The Fraser Coast BUG have sent an invitation to Toowoomba BUGsters inviting us over there on
3&4 May 2008 for their 'River to River Ride'.
That's Burrum River to River Heads.
We can send you their flyer if you email requesting 'Fraser BUG' us at:
toowoombabug@gmail.com
Or contact Fraser Coast BUG.
Web page: www.fcbug.org.au
Email: bicycleusersgroup@yahoo.com
Please note that you cannot email from the BLOG site addresses here- you have to email from your mailing account so just cutnpsate the addresses.
And the Fraser Coast web page does work, but again you'll have to cutnpaste it into your browser to work, apologies and the reasons are not obvious here.
Monday, 31 March 2008
Travel hints
This web site is worth a visit if you're thinking of cycling in China. There are no prices available on the web page, it's from the Chinese Embassy site, but if you contact the tours directly they can provide you with the details.
See here: Cycle in China-
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/tour/bicycle/
See here: Cycle in China-
http://www.travelchinaguide
Bicycle training this weekend
Skills Training ... Open Invite on behalf of the TWBA TRI CLUB.
This short course is being run by the I-Ride staff on behalf of the Toowoomba Tri athletes Club.
New riders, parents, kids and seasoned cyclists, Darren & Peter will be hosting a practical skills session next Saturday 5th April ... this is a good chance to learn how to handle your bike properly OR brush up on a few basic skills you seem to have forgotten.
DATE- 5 April Saturday 2008
TIME - 9am SHARP to 11am
COST -$10 each $5 tri club members.
WHERE -JAHNKE TRANSPORT, Tait St opposite the hockey grounds (Boundary Rd)
YOU - Bike, helmet, shoes, water, sunnies ... desire to learn more.
About 15 riders attended the last session put on by the TRI CLUB and I am happy to say there were 15 safer riders on the road after the class.
Thanks to the TRI CLUB as well.
This short course is being run by the I-Ride staff on behalf of the Toowoomba Tri athletes Club.
New riders, parents, kids and seasoned cyclists, Darren & Peter will be hosting a practical skills session next Saturday 5th April ... this is a good chance to learn how to handle your bike properly OR brush up on a few basic skills you seem to have forgotten.
DATE- 5 April Saturday 2008
TIME - 9am SHARP to 11am
COST -$10 each $5 tri club members.
WHERE -JAHNKE TRANSPORT, Tait St opposite the hockey grounds (Boundary Rd)
YOU - Bike, helmet, shoes, water, sunnies ... desire to learn more.
About 15 riders attended the last session put on by the TRI CLUB and I am happy to say there were 15 safer riders on the road after the class.
Thanks to the TRI CLUB as well.
Sunday, 16 March 2008
16 March but 19 riders leave town
On a slightly overcast morning 19 riders gathered at the Art Gallery gardens in anticipation of the Cambooya ride.
New riders again this month, welcome to all of you.
The prize for 'Most determined rider' must go to Rita-may who persevered with her borrowed stead, complete with 'clunking' stand, and is still determined to go and buy a 'real' hybrid bike for next months ride.
Two riders peeled off at pre-determined stages and 17 riders returned to the same hitching post area to coffee at the Oxygen Cafe.
New rides were discussed along with the rising tide of anger many riders find out on the road. Sgt. Col O'Shea's visit and talk were very much on the mind of one rider who had been targeted by a ute driver on his way home from work.
The incident was over so fast no number plate could be taken this time.
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
Sunday 16 March Social Ride
The last ride, a tour of outer Toowoomba, had 20 riders including some new faces. A big welcome to Ritamay, Marion, Andrew, Lesleigh and Brett.
We have a longer ride this month, starting at the Oxygen Café and riding up Herries Street, along West Street to Anzac Avenue, then on to Drayton, Cambooya turn off, Wyreema and back to Drayton, making it an almost round 49 km.
There will be a 10 to 15 minute break at Cambooya Park where you can buy a cool drink at the local store or bring fruit or bar for a snack.
Our coffee stop will be at the return destination, the Oxygen Café.
Just a reminder that we are a Social Riding Group and if you are a fast rider please be prepared to wait, or double back.
Our main aim is to introduce people to riding so you can go on to bigger and better things, or just a social outing, with exercise.
Please invite a friend along, or let others know of it.
All new Toowoomba Regional Council members are invited to join the ride to test the roadways.
We will leave from the Oxygen Cafe at 7:00 am., on Sunday 16 March.
Looking forward to seeing you all.
Remember to bring sufficient water, phone, pump, repair kit or tube and suncream.
We have a longer ride this month, starting at the Oxygen Café and riding up Herries Street, along West Street to Anzac Avenue, then on to Drayton, Cambooya turn off, Wyreema and back to Drayton, making it an almost round 49 km.
There will be a 10 to 15 minute break at Cambooya Park where you can buy a cool drink at the local store or bring fruit or bar for a snack.
Our coffee stop will be at the return destination, the Oxygen Café.
Just a reminder that we are a Social Riding Group and if you are a fast rider please be prepared to wait, or double back.
Our main aim is to introduce people to riding so you can go on to bigger and better things, or just a social outing, with exercise.
Please invite a friend along, or let others know of it.
All new Toowoomba Regional Council members are invited to join the ride to test the roadways.
We will leave from the Oxygen Cafe at 7:00 am., on Sunday 16 March.
Looking forward to seeing you all.
Remember to bring sufficient water, phone, pump, repair kit or tube and suncream.
Sunday, 9 March 2008
TBUGs '10 Questions' for TRC candidates
TRC Mayoral Candidates
None of the mayoral candidates returned the survey questions.
Peter Taylor was the only candidate to attend the meeting where he expressed considerable support for cycling overall, the objectives of T-BUG and the importance of the Bicycle Advisory Committee that T-BUG has been promoting to the old TCC.
Questions 10, 10a, 10b
We have decided against posting the response to questions 10, 10a and 10b for all candidates. Unfortunately, most candidates misunderstood the question and thought we were asking if they would commit to 'riding to work' when we simply asked them whether they either rode on a regular basis or would take up riding on a regular basis should they be elected. The truth is, most candidates reflect their age groups in the wider community, most of whom do not ride. The real value of this question was to get the TRC candidates to think about it rather than the almost inevitable answers that surfaced.
Returned surveys
The following candidates returned the '10 Questions' answering 'Yes' to all questions from 1-9:
Alroe
Antonio
Bourke
Englart
Ledbury
Michael
Schuster
Sullivan
Williams
The following candidates answered 'Yes' to most questions but 'No' to those adjacent to their names:
Huxley: 9
Marks: 5, 6
C. Taylor: 6, 7
The following candidate, Orford, answered 'Yes' to: 1, 4, 6, and left the rest blank.
The following TRC candidates did not respond to the questions but gave their support to cycling in general and the aims and objectives of the T-BUG and the need for the BAC:
Barron
Cahill
Frizzell
Glasheen
Ramia
Schneider
In addition, candidate Cahill sought out a BUG representative to spend some considerable time with discussing both the BUG objectives and his views on cycling, of which he was very supportive.
Who attended the 9 March meeting?
There were 16 TRC candidates who attended the 9 March meeting:
Alroe, Barron, Beer, Cahill, Englart, Frizzell,Huxley, Ledbury, Marks, Michael, Orford, Smith, Sorenson, Williams, Yeates, (Peter) Taylor.
Conclusions
You have to make your own mind up on who to vote for using this information in conjunction with your other research on all these TRC hopefuls.
What were the '10 Questions' again?
T-BUGs ten questions for TRC candidates
1) Will you support Toowoomba’s growing cycling fraternity, by taking a leading role in the improvement of road safety and infrastructure, as outlined in the current TCC 'cycle strategy'?
2) Do you agree that the new regional council has a responsibility to participate in all aspects of national, state and local cycle policy and strategies?
3) Are you prepared to support the implementation of the current TCC 'cycle strategy' action points?
4) Should TRC help make this a cycle-safe and cycle-friendly region?
5) Can you support the Toowoomba BUGs 3Rs community awareness campaign, in relation to 'road user behaviour '?
[3Rs = same Road, same Rules, same Responsibilities] - for all road users
6) Do you support formation of the Toowoomba Bicycle Advisory Committee ensuring cooperation between TRC, relevant government agencies and the Toowoomba Bicycle Users Group?
7) Do you support the community ideals as expressed within the TCC 2050 Plan?
8) Are you aware of the importance of 'end of journey facilities' to commuting cyclists, in encouraging more people to ride to work?
9) Are you aware of the need for increased secure bicycle parking throughout the TRC area?
10) Do you regularly ride a bicycle?
If No: If elected, are you prepared to start riding a bicycle on a regular basis, promoting the environmental, economic, social and health benefits of this alternative, efficient, low cost, low impact means of travel?
If Yes: If elected, are you prepared to keep riding a bicycle on a regular basis promoting the environmental, economic, social and health benefits of this alternative, efficient, low cost, low impact means of travel?
None of the mayoral candidates returned the survey questions.
Peter Taylor was the only candidate to attend the meeting where he expressed considerable support for cycling overall, the objectives of T-BUG and the importance of the Bicycle Advisory Committee that T-BUG has been promoting to the old TCC.
Questions 10, 10a, 10b
We have decided against posting the response to questions 10, 10a and 10b for all candidates. Unfortunately, most candidates misunderstood the question and thought we were asking if they would commit to 'riding to work' when we simply asked them whether they either rode on a regular basis or would take up riding on a regular basis should they be elected. The truth is, most candidates reflect their age groups in the wider community, most of whom do not ride. The real value of this question was to get the TRC candidates to think about it rather than the almost inevitable answers that surfaced.
Returned surveys
The following candidates returned the '10 Questions' answering 'Yes' to all questions from 1-9:
Alroe
Antonio
Bourke
Englart
Ledbury
Michael
Schuster
Sullivan
Williams
The following candidates answered 'Yes' to most questions but 'No' to those adjacent to their names:
Huxley: 9
Marks: 5, 6
C. Taylor: 6, 7
The following candidate, Orford, answered 'Yes' to: 1, 4, 6, and left the rest blank.
The following TRC candidates did not respond to the questions but gave their support to cycling in general and the aims and objectives of the T-BUG and the need for the BAC:
Barron
Cahill
Frizzell
Glasheen
Ramia
Schneider
In addition, candidate Cahill sought out a BUG representative to spend some considerable time with discussing both the BUG objectives and his views on cycling, of which he was very supportive.
Who attended the 9 March meeting?
There were 16 TRC candidates who attended the 9 March meeting:
Alroe, Barron, Beer, Cahill, Englart, Frizzell,Huxley, Ledbury, Marks, Michael, Orford, Smith, Sorenson, Williams, Yeates, (Peter) Taylor.
Conclusions
You have to make your own mind up on who to vote for using this information in conjunction with your other research on all these TRC hopefuls.
What were the '10 Questions' again?
T-BUGs ten questions for TRC candidates
1) Will you support Toowoomba’s growing cycling fraternity, by taking a leading role in the improvement of road safety and infrastructure, as outlined in the current TCC 'cycle strategy'?
2) Do you agree that the new regional council has a responsibility to participate in all aspects of national, state and local cycle policy and strategies?
3) Are you prepared to support the implementation of the current TCC 'cycle strategy' action points?
4) Should TRC help make this a cycle-safe and cycle-friendly region?
5) Can you support the Toowoomba BUGs 3Rs community awareness campaign, in relation to 'road user behaviour '?
[3Rs = same Road, same Rules, same Responsibilities] - for all road users
6) Do you support formation of the Toowoomba Bicycle Advisory Committee ensuring cooperation between TRC, relevant government agencies and the Toowoomba Bicycle Users Group?
7) Do you support the community ideals as expressed within the TCC 2050 Plan?
8) Are you aware of the importance of 'end of journey facilities' to commuting cyclists, in encouraging more people to ride to work?
9) Are you aware of the need for increased secure bicycle parking throughout the TRC area?
10) Do you regularly ride a bicycle?
If No: If elected, are you prepared to start riding a bicycle on a regular basis, promoting the environmental, economic, social and health benefits of this alternative, efficient, low cost, low impact means of travel?
If Yes: If elected, are you prepared to keep riding a bicycle on a regular basis promoting the environmental, economic, social and health benefits of this alternative, efficient, low cost, low impact means of travel?
Toowoomba BUG meets TRC candidates
Cycling received strong support from sixteen Toowoomba regional council candidates who met with local cyclists today. Candidates came from across the region.
Interspersed between childhood memories of bike riding, including daring range descents and even more daring returns, the council candidates all expressed their support for the major aims and objectives of the Toowoomba Bicycle Users Group (T-BUG), according to TBUG co-ordinator David Allworth.
“T-BUG is very pleased to see candidates indicated their intention to progress the current Toowoomba Pedestrian and Cycle Strategy at a faster pace,” Mr Allworth said.
“We would be looking for the principles of this strategy to be applied across the region,” he said.
“The only mayoral candidate present, Mr. Peter Taylor, supported not only general improvements to cycling infrastructure but progressing a regional response to ensure cycling takes its rightful place as part of the solution to concerns, such as high fuel prices, personal health issues and greenhouse reduction targets,” he said.
Mr Allworth said: “Candidates clearly understood the concerns of city based cyclists as well as being aware of the difficulties posed by too narrow roads outside the city limits.”
“Pleasingly, it looks as if the new council will progress the recommendation from the outgoing Toowoomba City Council that a Bicycle Advisory Committee be formed, if these candidates are anything to go by,” he said.
“For our part, we hope to encourage the outlying towns in the new regional council area to create their own BUGs to work with us to ensure as much thought goes into cycle related matters in, say, Crows Nest, Highfields, Pittsworth, Clifton and Oakey as there clearly will be in Toowoomba.
“Anyone wanting details of how to start a BUG in any town or workplace should contact us by email at: toowoombabug@gmail.com,” Mr Allworth said.
"One of theT-BUG objectives is to build a network of BUGs across the region, to ensure all politicians work to shift the current emphasis of roads-for-cars to roads-for-all-users," Mr. Allworth said.
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