June’s Critical Mass started at Fed Square. Image credit: Faith Hunter.
I'm not here because I'm a cyclist.
I'm here because I'm a citizen.
Because I'm a taxpayer.
Because I'm a parent.
And because I'm outraged that our state and local governments continue to endanger me and my family by refusing to invest in separated bike lanes and accessible public transport.
I'm outraged by the hypocrisy of government rhetoric about active transport and no meaningful expansion of people-centric infrastructure.
A video showing bikes from behind with blinking red lights. In the centre of the shot is a woman on a trike. Credit: Faith Hunter.
My family and i are doing our bit for this city by deliberately not having a car,
by living in and contributing to a 20-minute neighbourhood.
But the state and local governments do not make this easy for us.
They do not make it affordable.
And they do not make it safe.
For all the money being pumped into roadworks and the level crossing removal projects, the narrative is still around improving safety and convenience for cars.
But my bike IS my car.
I use my bike - this bike - to take the kids to and from school and daycare every day.
I ride this bike to and from work.
I ride this bike to and from the shops.
I ride this bike to and from parks and picnics and parties.
I ride this bike for exercise.
I ride this bike to clear my head.
And i ride this bike as a statement of my commitment to being the change that i want to see in the world.
But i ride scared.
I ride scared of being hit by a car on Melbourne's major thoroughfares that do not have separated bike lanes.
I ride scared of being doored on smaller, residential streets that i need to ride on to get to the major thoroughfares.
I ride scared of hitting a pedestrian on the shared bike and pedestrian paths.
I ride scared of getting pulled up for riding on a busy footpath because i have no safe alternatives.
But this isn't about me.
This is about us all Melbournians, whether we are here tonight or not.
Separated bike lanes protect everyone.
Nobody wants to be the cyclist hit by a car.
But also nobody wants to be the driver who hits a bike.
Even if you yourself have no interest in riding, chances are you order food or groceries that are delivered on a bike or scooter. Don't you want them to get to your door safely?
Traditional bike lift down at Kerferd Rd Pier! Image credit: Freya Clough.
More separated bike lanes means fewer bikes and scooters weaving in and out of traffic, endangering us all.
And there are going to be more and more bikes and scooters on our roads.
There already are!
Janet Bolitho addresses Critical Mass at Kerferd Rd Pier.
The increase in bikes and scooters in our city is not just because of greenies like me wanting to reduce their carbon footprint.
It's because of everyone who can no longer afford to have a car.
It's because of the boom in businesses using bikes and scooters for deliveries.
It's because of the expansion of ebike and escooter rental schemes.
It's because having wide-spread, accessible, and safe active transport options makes sense for a dense, modern, and flat city like Melbourne.
This shouldn't be a problem.
This should be an opportunity.
It should be an opportunity for our state government and local councils to put our money where their mouth is;
to prioritise active transport;
to listen to us citizens, us voters, us taxpayers, us drivers, when we say we need an extensive fit-for-purpose network of separated bike lanes across all of Melbourne.
Paula giving her speech at Kerferd Rd Pier. Photo credit: Danielle RG.
And we need it now!
Thank you.