NSW State Election 2019 – Cycling asks & candidate responses – Vaucluse electorate

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Funding for the Regional Bike Route Network

The NSW Liberal Party has committed $330 million to the development of bike route network (over the next 5 years) while the Labor Party has promised $412 million for ‘active transport’ projects (over the next 5 years).

Will you lobby to ensure that the higher of these two commitments are actually delivered in the next term of government?

BIKEast’s priorities include the development of an Inner Sydney Regional Cycle network and similar initiatives aligned with the State Government’s Sydney Cycling Future and Greater Sydney Commission’s Green Grid to improve regional route connectivity.

Do you support the development of this network and, specifically, can you assure us that you will lobby for the following projects in the next term of government?

  • Construction of the Bondi Junction cycleway proposed by Waverley Council – between Centennial Park (York Rd) and Bondi Junction (Bondi Rd).
  • Construction of a high-standard bike route along New South Head Rd between South
    Double Bay (William St) and Rose Bay (Newcastle St).
  • Upgrade of the intersection of Oxford St, Lang Rd, Moore Park Rd and Queen St
    (Paddington Gate Project).
  • Initiation of planning/consultation for a safe, high-standard bike route along New South Head Rd between Double Bay (William St) and Edgecliff Centre.
  • Initiation of planning/consultation for a high-standard bike route along O’Sullivan Rd
    between Rose Bay (New South Head Rd) and Bondi Beach (Campbell Pde).
  • Initiation of planning/consultation for a high-standard bike route along Birriga Rd
    between Bellevue Hill (Victoria Rd) and North Bondi (Old South Head Rd).
  • Wayfinding study and installation of signage for the Eastern Sydney Bays & Beaches
    Route (scenic coastal bike route) between Double Bay, Watsons Bay and South Bondi.

Will you lobby for funding to support the Safe-Streets Neighbourhood approach and similar strategies to encourage active travel in your electorate?

Will you lobby for funding to support strategies to encourage more children to walk and ride to school?

Candidate responses

Deb Doyle (Animal Justice)

Hi, Adrian, Mark and Yvonne.

I’m Deb Doyle, the Animal Justice Party candidate for Vaucluse.
Having read and absorbed the two-page letter and questionnaire, I can assert that my answer to all four questions is yes.
I lived and worked in Melbourne between 1986 and 2003 and loved riding my bike around the inner northern suburbs and all around the city. The bike paths were wide and well connected, and the streets were flat and had very few hills. It’s a different situation in Sydney, as you’d well know. I had to give up cycling on the side of the road and on the footpath because I valued my life and dignity too much and had nearly been clipped by a car and truck one time too many.
My only concern in relation to any section of bike path is that it be wide enough for the cyclist to feel safe without having to hug the gutter too closely.
The four values the Animal Justice Party holds most dear are kindness, equality, rationality and non-violence. BIKEast’s policies are clearly aligned with these principles, which is why I’ve answered all four of your survey questions in the affirmative.
I look forward to resuming my cycling when your sensible initiatives have become a reality.
Best wishes from Deb

Gabrielle Upton (Liberal)

Dear Mark
It was good to speak to you last week. Thank you for your strong advocacy for cyclists in our local area. As a regular cyclist myself I understand these issues and want safe and accessible cycling across the Vaucluse electorate.
Firstly, it is great that earlier this month the NSW Government promised to double the spending on bike and pedestrian paths.
Secondly, I wanted to reply to your March 2019 letter with some comments specifically about the Vaucluse electorate.
I am really pleased that as part of the Edgecliff Station upgrade we been able to better integrate amenity for cyclists. These are small but important steps toward building an integrated transport network in our neighbourhood.
There is also the $1 million I secured from the NSW Government in the 2018-19 Budget so Woollahra Council can roll out the Rose Bay to Double Bay cycleway. I am closely tracking progress on this initiative with the Council. I believe they could move forward more quickly and to that end I recently wrote to the Mayor to urge the Council to do so. Making sure the cycleway is delivered is a major priority for me and then for a safe bike route from Double Bay to Edgecliff Station.
I fully support the O’Sullivan Road, Rose Bay to Campbell Parade, Bondi bike route. I also ride this route frequently so I was pleased to see that Woollahra Council recently agreed to detailed design and community consultation on Option A. I look forward to helping them and Waverley Council make a strong argument to Roads and Maritime Services for some funding to support its rollout.
I cycled the bike path that hugs the northern boundary of Centennial Park this morning and know what a difference it makes to my own sense of safety. So it was good to hear last week that the NSW Government will fund the ‘missing link’ through to the CBD.
I am very happy to hear from you about other initiatives in the Vaucluse electorate such as the Birriga Road (between Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill) and North Bondi (Old South Head Road) bike route.
I also attach a link to a short video I put together to show the ways I have been able to support my local community.
As always, I thank you for the work you do in our community to make sure the voice of all cyclists are heard and considered at all levels of government.
Regards
Gabrielle

Megan McEwin (Greens)

Will you lobby to ensure that the higher of these two commitments are actually delivered in the next term of government?

Yes, without sufficient State government funding, Councils simply will not build safe bike paths.

Do you support the development of this network and, specifically, can you assure us that you will lobby for the following projects in the next term of government?

Yes, I strongly support the development of this network at a minimum. As a Councillor, I worked with my fellow Councillors to initiate the Rose Bay ferry to Bondi beach bike path along O’Sullivan road. I think this will be an iconic bike ride for tourists as well as a vital active transport link that will enable locals to get to the ferry and the beach without a car. I am working to have this funded and built in the next year.

In addition, I will continue to push for an integrated network of bike paths that will deliver a safe, separated bike path to every school and transport hub.

Will you lobby for funding to support the Safe-Streets Neighbourhood approach and similar strategies to encourage active travel in Vaucluse?

Yes, this is not only good for cyclists but good for local residents who are sick of drivers racing through their local streets. This speed limit must actively be enforced by police.

Will you lobby for funding to support strategies to encourage more children to walk and ride to school?

Yes, absolutely. We need safe, separated bike paths to every school. I am pushing for this as a Councillor and will continue to push for this if elected as the member for Vaucluse. School drop offs are one of a leading cause of congestion on our roads. Also, riding to school is fun and should be a right of passage for kids.

Cheers

Megan

Mark Macsmith (Keep Sydney Open)

Miriam Guttman-Jones (Independent)

Kay Dunne (Sustainable Australia)

Lenore Kulakauskas (Labor)

Ciaran O’Brien (Small Business Party)

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Yvonne

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Yvonne is passionate about making sustainable transport easier for everyone in Sydney, and in particular, getting more beginners, especially women, on bikes.