscences!
A modest pace only; occasional riders (+ friends/family) welcome!
Hope to see you there!
Well thats it for these 2 months. Happy cycling! -Peter.
***** If you'd like to make a contribution to the next bulletin, *****
***** please email it to me by the end of Dec 2001 *****
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RTW: sponsored by Pedal Power, HealthPact,
ACT Heart Foundation & Mont Adventure Equipment
oooooooo Be Active for Life ! oooooooo
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