[Greens-Media] Premier fails bike test with underfunded plan

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
17 May 2010


Premier fails bike test with underfunded plan

Commenting on the NSW government’s bike plan, released yesterday one
year late, Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said
Premier Kristina Keneally’s work in this area has been a
disappointment as the plan is limited, underfunded and is a
reannouncement. (SMH, page 4, http://bit.ly/cgEMva)

“This new bike plan does little but cement NSW as a state stuck in the
cycling dark ages and is a kick in the teeth for those keen to grow
the cycling renaissance,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“Ms Keneally has not been the advocate for cycling many enthusiasts
had hoped for as the annual $15.8 million bike plan budget is below
the allocation proposed a decade ago and paltry in comparison to the
RTA’s total road budget.

"In 1999 Labor costed its Bike Plan 2010 at $25 million per annum. It
is a set back that the Premier could not even equal this amount.

"Today’s plan appears to be a reannouncement of the Metropolitan
Transport Plan released earlier this year that allocated $15.8 million
a year for ten years for Sydney cycling facilities.

“The statistics show Sydneysiders have a renewed interest in cycling,
but this plan  does little to promote bike riding which could do so
much towards reducing congestion and combating climate change.

"The paltry amount suggests Ms Keneally's love affair with bike riding
stops at providing sufficient funding to build world-class bike
infrastructure across NSW.

 “While those aspects of the bike plan that link up existing cycleways
is welcome this can barely be called a ‘plan’.

 “What Ms Keneally released today is short on vision. NSW needs a
statewide plan for cycling infrastructure with the resources quickly
allocated to deliver the network.

“The Greens back the call of many bike users that five per cent of the
road's budget should be earmarked for cycling infrastructure.

“And this money should be used for projects across NSW, not just in Sydney.

"Former NSW treasurer and well-know bike sceptic Michael Costa
dismantled some of the early work on the government’s Bike Plan 2010.

“Today’s announcement shows that the influence of Mr Costa still
lingers on, as the $15.8 million allocation effectively means a
reduced bike budget, something the former treasurer frequently
advocated.

“The way to erase the damage Mr Costa brought to cycling in NSW is to
provide the much needed funding boost," Ms Rhiannon said.

For information: Lee Rhiannon - 9230 3551, 0427 861 568
More information at -
http://leerhiannon.org.au/news/premiers-bike-love-affair-stops-at-funding