Sunday, 14 February 2016
FIONA BLAIR
CITY OF PORT PHILLIP
Dear Ms Blair.
Our responses are in your text.
Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders Group
On 15/02/2016 2:37 PM, Fiona Blair wrote:
Dear Damien
Thank you for your enquiry. Councillor Thomann has read your email and
requested I respond on behalf of council.
The City of Port Phillip and Victoria Police have received many
complaints in recent times regarding the large number of motorcycles
regularly parking on footways in the vicinity of O’Donnell Gardens,
specifically the entrance to Luna Park and the footpath area adjacent to
The Vineyard.
DC - We know of the complaint about motorcycles & scooters parking on
the LUNA PARK forecourt. We have spoken with LUNA PARK's Manager
Matthew Butta and asked the City of Port Phillip for a meeting so
stakeholders and council can find a real solution to this problem. No
response from CoPP on this.
We have been given no information on the "many complaints in recent
times regarding the large number of motorcycles regularly parking on
footways". Please inform us the number of complaints you define as
"many". Were they written or verbal? What were the actual complaints?
There is no privacy issue here because we do not want personal details
of the complainants, just the facts of the complaints. How many? What
date and time. What location? When dealing with these issues the City
of Melbourne Motorcycles Committee asks all these questions and
consults with stakeholders so we are not asking anything unreasonable
of the City of Port Phillip.
In addition to these complaints, Council has also been contacted with
concerns relating to excessive noise from motorcycles disturbing the general
amenity of the area. These complaints have been referred to Victoria Police and
the EPA.
DC - We do not see how noise complaints effect parking unless
CoPP/police use lack of parking to make it more difficult for all
riders to visit St Kilda. Excessive noise can and should be controlled
by police and the EPA, that's their job.
So the record is straight, audible conspicuity is a fact. Some engine
sound from a motorbike or scooter in traffic makes car drivers aware
of the presence of a rider nearby. That's primary safety. Having said
that, extremely loud exhaust pipes and engines revved by show offs
gives all riders a bad name just as soccer hooligans are bad for that
sport. The appropriate authorities have the tools to deal with
excessive noise. In St Kilda it seems, they don't.
The current motorcycle parking restrictions were implemented recently .....
DC - Without consultation with stakeholders, not the riders nor the
businesses. Given the amount of contact the IRG has had with CoPP in
the last 3 years it almost seems this move was kept quiet.
to ensure our footpaths remain accessible for pedestrians and not impeded
by motorcyclists riding and parking on designated pedestrian zones.
DC - What designated pedestrian zones? My advice is that state law
says in effect that riders may park their bikes on footpaths provided
they do not block car doors from opening, impede pedestrian traffic or
hinder access to a business. It is common sense and it has worked for
the good of all for 30 years (1986/87) in Victoria. Motorcycle &
scooter riders are not allowed to ride on footpaths. If that is a
problem, which we doubt, then again lack of enforcement of existing
laws is to blame and this can be remedied.
Council has a responsibility to ensure this highly concentrated pedestrian
area is a safe place for all.
DC - Council has a responsibility to ensure this highly concentrated
pedestrian area is a safe place for all, including visiting motorcycle
& scooter riders, bicyclists (who also park on footpaths in the area)
and business operators and their staff.
The No Standing signage has been introduced on a trial basis and will be
conducted for a period of 6 months. The effectiveness of the signage
will be evaluated at the end of this term.
DC - First we were told the signs were temporary while the St Kilda
Festival was on. That was not correct. Then we were told they were
permanent. That was not correct. Now we are told the ban is for a six
month trial begun with no consultation or prior notice. How will the
effectiveness of the signage be evaluated? Bikes are banned for 6
months so no one parks there then CoPP/police say well the signs
worked so they stay. That is not a trial. Who will evaluate this so
called trial?
Council believes this recent No Standing control relates to a very small
and concentrated area.
DC - Once a council flouts the intent of the Victorian motorcycle &
scooter footpath parking law, with no consultation or input from
stakeholders, it will spread.
I trust this clarifies Council’s position and we look forward to your
support in maintaining St Kilda as a safe place for all.
DC - Your email makes the council's position very clear indeed.
Regards
Fiona
City of Port Phillip
Posted by Damien Codognotto OAM at 21:54 No comments:
POLICE REQUEST MC FOOTPATH PARKING BAN
FOOTPATH PARKING BAN
FOR MOTORCYCLES & SCOOTERS IN ST KILDA!
PROTEST NEXT SUNDAY!
Please share/twitter/email this post to as many riders as you can and encourage them to attend this protest if they can.
Here's what the Independent Riders Group has managed to find out so far. None of this is in writing so there could be changes but here's what we think we know.
The signs banning bike footpath parking in the City of Port Phillip went up mid February. The signs cover the whole block around LUNA PARK in St Kilda bounded by Shakespeare Grove, Acland Street, Cavell Street and Jacka Boulevarde.
The signs were put up after a request from St Kilda Police to the CoPP. There was no problem with motorcycle & scooter footpath parking except for the forecourt in front of LUNA PARK and the corner near the Vineyard Restaurant which gets a bit untidy. There was no consultation with stakeholders in spite of requests for a CoPP/Police/stakeholders meeting on bike parking.
Local businesses, including LUNA PARK, were as surprised as the Independent Riders Group when the signs appeared.
First we were told the signs were only up for the St Kilda Festival. Not true.
Then we were told the signs were permanent. Not yet true.
Today (15/2/2016) we were told the signs were part of a trial asked for by St Kilda Police in response, they say, to bike parking problems in the area.
No car bays have been converted to free bike parking to replace the bike parking space lost by the ban around LUNA PARK.
If this trial ban of a whole block is deemed a success, the signs here will become permanent.
If the St Kilda area bike parking ban becomes permanent we can expect other councils in Victoria to introduce area bans with little or no consultation with stakeholders. This could spread like a bushfire.
Darren called for a protest rally in St Kilda this Sunday, February 21, 2016 from 10 am to 3 pm. I'll be there. The corner of Acland Street and Shakespeare Grove. Even stopping by for 10 minutes will help. Please let us know if you can be there.
Damien.
IRG
d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com