www.theage.com.au/national/bay-parking-ban-pumps-cyclists-deflates-residents-20100209-npqp.html

Cyclists Suck!!!

That's a crap result I agree. Regarding cyclists - in a pack they're a bloody nuisance and pretty dangerous, but no need to generalise. You have to remember that cyclists (individual or two abreast) actually have the same rights as cars on the road so the fact that they ride to the left and not in the middle of the centre lane is a bonus. At least this way when you're driving, you won't get stuck behind them on that stretch of road.

That said, it's typical of a council to make a decision without consulting all affected parties. So maybe we should be directing our anger towards them rather than the lycra junkies.

Did anyone know about this before it went to vote?

I think it's only 6am to 10am on weekend mornings and even then it's only on the mentone/rickett's pt stretch. And if you still really want to get out there you can pay for the car park.

...interesting outcome though...cyclists using a public road having accidents 'cos they're not paying attention or not properly in control and so the council ban the stationary cars that the cyclists crash into.

Based on that logic...hmmm....I walked into a telegraph pole once when I was drunk. I think we should dig up all telegraph poles and we can go back to writing letters to each other instead of calling on the landline. FFS!

Imagine if the windsurf lobby had as much clout as the cycling lobby. We'd all have council-funded boxes on every beach with gear all rigged-up ready to go :) hmmmm...now there's an idea....

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Bonominator said...

That's a crap result I agree. Regarding cyclists - in a pack they're a bloody nuisance and pretty dangerous, but no need to generalise. You have to remember that cyclists (individual or two abreast) actually have the same rights as cars on the road so the fact that they ride to the left and not in the middle of the centre lane is a bonus. At least this way when you're driving, you won't get stuck behind them on that stretch of road.

That said, it's typical of a council to make a decision without consulting all affected parties. So maybe we should be directing our anger towards them rather than the lycra junkies.

Did anyone know about this before it went to vote?

Couldn't they just make the normal beach parking free before 10am instead?

There got nothing better to do the council and the Cyclists. Why dont they all go get a life and take up windsurfing. Oh, it's windy lets go bike riding 7 days aweek. Why? cause it's fun working up a sweat getting real hot bike riding in the sun, what loosers. I would rather get fit windsurfing anyday, than ride a 5000 dollar push bike in the hot sun on a windy day, looosers. They wont spend $2000 on a windsurfer cause they say the sport is to dear, but when it comes to a push bike they will pull out a 10,000 check. I know so many guys like this who spend 5 to 10 grand on there flash pushys.

Based on that logic...hmmm....I walked into a telegraph pole once when I was drunk. I think we should dig up all telegraph poles and we can go back to writing letters to each other instead of calling on the landline. FFS!


A telegraph pole .._. .._ _._. _._

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kawindsurf said...

Why dont they all go get a life and take up windsurfing.

Bahahaha - awesome.

I got caught behind a huge pack, riding 2 across in both lanes. Legally they can do that.... so I sucked it up and patiently waited until "they" were ready to let me go past. Doesn't do much for my love of bike riders.

I understand that when they ride in a pack and parked cars are there they have to swerve into the other lane, and its at this point where the accidents occur...

I know the law says they can share the road as a typical vehicle, but think they are safer using bike tracks.

...just when I thought I had my parking sussed out for our morning Mentone sessions Jez.....

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kawindsurf said...

There got nothing better to do the council and the Cyclists. Why dont they all go get a life and take up windsurfing. Oh, it's windy lets go bike riding 7 days aweek. Why? cause it's fun working up a sweat getting real hot bike riding in the sun, what loosers. I would rather get fit windsurfing anyday, than ride a 5000 dollar push bike in the hot sun on a windy day, looosers. They wont spend $2000 on a windsurfer cause they say the sport is to dear, but when it comes to a push bike they will pull out a 10,000 check. I know so many guys like this who spend 5 to 10 grand on there flash pushys.

I cycle and windsurf. Cycle everyday to work. Windsurf whenever there is a fart of wind. My bike is worth 10c. I do wear lycra under my shorts for OH&S reasons....I might want to have more kids and enjoy sex.

I have to admit I dont care much for pack cyclits, the same way I dont care much for crowded waves and crowded waters like inverloch.

There is small stretch of beach road used by 9000+ cyclists on the weekends.

There are two massive Bays and extensive coast on our doorstep.

Perspective please.

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Rox said...My bike is worth 10c.

I'll give you 20c for it!

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I cycle and windsurf. Cycle everyday to work.

Me too. So I don't know whether I'm one of "them" or one of "us".

But the number of times it's blowing hard enough to go for a sail that early in the morning would be bugger-all.

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MikeyS said...

I cycle and windsurf. Cycle everyday to work.

Me too. So I don't know whether I'm one of "them" or one of "us".

But the number of times it's blowing hard enough to go for a sail that early in the morning would be bugger-all.

Your not one of them MickeyS, cause i know you like windsurfing to much a real pushy bike rider type bloke just does not give a dam about windsurfing, cause bike riding is allways on his mind

I've got no problem with it. Dendy is the only place I ever park on the road and I can't say I've ever parked there in the morning (sea breezes being afternoon things).

I don't thing the cyclists crash into parked cars. It's more having to pull out around them when all the stupid drivers are trying to do the same thing - especially the Kings of Anticipation drivers who pull in to undertake on the brow of a hill only to expect you to let them out when they find a parked car over the top of the hill. Idiots.

Oh dear, what venom.

Remember cyclists can be windsurfers and car-drivers too (perhaps even kiteboarders... no .. maybe not kiteboarders). Roads are paid for out of general tax revenue, to which everyone contributes, and they have as much right to use the public roads as anyone.

As far as parking goes - it would probably make more sense for the off-street car parks to be free and the on-road parking to be charged for - but lots of things aren't logical, especially when it comes to council politics and rules.

Incidentally, the issue of Beach Rd parking restrictions on Sunday mornings has been discussed for several years now. The idea was to benefit car drivers as much as cyclists: it allows free passage in the right lane for cars because cyclists are able to stay in the left lane (of course not all cyclists are reasonable here, as KDog unfortunately experienced).

How about a bit of consideration for people who choose other activities, perhaps in addition to windsurfing? After all, we expect that of others.

Hehe I'm a cyclist..... but knowing that I'm essentially riding a oversized coat hanger and that the only protection I have is a plastic bowl on my my head I do tend to be quite..... 'respectful'..... of tanks..... I mean cars. So I always let cars past and I ESPECIALLY let windsurfers past..... (if that should ever happen down the Nepean Highway :S)

I would give up my bike to windsurf any day though!

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K Dog said...

Bahahaha - awesome.

I got caught behind a huge pack, riding 2 across in both lanes. Legally they can do that.... so I sucked it up and patiently waited until "they" were ready to let me go past. Doesn't do much for my love of bike riders.

I don't think they can use use two lanes all the time. From the Victorian road rules: "Riders must not ride more than two abreast. If riding two abreast, riders must not ride more than 1.5 metres from the other rider." Plus there is a "you must drive as close to the left as you can" rule. But I suppose they can use both lanes when overtaking, turning right etc.

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K Dog said...

I understand that when they ride in a pack and parked cars are there they have to swerve into the other lane, and its at this point where the accidents occur...

Bicycles, like cars, must give way when changing marked lanes to vehicles already in that lane. I find it amazing that many people don't even look over their shoulder when they go around parked cars. I always look cause I don't want to get run over.

Don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely in favour of better conditions for bicycles on the roads. But why only for people that appear to be under the impression they are riding in the tour de france instead of on a public road? When will they improve things for ordinary riders like me that just ride to the train station, shops etc. No bycicle paths here... Maybe I should buy some lycra .

I ride on the road a lot, some cyclists do the wrong thing and treat the road as a bit of a playground, esp the w/end warriors on Beach Rd. Parking restrictions might be sensible for the benefit of drivers & riders, kind of like the clearway during peak times.

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MikeyS said...

I cycle and windsurf. Cycle everyday to work.

Me too. So I don't know whether I'm one of "them" or one of "us".

But the number of times it's blowing hard enough to go for a sail that early in the morning would be bugger-all.

Me three...

And completely agree; you could count the number of times i've been windsurfing on the bay between 6 and 10am on a weekend by starting at 1 and working backwards... (and i've windsurfed hundreds of times on the bay over the last few years; http://www.earthsci.unimelb.edu.au/~awatkins/Sailing-Days.txt )

As a little aside though, I did get a very early morning sail at a new and as yet undiscovered flatwater location in East Gippsland a few weeks ago. After we got evacuated from Wingan Inlet (near Mallacoota) four hours after setting up camp due to fires, we ended up at Tamboon Inlet, south of Cann River. Has a few great flatwater sails in up to 30kts over the time we were there, camping 50 meters from the inlet. Woke up at 5:30am on the day we were to leave, couldn't get back to sleep because of the noise from the wind in the trees, so there was only one thing to do-get up and go for one last blast. Nothin better for removing sleepy glue from the eyes than a good salt-water rinse.
Had enough by 7am and sailed back to camp - still no-one else up.
So I highly recommend early morning blasts, if it's blowing of course. I also recommend starting the day off with a cleansing beer (only on camping holidays though), especially after an early morning sail to counteract the taste of salt. But that's another story.

You're right KA. I'd never be that enthusiastic about getting up so early to go for a bike ride, especially in a 25kt wind.

i cycle for my job........

cycling can be sometimes mored exciting than windsurfing.......

I also Cycle and Windsurf, and yeah sometimes I do the beach road thing if it looks like there's not going to be wind. I tend to go a bit later at like about 10 cause frankly I can't be bothered getting out of bed that early on a weekend, unless escaping last nights hook up at some early time of the morning.

I kinda think the ruling is overkill. Logically no one should be running into parked cars. That is usually a consequence of either the pack being too large or passing cars are intimidating the cyclist closer and closer to the park cars.

I really think they should limit pack sizes to say 8. It's when you have large packs that they spill out into other lanes or force one of their own into a parked car (if it's not a parked car then it will be the curb). As another cyclist (generally one of the faster ones), I find the large packs difficult to overtake, which is why I get forced out into the other lane. Otherwise I get stuck behind a group doing 27 Kmph when I could be sitting on 35kmph (or faster if I see people rigging up).

There are a couple of places where the road is one lane with a shoulder that are always going to be a problem unless they widen the road (e.g. corner of Charman Rd and Beach Rd). Personally I can't see these rules affecting me as cyclist or a road user / windsurfer, because I'm not going to be down there much before 10 either way.

Generally I've found riding along this Rd to be alright, except for the occasional section where some car users (generally seem to be locals in 4WD) like to try to push you off the Rd - they actually veer closer on purpose. Although this is still not as intimidating as riding on country Hwy's with semi's going past at 100 Kmph (you have to lean away to avoid getting sucked under the trailer).

There does need to be more parking available along the beach rd during summer at least. Beach goers trying to find parking near Dendy street is a major source of congestion. I actually got a parking fine this summer when I went for a swim at Dendy St, parking on the Rd in what was a clear way after 4. Being on holidays, I totally forgot what day it was and subsequently got a fine with about 300 other people who did the same thing. There was actually no where else to park anyway, which illustrates my point. There is not enough parking already. The new ruling may actually improve this, because there won't be residents cars sitting in the one spot all weekend, so beach goers visitors may actually have somewhere to park.

I still think windsurfers should be able to get some sort of seasonal parking pass or something for all bayside beach areas. $7 parking for more than 2 hours for a group that uses the beach all year round is just ridiculous and even then on a hot day in summer you still can't get a park when going for a sail. I actually resorted to scanning and fabricating my own paid parking tickets for awhile.

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Hucker said...


I still think windsurfers should be able to get some sort of seasonal parking pass or something for all bayside beach areas. $7 parking for more than 2 hours for a group that uses the beach all year round is just ridiculous and even then on a hot day in summer you still can't get a park when going for a sail. I actually resorted to scanning and fabricating my own paid parking tickets for awhile.

$165 and its yours - see:
http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/parking_beach_parking_permits.htm

...the other option is, as i did, fork out the dollars for a house in bayside and get 2 for free!

I had a cyclist go through the back windscreen of my car whilst out windsufing at Hampton earlier this season. Best thing ever. Got paid $2400 from his insurance, fixed it myself (rough job/old bomb) and made $1800 profit. Went and bought a newish FSW. Thanks cyclist. Hope to get hit again.
(n.b cyclist survived with a few cuts and bruises)