Worlds Most Rideable City.

[ribbert]

I live in Australia's second largest city, Melbourne. It has just been voted "Worlds Most Liveable City" for the 6th consecutive year (Aus and Canada each have 3 cities in the top ten) and it reminded me of why I see it as the Worlds Most Rideable City.

Although I live only 10 kms from the heart of the CBD, I don't have occasion to go in there much but when I do, this is where I park. Any footpath, in front of any building, all day, no fees, no exceptions, no restrictions. It extends to forecourts, parks etc., pretty much anywhere that won't obstruct traffic or pedestrian flow. Tens of thousands of riders do it every day and it's legal. Nudging my bike through wall to wall foot traffic in peak hour still feels wierd on the odd occasion I do it, particularly when you have uniformed copper standing next to waiting for the lights to change.



I imagine it would be impossible to try and introduce this anywhere in modern times but it has been this way in Melbourne since before anyone still walking the streets would recall and the pedestrians are as used to it as the riders.
Surprisingly there are virtually no complaints about the shared arrangement. There are broad Govt issued guidelines (what else could you have in the absence of defined parking areas) on parking, movement and pedestrian interaction but that's it. In summary it really just says, don't be a dickhead.

Add any form of lane splitting physically possible (whatever isn't strictly legal is ignored) and it makes riding very attractive if you ride into the city, but for me, that's the wrong direction!
The arrangement is also tolerated, if not actually endorsed, in all suburban areas as well.

Noel

[PaulG]

I think Toronto made that list too, but it has to be the most unrideable - even undriveable - city in North America.  They did make motorcycle parking on the street free for a couple of years but then recinded it.  I think the original reason was to have more people ride their bikes to downtown and alleviate some congestion.  Unfortunately hardly anyone rides a m/c in Toronto to make a mouse farts worth of difference, so I guess they got rid of it.  I avoid the downtown like the plague.  Usually take the subway if I really need to go there.

Parking on sidewalks/boulevards like that is strictly verboten.  Years ago I did that behind the Royal York Hotel, because I saw two other bikes parked there.  Later when I came out I saw a M/C cop sliding a ticket into my seat/tank space.  I asked him "Whats-the-deal?  There were two other bikes here before!"  He said "They had bike covers on.  I can't give them a ticket if they have a cover on.  It would be the same as opening up the door to your car and putting on your dash. Not allowed".  And with that he rode away into the darkness, leaving me with ticket in hand, and tumbleweeds rolling by in a spooky wind....

Over the last few years the city is on a kick to install bicycle lanes.  Nothing wrong with that, except a lot of the streets - esp downtown - have no room for them, thus creating more congestion - not less.  They virtually stopped public transit infrastructure in the '70's instead of continuously building like every other major "world class" city.  They are now spending billions trying to catch up with LRT's and subways.  Won't be ready for another 7 - 10 yrs.  Maybe then it would be an actual liveable city, not just a statisticians wet dream.  No offence to those statisticians who enjoy their wet dreams. 

If you live in or near cities like Melbourne count youself lucky.  Toronto has a lot to offer, but I often ask myself how did I end up here?  I was born and raised in a village of 450 people that still doesn't have a stoplight to this day.  I guess that DNA is hard to suppress.    

Kinda' went off on a rant there.  Fell much better now. 

[X-Ray]

I had no idea Noel, that is just fantastic. There is nothing like that allowed in Brisbane CBD thats for sure. Oh you might get 2 or 3 spots in town under an overpass or something, but free for all like you have, no way.

[4everFJ]

It is the same in Denmark.

Or rather, it was until resently. Unfortunately they have started to impose parking restrictions in the big cities. Now motorcycles are only allowed to park in car parking spaces... Since there is a lack of car parking spaces in most big cities, it doesn't make sense at all that a motorcycle now has to take up a full car park space (not allowed to park more than one motorcycle in a car park space...).

Oh yeah, and you of cource have to pay the full parking fee...

Go figure... 

[ribbert]

It is the same in Denmark.

Or rather, it was until resently. Unfortunately they have started to impose parking restrictions in the big cities. Now motorcycles are only allowed to park in car parking spaces... Since there is a lack of car parking spaces in most big cities, it doesn't make sense at all that a motorcycle now has to take up a full car park space (not allowed to park more than one motorcycle in a car park space...).

Oh yeah, and you of cource have to pay the full parking fee...

Go figure... 

Back in the 70's a City Councillor decided he didn't like the idea and made it his pet project, his legacy to the people of Melbourne, to put an end to it. In protest, thousands of bikes rode into the city centre early and took up most of the car parks (below) Job done!



In the year preceding his campaign there had not been a single complaint to the Council which is amazing.

In the 40 odd years since it has never been mentioned again and I think by now, with the popularity of bikes and scooters continuing to rise, putting all those riders in cars would just create more mayhem on the roads of an already congested city.

Did I mention also being exempt from Freeway tolls?  It's not unusual to hear of people spending up to $800 a month on tolls to drive to work and back each day.

Noel

[PaulG]

Did I mention also being exempt from Freeway tolls?  It's not unusual to hear of people spending up to $800 a month on tolls to drive to work and back each day.

Noel

Now you've done it....

The major toll road in the GTA is Hwy 407 which runs E/W for about 130km.  It was initially built by the province - then sold to a Spanish/Australian/Canadian consortium for pennies on the dollar with an unbreakable 99 yr lease, - and complete control over tolls without government intervention.

You all know how sleazy governments can get when they want some quick cash.  This article shows how we got Royally Shafted in the process.  Last month I used it on a Tues around 430pm (peak charge) for 93km at $0.38/km for a total ~ $36 for a one way trip + ~$10 in extra fees.  I only use it a few times a year to avoid the gridlock everywhere else when I head out west of the urban sprawl.  It has only abouy 1/4 the traffic load of the other freeways during rush hours , because most people can't afford it - or refuse to use it on principle.  The wife of a co-worker looked at using it for a 60km round trip commute to work - and it would have cost her $400/month.

We also have some recent HOV lanes to nowhere (they only last a few km) - do virtually nothing for congestion - and they won't allow motorcycles on them unless they have "at least" 2 people, just like cars.   

The latest brilliant idea is instituting HOT lanes - High Occupancy Toll lanes - the difference here being; you can pay extra through permits to use this lane if you are alone in the car.     They just had a lottery to buy permits even though no-one knows where the lanes will be.  How will they install these on a highway that is already 12-16 lanes wide in places?  Actually they won't.  They just eliminate the emergency shoulder on either side and squeeze in the extra lane. Ooohhhh I can't wait for this... 


Makes one want to emigrate to..... Alberta? California? Australia....? Finland! 

[moparman70]

WoW , Paul G

I grew up in the TO area and now reside in Cali.   I can't imagine moving back now because of some of the laws we have here in Cali -- soon Lane Splitting will be officially Legal ( having been "not Illegal' ) -- and we are allowed in Carpool -HOV lanes.   To have these avenues closed would soon become a burden as the amount of fines accumulated from being disobedient to the man would bankrupt me.