Posts by Phil Latz
Adelaide’s Bad Decision is Just a Symptom of Deeper Issues
Australia’s Turn Next?
Major Expansion of 40 kph Zones in Canberra
Critical Missing Link Receives $1.5 Million in Funding
German Sales Point to Future Growth Potential in Australia
Key Cycling Organisations Present United Front
Bike and Scooter Share is Booming in Darwin
When Will Our Governments Start Joining the Dots?
In this article I’ll look at two recent decisions by two different governments, that are equally disturbing for a slightly differing set of reasons.
Banning Scooter Trials: Andrew Constance has deep roots in the Bega region on NSW’s far south coast. In the 1860’s his great-great-grandfather, James Constance, drove a team of bullocks through the Bega Valley and settled there as a bush pioneer until his death in 1912. Andrew Constance told this story in greater detail during his maiden speech to the NSW parliament on 21st May 2003.
In that same maiden speech he said, “The broader policy questions about the environment mean surely it is time to dare our Government and citizens to consider every option…”
A Wheelie Good Rack!
Bicycle parking is a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to encouraging more people to ride. But before anyone starts drilling holes in public space to install ‘permanent’ bike parking hoops, enclosures or other facilities, they have to jump through expensive hoops themselves in terms of approvals, ensuring they’re not potentially disrupting any underground utilities and so on.
These costs, combined with uncertainty amongst the relevant authorities that the parking would be regularly used, often leads to inaction. No parking leads to less riding and so the vicious cycle repeats.
Australian Ingenuity Creates World Leading Ebike Racks
Due to their extra size and weight, Ebikes can present design challenges when it comes to transporting them on the back of a vehicle. But Australian manufacturer GripSport has come up with unique solutions to these challenges.
From modest beginnings in founder Jon Weaving’s backyard workshop back in 1998, GripSport is now quite probably the largest bicycle related manufacturing business in Australia. It now occupies three adjacent factory units in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, where it’s highly skilled and experienced team employ the latest design technology and even robot fabrication of some components.
This expertise in design and manufacture shows though in their latest GSE racks that carry two ebikes weighing up to 30 kg each.