Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre

Ethical sustainable active transport web portal

2011-02-16T15:14:00.000-08:00

PLEASE HELP pressure the authorities for a SAFE ACTIVE TRANSPORT NETWORK. See below at *** Newcastle Community bike library full details and quick email to authorities ***

10 QUICK THINGS:
1. Newcastle Traffic Skills:
The RTA handbook is confusing people about bike lanes and causing road rage.
Never ride close to parked cars, especially when bike pictures on roads are trying to make you, or when pressured by society. You will crash into an opening door eventually. The RTA and NSW Road Rules 153, 144 & 247 advise to ride the safe way (usually 1.5m away from parked cars) RTA.nsw.gov.au. You only have to ride in a "bike lane" when it is signposted, which is almost none in Newcastle . Don't get confused with "bike lanes" that have bike pictures on the road, lines, or green paint (you don't have to ride in these because they usually don't have a signpost)
2. Newcastle Cycleways Movement (With BicycleNSW.org.au)
Work with Government to improve bicycle facilities & promote safe bike use. Rides, insurance, newsletters, discounts, legal advice, etc. Join an email list for more news and info about this group.
3. NewcastleCommunityBikeLibrary.blogspot.com and free bike help/parts/fixing workshops/traffic skills. Buy or borrow working preloved bikes at
NewcastleBikeEcologyCentre.blogspot.com
4. Global bike ride to celebrate cycling, demonstrate the need for a safe active transport network and learn how to ride safely with traffic in the mean time. 6pm, Civic Park , 1st Friday, monthly.
5. WorldProtestBikeRide.blogspot.com (each March) For peace, sustainability, and against cars.
6. wiki.WorldNakedBikeride.org (A Protest in March that you wear clothes or not)
7. University of Newcastle Bike Club : nubug.org . BikeLoveCorral.blogspot.com at NUSA on Thurs during semester 10am-4pm
8. Newcastle's Community Pushbike festival (in Spring): BikeLoveFest.blogspot.com
9. Global ride against dangerous climate change each Nov : RidePlanetEarth.org
10. RideOfSilence.org Annual ride to commemorate killed or injured cyclists on the roads.
11. Give (and get) things for free and thus keep good stuff out of landfills.
groups.yahoo.com/group/NewcastleFreecycle OR the Sandgate Reuse centre

OUR MISSION : For happy and healthy sustainable communities by promoting safe active transport culture (combine walk, cycling, bus, train with appropriate higher density infilling of cities to stop urban sprawl and car addiction). Focus on people, not on cars spewing out toxic exhaust emissions (asthma and cancer causing), creating danger, obesity (sedentary travel) and climate change chaos consumer culture. Safe, efficient, equitable, socially just transport for all (pedestrians, children, disabled, blind, wheelchaired, cyclists, motorists, etc.), not just the rich, greedy and selfish. Since the 90’s car culture has stopped generations of kids that have lost their mobility of walking/cycling places. Save about $14b p.a. in Australia on health costs due to inactivity. This money is needed for more doctors and police not more highways. (ref cycling promotion fund 2011)
A 2nd hand pushbike has virtually no pollution and the incidental exercise from riding it for transport makes people happy and healthy. Set up a local community bike help place in your suburb and become the *star* of your community. Ideally every suburb has one so everyone can walk their bike to get fixed. Currently Newcastle has a community bike help place on most Thur/Fr/Sat, see below. Laugh at the motorists passing you while you ride your pushbike. They waste time by not combining transport and excercise. You are happy and healthy while motorists get unhealthy, stressed and have road rage.

SAFETY ALERT: Avoid getting very cheap bikes with gears and steel painted wheels from department stores. The brakes wear out very quickly on these low quality bikes and if you went on a long ride you could easily have little brakes left at the end of the ride, for this reason these lowest quality unsafe bikes should be banned! For this reason the NBEC refuses to sell or borrow out these types of bikes anymore.

Most Australians don't cycle because of safety concerns (recent www.cyclingpromotion.com.au survey). Solution:
1. Help pressure the authorities for a safe separated cycle network. See below at *** Newcastle Community bike library full details and quick email to authorities ***
2. Learn safer traffic skills by reading info below & on a Critical Mass bike ride. Read top 10 solutions for people not riding a bike below

BIKE DONATIONS:
If you have any bikes, parts, or broken/rusted bikes that you have tried to sell or give away, we will take them as your last resort. Drop them in to NBEC and we can sort the trash from treasure amd most bikes donated will get ridden again within a month. However we recommend trying to get rid of your bike locally to you. Bike for sale sign on your front fence, free ads under $200 in the Newcastle Herald (http://www.theherald.com.au/content/forms/39) OR free web ads on gumtree. Offer on freecycle (see below) or donate to local charity.

Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre: NBEC was founded by Barry Marsh in 1996 as an environmental group to promote active transport and to rid our city of cars.
To advocate, empower people, provide events and programs for a transition to a sustainable, equitable future. Transition from a deadly car dominated Newcastle to a safe pedestrian dominated region. Provide free access to a safe, health improving, clean transitional mode of transport : push-bikes.
Ethically to minimise harm from:
1. Pollution (indirectly from manufactured goods, the transport of them and directly from the toxic exhaust emissions from cars and the consumeristic throw away society)
2. Dangerous vehicles (safety for kids, disabled, elderly, and safety for adults walking aroud the city).
Other Newcastle based groups helping in this transition:
Newcastle Cycleways Movement, Save Our Rail, Transition Newcastle, Climate Action Newcastle, see links for more.

Why have this website? Most of the info can be found on other bike websites. But very important info has been collected and it should be considered the " Newcastle ethical sustainable active transport web portal". With info and links
Join the email list for more news and info about push-bike culture http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle.

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*** Critical Mass bike ride - 1st Friday every month, different themes each month***
*** Top 10 and more solutions to reasons people do not ride a bike ***
*** Create a cycling city with www.copenhagenize.com ***
*** Safe Cycling in Traffic (and out of traffic)***
*** Maintaining your bike for safer cycling ***
*** Bike Love Corral (local activist communities)***
*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Info ***
*** Newcastle Community bike library full details and quick email to authorities***
*** Stop cars annoying you & more cycling hints ***
*** Newcastle Cycleways Movement (NCM) meeting & rides ***
*** Newcastle Free stuff : On footpaths in your suburb, food and more ***
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*** Critical Mass bike ride - 1st Friday every month, different themes ***
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Global bike ride to celebrate safe sustainable cycling, demonstrate the need for a safe active transport network (combining walking, cycling and public transport) and learn safe traffic skills and safe cycling routes in the mean time. Don't break the law by cycling where some bike pictures "tell" you to cycle. Learn the road (safety rules).
Join the email list : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle.

Critical Mass - Newcastle
A social ride that should go from Civic Park along a cycleway (separated from cars) around town and the beaches, and end at a dinner spot. But there isn’t any cycleways that go to these places so we will have to be outstanding law abiding citizens and follow the road rules by riding safely on roads and/or shared paths.
Unsponsored and unaffiliated, Critical Mass is an intentional community
in motion, one that brings life back to the car dominated streets of our
fabulous city. Critical Mass is Pollution Free Traffic, Safety in Numbers,
Party on Wheels. Ride daily; celebrate monthly! Critical Mass.
We won’t hog the road like smart-alecs. We want co-operation and safety from all road users. Don't pre-judge Critical Mass Newcastle because all CMs are different.
Date: 1st Friday of every Month
Time: assemble from 5:30pm onwards for a 6pm start
Place: Civic Park, opposite Town Hall, King St , Newcastle NSW Australia
Bring: your bike, helmet and lights (it may be dark when you are going home).
Web : http://criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/Newcastle_NSW
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18181494080
Critical Mass of bikes is a term when you get enough bikes on the road to make a presence over the domination of cars.

Critical Mass is a Global bike ride to Celebrate Cycling & its virtues[1] AND to assert our right to ride on roads, and not in the car door opening death “lanes”. Each city in the world takes on a different feel, some are courteous, some are dress-up decorated, some have a fringe element that confronts motorists. Before you make a judgement of Newcastle Critical Mass you need to come for the ride, otherwise you don't know what your missing!
Grassroots, sustainable bike culture in action!
We will ride around handing out info flyers to the community.
This is the only monthly safe, sustainable bike ride in Newcastle : We don't encourage cycling in the car door opening death lane. It's not very sustainable to ride in car door opening death lane for too long, eventually you will get hit by an opening door. See "*** Stop cars annoying you - some riding in traffic advice ***" for more info.
Meet people, share skills, make new friends.

Working bikes for participants:
The NBEC gives away 1 working bike for each critical mass bike ride.
When you complete the ride you get your "deposit" refunded.
Themes:
Jan- Healthy is happy (excercise reduces depression)
Feb- Animal road kill (Bicyclists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
Mar- Consumerism Kills (Sustainable bike culture doesn't)
Apl- Wars for Oil (No Iraq people killed to fuel my bike)
May- Climate Change (Petrol is a big contributer to climate change)
Jne- Urban sprawl (Keeps people addicted to cars)
Jly- Clean air (Toxic car exhaust fumes are cancer causing)
Aug- More roads, more cars, more death (More sustainable active transport modes)
Spt- Bloomin' Bike Ride (Spring into Bikes to save your life)
Oct- Ladies Ride (Unlady people can join in aswell)
Nov- Don't ride in Car door opening danger areas (Even when bike pictures are there)
Dec- Car road toll carnage (The holiday road toll should be zero)

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*** Top 10 & more solutions to reasons people do not ride a bike ***
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Compiled by James Davies and Daniel Endicott.
1. DANGER (feeling of being vulnerable of getting squashed by a car without a metal cage surrounding you).
Build up your confidence on quiet back streets where cars are not as intimidating. Learn road/traffic skills and you will soon be confident on more busy roads. Austcycle.com.au :AustCycle is the national leader in providing cycle training to people of all ages and skill levels throughout the Australian community. Whether for fitness, fun or transport, AustCycle can give you the skills and confidence to get on your bike and ride more.
2. DANGER (myths of more deaths cycling compared to walking or driving).
Only motorbikes are the deadly form of transport from NSW death stats. Walking, driving, cycling have almost identical death rates for time spent travelling. Federal Office of Road Safety : Fatality per million hours :
Pushbike : 0.4 Pedestrian : 0.8 Motorist 0.5
ALSO more deaths are caused by cars and their toxic exhaust emissions. So think about your ethical contribution to air pollution killing people.
Here is a review of a recent paper showing that the health benefits of cycling outweigh the injury risk and the air pollution risk.
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Professional_Information/Lifestyle_Risk/Physical_Activity/AusPAnet/ausPAnet_Article_Commentary_6/Pages/default.aspx
The benefits are 7 times greater than risks for those under 40, and 10 times greater for those over 40 years.
3. TIME (Pushbikes are too slow).
But most (over 50%) city trips are under 5km. When parking is taking into account and not having to squeeze exercise into your busy day, cycling is usually quicker. Also the time you waste at work paying for your car and petrol can mean if you ditch the car for a sustainable bike lifestyle you can retire 25 years early. Travel times for bikes are grossly unknown to most people. With a correct bike setup or faster bike you will be surprised how faster you can be compared to distant memories of highschool cycling on a bike too slow and too small for you. Also top speed means little when comparing trip times in the city. So 60km/hr car will not always beat a 25km/hr bike. You will be suprised how easy riding a bike for half an hour is. And you will probably go 5 or 10km in half an hour.
4. WEATHER (Too hot, cold, wet, windy, etc)
Wearing correct layers of clothes and rain proof jackets, easily removed or added solves most problems. For heat remember to drink lots of water. After your ride the cool breeze is gone so you will heat up after finishing your bike ride. Then you will cool down again which means later you will think it is cooler relative to after just hopping off the bike. Thinking it is cooler on a hot day is a good thing.
5. LOOKING GOOD (HELMET HAIR & SWEAT (when weather is too hot)
Prevent the sweat by buying electric assist push-bike. Or have a wash or wipe down after your ride. Set the social scene! thewheeler.com.au :The Wheeler, a quarterly, seasonal publication embracing the increasingly vibrant cycling scene
Fashion your hair for a helmet or take a brush with you. If your not riding because you don't want to look stupid wearing a helmet then think about this - Cars are every day blocking or slowing down emergency vehicles causing them to reach their destination too late sometimes which could mean someone dies that would of been saved. If you drive a car you are partly responsible for this. Hollywood culture of perfect hair is also a part of consumeristic culture which brings unhappiness and destruction to the world. Check out freedomcyclist.blogspot.com
Freedom Cyclist v Helmet Laws ('ad-free' advocacy)

6. BIKE BROKEN or NEED a bike or POOR
Your local community bike help place can help you get a safe bike. Set one up in your suburb and become the star of your community. Otherwise go to local bike shop. Avoid getting very cheap bikes with gears and steel painted wheels from department stores. The brakes wear out very quickly on these low quality bikes and if you went on a long ride you could easily have little brakes left at the end of the ride, for this reason these lowest quality unsafe bikes should be banned!
7. HILLS or HEAVY LOAD
Get electric assist. Or combine public transport with walking or cycling. Get bike trailers.
8. SOCIAL PEER PRESSURE
Just because the majority of adults in Newcastle may drive a car doesn't make it right to do so. Remember the majority used to be in favour of slavory, and they don't gat it right all the time
But you don't have to drive a car everywhere. Try a bike for some trips. Try walking to close by places. Try some public transport sometimes. Just because you always drive a car does not give you the right to block or slow down emergency vehicles, or create road rage, or emit toxic exhaust emmissions, contributing to killing people.
9. BIKE WILL GET STOLEN
Get a lock and or insurance for your bike. Or get a cheap second hand bike that you will not mind as much if it gets stolen.
10. I AM NOT FIT ENOUGH TO RIDE A BIKE
What a load of nonsense. Except for a very few morbid obese people or people with specific difficulties you are fit enough. You do not have to be super fit with a fast bike wearing lycra and going as fast as you can. Wear what you are comfortable with and take a steady pace. You will be suprised how easy riding a bike for half an hour is. And you will probably go 5 or 10km in half an hour.

Sites that provide a huge amount of useful info for dispelling the usual anti-bike/public transport pro-car lobby.

http://www.woj.com.au/crankbusters/
http://www.ptua.org.au/myths/index.shtml

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*** Create a cycling city with www.copenhagenize.com ***
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Each and every day roughly 500,000 citizens choose the bicycle in Greater Copenhagen. This blog highlights who they are, why they do and how it was made possible.
Forty years ago Copenhagen was just as car-clogged as anywhere else but now 37% of commuters crossing the city boundary ride bicycles each day. That number rises to 55% in the city proper. Copenhagenizing is possible anywhere.

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*** Safe Cycling in Traffic (and out of traffic)*** (from Newcastle Cycleways Movement & NBEC) ***
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If you get annoyed with cars or car doors and are not enjoying your ride, then you ain't riding correctly, or safely
Don't ride too close to parked cars.
• You may collide with a car door opening in front of you.
• You may swerve to avoid a car door and run into traffic coming up behind you.
• Always allow room to avoid an opening door and look for indicators of drivers about to open their door.
• Use your bell, horn or voice to warn drivers in parked cars as you approach, but still allow room to avoid an opening door.

Use designated bike lanes unless impractical or unsafe.
• Road rules require cyclists to use signposted bike lanes when provided.
• Bike pictures painted on the road accompanied with a “bike lane” signpost are intended to designate a bike lane but poor design or bad parking may mean that it is safer, and legal, not to ride in these lanes.
• Many bike pictures painted on Newcastle ’s roads are unsignposted and Road Rules 153, 144 & 247 advise not to ride in them because they are not proper bike lanes. Bike pictures on the road positioned where a parked car door opens is a very dangerous place to ride because of crashing into opening doors. These archaic lanes have to go, and hopefully this is only a temporary Newcastle strategy.

Be predictable.
• Travel in a relatively straight line – position yourself to avoid parked cars or other obstacles well in advance so that you don't weave in and out or swerve at the last moment.

Maintain the safest lane position.
• If the road is wide enough, keep left to allow motor vehicles to pass you safely.
• If the road is not wide enough to allow motor vehicles to pass you safely, either stop and pull over to allow vehicles to pass or, when no vehicles are approaching from behind, signal, then occupy the centre of the lane to prevent vehicles from attempting to pass you.
• At roundabouts – keep left and give way to vehicles that want to cross in front of you to exit, or occupy the lane and negotiate the roundabout in the same way a motor vehicle would.
• Inexperienced cyclists often “hug the curb” and wonder why cars pass so close. Experienced cyclists let traffic pass when they can but occupy the lane when needed for safety. Occupying the lane by a single rider, or two riders abreast, is legal but preventing drivers from passing can cause aggravation, so be considerate and move left to let motorists pass as soon as it is safe to do so.

Keep your bike in good condition. Before setting out for a ride check:
• tyres are properly inflated.
• wheels, seat stem and handlebars are tight and in the right position for you. Quick release wheels with a lever on one side should be checked by an expert. Don't just turn the lever to get it tight because the wheel could fall off.
• brakes are properly adjusted, cables and brake shoes are in good condition.
• rear view mirror, if fitted, is correctly adjusted.
• bell or horn is working.
• if riding in poor light – a reflector and flashing or steady red light at the rear of the bike and a flashing or steady white light at the front.
• Make sure nothing can catch in the front wheel, especially items falling out of a front basket, or being carried , such as a beach towel.
Be seen.
• Wear bright coloured clothes or a high visibility vest with reflective strips.
• Flags and wide mounted reflectors can help motorists see you.
Personal protection.
• Wearing an approved helmet is required by law and may offer some protection in some accidents.
• Glasses can protect your eyes from wind, rain, dirt and bugs. Tinted glasses can protect your eyes from glare.

Heads up.
• If you don't need to ride in a racing position, consider setting up your bike so you can ride in a more upright position making it easier see the road ahead or look over your shoulder.

Manage poor road conditions.
• Watch out for grates, potholes, stones and kerbs that can stop you in your tracks.
• Ridges, grooves or cracks in the road surface can cause “tram-lining” forcing your front wheel to track along the fault in the road.
• Oil, water or sand can cause sliding.
• Painted surfaces can be exceptionally slippery.
• In wet weather conditions regularly "touch" your brakes to help keep them dry and working well when needed.

Plan your ride. The shortest route may not be the best.
• Choose a route with safe cycle paths where possible.
• Avoid roads with fast moving motor vehicles, inadequate space for bikes and poor road surfaces.

Use a hook turn to turn right at a busy intersection.
• A hook turn avoids sitting in the centre lane while waiting to turn right and avoids having to turn right in front of oncoming traffic.
• To perform a hook turn, pull over to the left when entering the intersection, joining traffic approaching from the side street. Proceed through the intersection (to the street that was to your right) when safe to do so.

Avoid blind spots.
• You may not be visible in the rear view mirrors of a motor vehicle ahead of you so be prepared for it to turn in front of you to park or turn left.
• A motor vehicle immediately behind you can probably see you. But a second vehicle immediately behind it may not be able to see you. As the first vehicle passes you the second vehicle may approach without realising you are there. Make sure you have adequate room to move left as the second vehicle approaches.
• Vehicles entering from side streets may be unable to see you because they are looking for larger vehicles or if a vehicle is passing you.

Ride defensively.
• Being in the right is little comfort if you are hit by a car.
• Assume that you are invisible until a driver's action show that they have seen you.
• Assume that a motor vehicle will not give you adequate space or recognise your right of way until the vehicle shows that it is taking action to avoid you.
• Always have a Plan B – go slow enough to stop in an emergency or make sure you leave space to steer out of trouble.
• Defensive riding becomes second nature once you practice it for a while.

Give way to pedestrians.
• On shared cycle paths use your bell to warn pedestrians when approaching and slow down when passing. Show pedestrians the same courtesy we would like car drivers to show cyclists.
• It is illegal for cyclists to ride on footpaths unless younger than 12 or accompanying a child younger than 12.
• If you must travel along a footpath, dismount and walk your bike.

Obey traffic rules.
• Cyclists must follow the same road rules as motorists. There are a small number of exceptions and some additional rules for cyclists.
• NSW road rules can be viewed here.

Practise emergency braking and steering.
• Take note of which brake is for the front and back wheels. In Australia the left hand should operate the rear brake.
• Learn the limits of braking. Applying the rear wheel brake too hard may cause it to lock and skid. Some fish-tailing may occur but the bike will still be controllable. Applying the front brake too hard could cause the rider to go over the handle bars. Keep your weight low and to the back to minimise this chance. Locking the front wheel can be catastrophic as steering is lost and the front wheel will often skid out from under you. The front tyre's tread pattern helps with braking and water dispersion. Look for the direction arrow on the sidewall or the tread has an arrow formation pointing forward when looking down at it when you are riding your bike.
• Careful application of both brakes, without skidding, provides greatest stopping power.
• Find a safe place to practice braking hard while steering straight, left or right.
Learn from experienced cyclists.
• Ride with a buddy or join a Critical Mass group ride – talk about and practice safe cycling techniques.

Build respect and tolerance.
• Cyclists and motor vehicles are often forced to share roads that weren't designed to be shared. Responding to an aggressive motorist with aggression is likely to make them more aggressive to all cyclists – so just let it go. Avoid conflict and save your energy for campaigning for better cycling infrastructure.

For further information on safe cycling in traffic:
• NSW road rules
• NSW RTA handbook for bicycle riders (but be very careful because some of the advice is not safe)
www.ridethecity.com/newcastle
http://www.roadwhyz.com/theroadwhyzteam.htm
http://www.3feetplease.com/about-us

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*** Maintaining your bike for safer cycling ***
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Bikes not maintained well cause many crashes to cyclists. If you are not sure you can check your bike for safety then get the Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre to give it a free safety check!
• Wheels on tights, handlebars steering correctly and brakes work.
• When not riding keep your bike covered, inside or in a shed to stop rust.
• When riding try not to hit potholes, or drop off gutters to save denting wheels
• Keep tyres inflated hard to PSI written on side of tyre & check for tyre wear
• Quick release levers are levered over into the "closed" position. Just don't screw these up. This stops front wheels coming loose.
• Oil the chain with a little vegetable oil. Oil cables with synthetic oil. Never use WD40 as it wears out your bike (and it is toxic)
• Fix any wobbles in wheels, pedals, cranks, steering before they get worse
• Choose correct gears for longer lasting parts. (Eg. Match slow gears front and back, match medium speed gears, etc.)
• Seat and Handlebar heights so the safety limit marks are hidden in the frame
• Reflectors and lights are clean to shine and reflect light.
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*** Bike Love Corral (local activist communities) ***
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Community volunteers promoting pushbikes as fun, healthy, and a safe sustainable transport! The Bike Love Corral (and morning bike bus) at Newcastle University Thursdays during semester. bikelovecorral.blogspot.com
For local Enviro, sustainable, climate friendly organisations / events check out the links: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/links

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*** The Bike Love Corral at University, Thursdays semester weeks***
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The Bike Bus, which is run by the Bike Love Corral, will depart at 8am from outside the Gateway Hotel, Maitland Road in Islington, every Thursday morning, and pick up extra riders on the way to The University of Newcastle. The map can be found at http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bike-Love-Corral-Thursday-Bike-Bus-to-Uni. Anyone is welcome to join the Bike Bus, whether a member of NUBUG or not.
Bike Bus etiquette
Follow all road rules. Most cyclists don’t know them all. The ride leaders will know them if you are unsure.
Be safe, it’s not a race. If we get to our destination 10 minutes late it’s OK. No need to take risks to try and save time.
Stay in the group and you won’t get lost. Stay behind the ride leader and in front of the tail-end ride leader. If you want to leave the group let a ride leader know.
Try and travel in a straight line so you are predictable - don't weave back into the curb every time there are no parked cars.
Confusing "bike lanes" in Newcastle : The bike pictures on the roads in Newcastle are in the wrong place. Most are in the car-door-opening-death-zone, encouraging people to cycle where they will get hit by an opening door, or worse, swerve into traffic trying to avoid the door. Unsignposted "bike picture lanes" are too narrow & Road Rules 153, 144 & 247 advise not to ride in them. So cycle safely & legally (away from parked cars) in left of left hand lane.
BIKE LOVE CORRAL (You need to be a member of NUBUG to visit BLC at Uni)
Where:Outside NUSA building, Thursdays during semester weeks 10am to 4pm
(http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/dates/)
We love push bikes and will provide the bike, accessories, activities
and fun for FREE! Bikes are the easy, cheap, enviro friendly way to get
around town and connect with our community. All day: Bike fixing and
traffic skills workshops. Help fix / check your own bike OR choose one
to help fix and keep. Buy or borrow bikes from the Newcastle Community
Bike Library. Bike Activism info/workshops on Bike User Groups, Bike Co-op
models, etc.

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*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Info
Bikes should be safe & ride like new - bike help/library/co-op/workshops***
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Too many bike shops tell customers that their bike is not worth fixing, the cost being more than a cost of a new bike. What a load of unsustaina-garbage.
If you cost new tubes, new tires, new wheels, labour and a few other things you quickly get over $200 to fix a bike.
What about fixing the buckled wheels? And sanding the rust off the wheel rims? Etc.
And the NBEC still has plenty of as new tires waiting to be used.
So spend up big when buying climate change consumer throw-away never repair
goodies. Or get stuff for free at your sustaina-fun-NBEC!
NBEC takes ethical responsibility for its products and accepts them back to be re-used by other poeple. Not like other shops where they don't care how much of their product goes to landfill, to pollute the environment.
Properly repaired & maintained bikes should ride like new ones!
If yours doesn't, then it needs fixing. No excuses for unsafe bikes!
A well maintained bike will keep working safely. Remember to fix any small
problems ASAP, otherwise they become bigger and take longer to fix.
Save money, resources, and the planet and don't buy new bikes or new parts.
If you are annoyed at your bike it might be due to the bike set-up or riding style, so ask for some info. Best way to maintain a bike is to use it each day, use the brakes and gears. Keep it out of the weather overnight. Get a black plastic cover from NBEC if your bike has to be left outside overnight (the dew each morning rusts up cables).

At: The Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre,
106 Robert St Islington
OPEN: Friday & Saturday 9am to 5pm
Closed most public holidays.
Phone: 49616582
Email: newcastlecriticalmass[@]yahoo.com.au
web: newcastlebikeecologycentre.blogspot.com

What Fun can be had:
1. Borrow a bike from the Community Push-Bike Library (returnable deposit)
2. Trade-in, Buy with cash, or Order a second hand bike ($5 to $??) Most adult bikes are between $40 and $70 for a high quality, fully serviced and checked preloved bike.
3. Get parts & non-working bikes for free
4. Use tools for free (volunteers can help you use them)
5. Fix up a non-working bike for free (volunteers can help you fix them)
6. Join a fixing workshop for free
7. Stop getting annoyed by cars for free
8. Get bike info/handouts/magazines/stickers/newsletters/flyers/etc.
9. Donations of pre-loved bikes or parts can also be done
10. Help us build a fantastic sustainable community self-help centre!
11. Learn different tyre/tube combos to stop punctures
12. NBEC volunteers that have worked on a bike get a proportion of the amount the library bike gets borrowed/sold out for. The proportion depends on the work they did on it to get to bike library standards (refer to Newcastle Community bike library full details). Same day payments are not available.
13. If you want a working bike for free refer to Critical Mass promo.
14. Preloved helmets ($5 from 2012), locks, lights, carryracks ($10), baby seats, etc.

Get a spare, 2nd hand, back-up bike!
This is quite important, but many people learn the hard way when their only bike breaks down, or is stolen.
Having a back-up bike puts your mind at ease, so you don't get rushed into
buying a new bike when something unfortunate happens to the bike you're riding. Or when you goto head off in the morning and you have a flat tire. Hop on your spare! Or have a not-so-good bike you can lock up somewhere and not worry (too much that it's stolen)
LOCKS, LIGHTS and MUDGAURDS.....
Heavy duty chain & padlocks are usually at the NBEC
Flashing red safey lights for $2 each. This is very cheap, they work, and NBEC has some if you want to get them. I recommend putting sticky tape around e seal of the light for wet weather protection. Even my more expensive back light needs this sticky tape, as it gets a soaking from my back wheel in the recent wet weather. It stops working the next day sometimes,
and I need to dry it out for it to work again. Or try Marte's trick of a cover over your backrack to stop mud/water going onto seat mounted rear lights or your clothes. Or if you have a real commuting bike it will have mudgaurds. But don't use mudgaurds with knobly "mountain bike" tyres because the knobly bits can catch on the mudgaurd and cause damage, mudgaurd squashing and bike stopping. Especially a possible life
threatening problem on front wheels.

You'd love to help out your local bike community, but have been wondering how...
Here's your chance! Get in touch with Dan the bike man for more info, no experience required (49616582, Newcastlecriticalmass(at)yahoo.com.au
Choose from helping with The Bike Love Corral, Bike Rides, Postering, helping make Library bikes, or your own idea.
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*** Newcastle Community bike library full details and email to authorities***
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Starting from 2012 the Newcastle Community bike library requires borrowers to become more active in their community and help pressure the authorities for a safe separated cycle network. It's easy, just copy the email info below and send Dan a copy. You will get a confirmation email from Dan once you have done it. So email the authorities at least 1 week before returning the bike OR if borrowing for less than a week check with Dan if an email by Thursday morning is OK.
When returning a borrowed bike (& accessories) you will get your full deposit back if in no worse condition when you borrowed it and from 2012 you sent an email to authorities. So you need to keep your bike (or helmet, lock, etc.) in good/similar shape (otherwise you will only get part of your "deposit" back). Return the bike to where you got it from or Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre. These full details have mainly been written because of a few smart alecs (eg. one said, "the back wheel was buckled when I got it"). So we are not going to let a few drongos spoil it for everyone. If you are getting someone else to return your bike get confirmation that it is OK to do so by emailing Dan. You may be asked for identification when returning your bike.
If your just borrowed items have something wrong, then notify within 5 working days, otherwise it is assumed (not limited to) the following is correct:
Helmet: Has been checked that the straps are strong, and buckle works. The inside protective foam has no cracks. The outside of the helmet is either a material cover (over the linside foam) or it has a smooth plastic cover over it. The smooth plastic cover can have some cracks sometimes without loosing safety.(not taking care and bumping against hard things will crack plastic)
Locks: Still work. An adequate description and money value needed to be entered on the borrowing form. (rain can rust them up)
Bike:
1. Wheels:
a. Still pumped up with valve cap on (thorns can puncture them) and valve straight in wheel (riding with them underinflated can cause the valves to go an an angle and shear a hole in the valve.
b. Tyre still operates correctly (Skidding can wear them out)
c. Spokes unbroken, rim true and straight without buckles or dints, hub bearings spin freely (jumping, hitting bumps can damage)
2. Brakes: Still operate correctly stopping the bike and releasing aswell(rain can rust them up). Includes levels, cables, brake device.
3. Seat pole not bent (if too high they can bend). Seat still operating and on bike tight.
4. Gears working (rain can rust them up)). Includes levers, cables, gear device. Note that the highest gear on the rear derailier has been "screwed" out to stop people choosing the wrong gear (see "Stop cars annoying you & more cycling hints" below)
5. Frame, forks, cranks, handlebars not bent or cracked. (jumping, hitting bumps can damage)
6. Pedals operate correctly(jumping, hitting bumps can damage)
7. Reflectors still intact. Every adult bike will have a rear red reflector, and at least one wheel orange reflector. (not taking care and bumping against hard things will crack plastic)
8. Hand grips still correctly sitting on bars, without bar end showing.
9. Bike can still steer correctly. (jumping, hitting bumps can damage)
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*** Email to authorities to help pressure the authorities for a safe separated cycle network***
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Everyone please send the quick email below, & send it to your local MP/representative, & then tell your friends to do it as well!
Or make up your own wish list for a safe separated cycle network and send it off. The more the authorities know what people want, then it gives us a better chance to achieve things.

To: mail@ncc.nsw.gov.au; council@lakemac.nsw.gov.au ; RTA_Contact_Centre@rta.nsw.gov.au ; ElectorateOffice.Newcastle@parliament.nsw.gov.au; federal
cc: newcastlecriticalmass@yahoo.com.au
Subject : Action needed for Happy and Healthy Sustainable Lifestyle and a safe active transport network
Hi local, state, & federal authorities,
For too long the approach to Sustainable Lifestyle by govs has failed. Our community deserves a Healthy Sustainable Lifestyle and we will except nothing less
Healthy sustainable cities by promoting safe active transport culture (combine walk, cycling, bus, train with appropriate higher density infilling of cities to stop urban sprawl and car addiction). Cities focused on people, not on cars spewing out toxic exhaust emissions (asthma and cancer causing), creating danger, obesity (sedentary travel) and climate change chaos consumer culture. Safe, efficient, equitable, socially just transport for all (pedestrians, children, disabled, blind, wheelchaired, cyclists, motorists, etc.), not just the rich. Since the 90’s car culture has stopped generations of kids that have lost their mobility of walking/cycling places.

To advocate, empower people, provide events and programs for a transition to a sustainable, equitable future. Transition from a deadly car dominated Newcastle to a safe pedestrian dominated region. Provide free access to a safe, health improving, clean transitional mode of transport : push-bikes.
Ethically to minimise harm from:
1. Pollution (indirectly from manufactured goods, the transport of them and directly from the toxic exhaust emissions from cars and the consumeristic throw away society)
2. Dangerous vehicles (safety for kids, disabled, elderly, and safety for adults walking aroud the city).

The entire approach to road safety must be turned aroud to a strategy of Road Danger Reduction.
The current small changes proposed will see our Community get more obese. The Gov's have an obligation to create a safe city for people not cars. We must plan for a "Safe Active Travel 30 for 30" concept. Safe Active Travel 30 for 30 means by 2030 we should have 30km/hr local speed limits and trips : 30% public transport, 30% active transport (walk, cycle) and 40% the rest. We must aim for high targets and for the long term because we have lost so much ground in the last few decades of urban sprawling car culture. So the local speed limit needs to be 40km/hr across the whole NCC area NOW! Then lobby RTA for 30km/hr for world's best safe practice in Europe. At the moment 40 and 50 zones and school zones are quite confusing so to make it simpler and safer, a 40 limit is much better. We must match funding for the targets so 30% public transport, 30% active transport (walk, cycle) and 40% the rest means the money is split this way. Even though NCC has little say in state public transport, they need to fund active transport modes of combining walk/cycle with public transport. Otherwise spending money on the way travel share is, means more roads and more cars. Need heaps more pedestrian crossings across all main roads so even cyclists can walk their bike across a road, also gives peds/cylists priority. Block off more local roads to make cycling more convenient. Block off Hunter St to cars, let them go down King St. Every bike/pedestrian route must feel safe for 90% of 10 year olds to travel by themselves. Safe routes to schools must be a priority to get kids healthy and stop them costing our country $billions of health costs later.
Need to stop driving most kids to school. Need to stop the car culture of mothers accidentally killing their own toddlers (like on 27th Sept 2011 in Australia) while backing their car out of their driveway. Whilever Governments and authorities continue to bow to the car lobby and let car culture thrive, more road death will occur when they could help Newcastle to be the safest, nicest, friendliest (no road rage, etc) city in Australia.

Remove all pictures of bikes causing road rage, crashes confusion on the roads NOW! Stop the wasteful money on narrow bike lanes (These rely on cars being parked touching the gutter and people checking before opening their door. But too many bigger SUVs, trucks and people not checking before opening doors mean this is not a safe option to entice the 30% of people . Sure it may entice 5% but this target is laughable, we need proper sustainable 30% target). They are not a success if we double cycling because of them. We need to get all people walking/cycling, even the ones who are very scared to walk/cycle because of the cars. Bikes and pedestrians should be separated, because similar conflict arises when numbers are large. We don't want safe cycleways clogged with walkers, and people find it more convenient to drive a car. Must make walk/cycle/public transport more quicker than cars for all short trips.

Increasing walk/cycle/public transport % means reducing car trip % for the same amount of trips. This is a fact . Lets not try and keep motorists happy with how they are going. Many motorists must be kicked out of their cars for most of their trips and only then will they realise the light on the other side, and the
Happy and Healthy Sustainable Lifestyle is now for them. The car culture and advertising is a hard thing to fight, but we must!

Cycle routes on their own don't create mode transfer from cars. All roads must be safe for walking and cycling and the use of private motor vehicles must be strongly discouraged. Planners must look to walking and cycling as the primary modes of transport for everyone. Public transport must be seen as the secondary modes, for longer distances. Cars must be seen as the last resort. All council policies must be audited for their transport implications. Everyone must have the choice not to own a motor vehicle.

For full references why we need a Happy and Healthy Sustainable Lifestyle and a safe separated cycle network please see the fact sheets and research from www.cyclingpromotion.com.au and the Australian Bicycle Council.
From : Your Name, address, time in Newcastle

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*** Stop cars annoying you & more cycling hints ***
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Many people get scared off riding a bike on the road because cars are passing them too fast and too close. We are getting the same situation on shared walking/cycling paths aswell (were people are getting scared by cyclists passing them too closely and to fast).
Q:What has caused this?
A: The council & RTA in Newcastle has put in the worst bike picture "lanes" on the roads that don't even meet the safety standards. This is only so they can claim they have cycling facilities and tick a box in a report (even though if they left the bike pictures off the roads the roads would be safer). Narrow bike picture "lanes" situated between parked cars & the left traffic lane is a recipe for disaster. If riding in them & a person opens their car door you will crash into them. And cars are passing you too close & too fast for comfort. Even though for adults cycling with safety skills is less crashes then driving in cars.
HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS?
Unfortunately a lot of research, different lane position riding and cycling experience is required to bust the myth that riding a bike as far left as possible is wrong. Please read the explantions below to expand your mind!
If you think riding a bike is too hard or too dangerous, then you are doing it wrong.
Stop getting annoyed by cars and stay out of the car door lane.
You really aren't being kind to motorists by getting out of their way/lane.
We are kind when we don't put kids jumping out of cars lives at risk.
Unsign-posted "bike picture lanes" are too narrow & Road Rules 153, 144 & 247 advise not to ride in them. They are car-door-opening-death lanes. When passing parked cars, 30m beforehand, check for cars, then move into the next lane safely, away from door opening zone.

Please never ride in the car door lane....
Even when Bicycle Victoria continue to publish crap about riding slowly, or checking for rear brake lights etc. I only heard/saw my 1st one last month and it was sickening. And one of my friends just got doored, lucky to be alive. Many Councils are incouraging car door death riding by placing bike pictures in the car door zone. They look like bike lanes and motorists and cyclists think they should ride there.
Yes I admit motorists get angry when you take the lane, but they don't know the dangers of car-door-death riding. Why don't I just make motorists happy, and ride in car door lane? Answer is I don't want to die. I'd rather be safe and ride in the traffic lane, and then other cars travel at safe speeds behind me. Win - Win situation for everyone!
Well done Steve Fernie (Herald 10/3 Short Takes) for researching the RTA road users's handbook for bike lane clarification. Sorry that you wasted your time and didn't research the full "Road Rules", not the summarised handbook. As Steve wrote on page 125 of the handbook there is a picture of a bike on the road and it says "When a bicycle lane is marked on the
road, cyclists must use it" Yes Steve you are correct, BUT only as you researched on page 123 "Signs at the start and end of these lanes indicate their purpose". Again I repeat that most in Newcastle DO NOT have these signposts, and are squeezed in dangerously with parked cars and they are not proper bike lanes. The Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre has been trying for over 7 years to get the RTA to simply insert the word signposted into their description: "When a *signposted * bicycle lane is marked on the
road, cyclists must use it" . But one word is too hard for the RTA and it seems they do not care if there is confusion on the roads and further road rage. Maybe a new candidate for the State seat of Newcastle will bring change for this?
The more easier explanaiton of the road rule is from RTA website :
"153 Bicycle lanes
A bicycle lane is a marked lane, or the part of a marked lane:
(a) beginning at a bicycle lane sign applying to the lane
247 Riding in a bicycle lane on a road
(1) The rider of a bicycle riding on a length of road with a bicycle lane designed for bicycles travelling in the same direction as the rider must ride in the bicycle lane unless it is impracticable to do so.
Note. Rule 153 defines a bicycle lane and deals with the use of bicycle lanes by other vehicles."
So the marked picture on the road means nothing without the SIGNPOST. Becasuse it's not wide enough to be a safe bike lane without a signpost. Then I hear people say "It doesn't matter if your right, you can't argue when you are dead". This from non-cyclists saying the safest place to ride is in the gutter or the car door opening lane. I agree near the gutter is usually safest, but the car door opening lane is playing Russian Roulette with a car door crashing into you. Even if the motorist opening the door is at fault. It is much safer to ride 1.5m from parked cars to avoid car doors and the cars overtaking you can see you more clearly and it is much safer.
more info in Autumn 2010 newsletter......
Glass punctures:
Glass punctures are a thing of the past for me. Putting an old worn out tyre (with the metal beading cut from it) inside the back tyre of my bike means I get no more glass punctures, and can keep riding until the back tyre is very bald. The inner protection tyre works best if it is a smooth tyre, with no knobbles on it. I would recommend only putting on a rear
wheel, as it is the most puncture prone wheel. The NBEC has some old tyres suitable to be made into inner protection layers. Many "racing" cyclists continually complain about glass where they ride, "causing" them to ride out in the traffic. But motorists get angry with the cyclists not using
the road shoulder, and the cyclists get angry with the motorists being angry with them. This angry cycle of whingers continues until they find something else to whinge about. I plead for happy people to solve problems and stop whinging.
Riding Styles:
Most people pedal too slowly, and don't have correct seat height.
Once your balance is good on a bike (and you can hop on and off easily), you should aim for the following:
1. Leg extension is almost maximum when riding, and at the bottom of the leg stroke (a slight bend in the knee is OK). If you have a big bend in the knee at the maximum extension point, then you are damaging your knees, you tire easily, etc. Most people touch the ground with tippee-toes when seated. I, myself prefer to not to be able to touch the ground, to achieve maximum pedalling power (so I have to hop off the bike every time I stop). So have the seat as high as you can comfortably able to stop the bike without falling off it. But you should learn better bike skills of stopping and hopping off the bike aswell.
2. Leg rotation speed should be 80-100 times a minute. This mainly has to do with gear selection. If you are in too high a gear you are pedalling slowly and if you exert too much force you will again do damage to your body. A faster pedalling gear is easy to pedal and will not make you wear out as fast. Pedalling too slowly can also damage your bike, with many people telling me that their 5th, 6th, or 7th gear at the back slips over teeth. The usual problem (after ruling out chain wear/ gear problems) is they are in the incorrect gear for the speed they are going.
But you can ride slowly, slow leg rotation, as long as you aren't exerting too much force on your legs. If your body doesn't ache, and your bike is working correctly, well done!
Gears:
front 1-2-3 (1 is closest to the bike frame, away from the right pedal)
back 1-2-3-4-5-6 (1 is closest to the centre of your back wheel)
Good gear combos to use :
Going up hills:
front 1
back 1-2-3
On flats:
front 2
back 3-4-5
Fast and down hills:
front 3
back 4-5-6
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*** Newcastle Cycleways Movement Inc.(NCM) meeting & rides ***
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NCM works with Government bodies for better bicycle designs in the Greater
Newcastle Area. Its aims are to promote the safe responsible use of bicycles for transport, leisure and fitness. NCM are the local BUGs who are affiliated with the states peak cycling lobbying organisation (Bicycle NSW)
Members have individual third party liability insurance (so they are covered if they are INVOLVED in an accident and someone or something is hurt), bike shop discounts, legal advice, magazines, newsletters, rides and more, see website.
Meetings will be held at The Adamstown Club (formerly Adamstown RSL) 282 Brunker Road , Adamstown. Meetings are held 7pm – 9pm on the 2nd Tue of every month in the Function room 1.
http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~magsb/ (AGM in August)
E-Mail: cycleways@hunterlink.net.au, Phone: (02) 4944 7869
BUG Wiki website (http://bug.blinddog.org/) has lots of advice about how you can influence your Council, through its Management Plan, its Traffic Committee and its annual Budget.
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*** Newcastle Free stuff : On footpaths in your suburb, food and more***
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Find unwanted goodies on the side of the footpath in areas around Newcastle .
Most stuff appears Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.
Main roads have most of the good stuff taken very quickly, and then it seems like there isn't good stuff to be got....But check out the backstreets!
Make it a part of your saving renewable sustainable transport from
landfill/reverse pollution lifestyle too!
2010 Bulk Waste Collection Dates
http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/28068/2010_Bulk_Waste_Collection_for_website.pdf

Starting from March 2012 are new dates for suburbs.
CHEAP or FREE food from various charities.
Look at the food register.xlsx file at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/files/

Kumera Soup Kitchen (or Soupie for short).
The soup kitchen make delicious vegan and vegetarian meals every Wednesday evening at the Croatian Sports Club in Albert St Wickham. It is a community run volunteer kitchen that gets donations of fruit and vegetables from local green grocers. You can help prepare the food if you arrive at about 4:30pm. The food gets served at about 7pm. Payment is by donation of what ever you can afford or if you are broke you are most welcome to help cook and/or clean as your contribution. It is great fun, you meet terrific people and the food is amazing. Everyone is welcome. If it is your first semester at Newcastle and you are looking to meet people then this is a great way. The club is licensed so you can get a beer or wine and they often have live music after the meal. You can ride your bike there too. See facebook page here for the Soupie page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Newcastle-Soupie/114460918634246
__________________________________________________________________________
[1] Biketivism (Push-bike Activism) promotes:
- Clean air not toxic exhaust fumes
- Carbon free not climate changing chaos
- Peace not wars for oil/consumerism or animal Road Kill
- Sustainability not peak oil depressions
- Safe First Class Road Users bypassing speeding car culture carnage
- Effective communities not Urban car sprawl
- Cheap transport not multinational greed
- Health & fitness not sedentary obesity
- Safety in Numbers, Party on wheels
- Push-Bike FUN not evil road rage
- Preserve the environment not highways, roads,land clearing, dams,mines
- Human power empowerment (etc¦.)
- We don't block traffic, WE ARE TRAFFIC!

Biketivism Fun - Summer 2010

2010-11-22T15:28:00.001-08:00

Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre:
To advocate, empower people, provide events and programs for a transition to a sustainable, equitable future. Transition from a deadly car dominated Newcastle to a safe pedestrian dominated region. Provide free access to a safe, health improving, clean transitional mode of transport : push-bikes.
Ethically to minimise harm from:
1. Pollution (indirectly from manufactured goods, the transport of them and directly from the toxic exhaust emmissions from cars and the consumeristic throw away society)
2. Dangerous vehicles (safety for kids, disabled, elderly, and safety for adults walking aroud the city).
Other Newcastle based groups helping in this transition:
Newcastle Cycleways Movement, Save Our Rail, Transition Newcastle, Climate Action Newcastle, see links for more.

Newsletter of the Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre
(For more regular news join Critical Mass email yahoo group)

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**************************************
*** Ride Planet Earth - Ride for Climate Change awareness 28/11/2010***
*** Critical Mass - December theme: Car road toll carnage ***
*** Camp for Climate Action Australia December 2010 ***
*** Top 10 solutions to reasons people do not ride a bike ***
*** Top 10 safety tips***
*** Critical Mass - January theme: Healthy is happy ***
*** Planning for the World Naked Bike Ride (A protest bike ride that you can wear clothes or not) March 2011 ***
*** Critical Mass - February theme: Animal road kill ***
*** Bike Love Corral (local activist communities)***

Repeated newsletter items:
*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Info ***
*** Newcastle Community bike library full details ***
*** Stop cars annoying you - some riding in traffic advice ***
*** Newcastle Cycleways Movement (NCM) meeting & rides ***
*** Newcastle Free stuff : On footpaths in your suburb, food and more ***

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*** Ride Planet Earth - Ride for Climate Change awareness ***
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In December 2009 cyclists across the planet took to highways, streets and dirt tracks demonstrating their capacity and willingness to take action against dangerous climate change. On 28th November 2010 they will do it again to ensure a sustainable future for our planet.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA RIDE:
28th November 2010, 11am to 12pm
A family friendly bike ride. Meet on the Western side of Cowper St bridge (Carrington Bridge), Wickham. Ride the shared pedestrian cycleway to Nobbys beach crossing no main roads.

The Ride Planet Earth Campaign is promoting behaviour change, focusing on sustainable transport and travel, as part of the action necessary to fight dangerous climate change. Fossil fuel based transport and travel accounts for roughly 35% of industrialised nations’ carbon emissions. Therefore addressing this issue is key to ensuring a safe and stable climate.
Ride Planet Earth is also raising awareness about the impact of climate change on communities in the non-industrialised world. We believe increased awareness leads to change, as people realise the potential impact their actions can have on vulnerable communities on the other side of the planet.

facebook: The Ride Planet Earth Challenge
http://rideplanetearth.org/

photos of 2009 event:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/photos/album/0/list

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*** Critical Mass - December theme: Car road toll carnage ***
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From Marte Kinder:
Christ Mass - December Critical Mass Newcastle Australia

Date: Friday 3 December 2010
Time: assemble from 5:30pm for a 6:00pm start
Place: Civic Park, opposite the Town Hall, King Street, Newcastle, Australia

Celebrate cycling and all its positive aspects. Claim your right to the road. We are traffic! Bring your bike, your helmet, your lights, a noisemaker and your friends. The ride is usually followed by a drink or a meal (or both) and you can chat with your fellow cyclists about cycling activism. You can even help plan the next World Naked Bike Ride.

Special theme is: Christmas car road toll carnage
Deaths and injuries to pedestrians and cyclists are caused by motorised vehicles.
http://www.infrastr ucture.gov. au/roads/ safety/publicati ons/2006/ pdf/death_ cyclists_ road.pdf

Worldwide it was estimated that 1.2 million people were killed and 50 million more were injured in motor vehicle collisions in 2004. We need a peaceful and gentler world which includes our roads.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemiology_of_motor_vehicle_collisions

Gung Ho
Means "Working Together" in Mandarin. It has come to mean boundless enthusiasm and application.
Please be inspired to be Gung Ho about Critical Mass!

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/event.php?eid=156771811033 438

Critical Mass - Newcastle
Date: 1st Friday of every Month
Time: assemble from 5:30pm onwards for a 6pm start
Place: Civic Park, opposite Town Hall, King St, Newcastle NSW Australia
Bring: your bike, helmet and lights (it may be dark when you are going home).
Web : http://criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/Newcastle_NSW

Celebrate cycling and all its positive aspects. Claim your right to the road. We are traffic! Bring your bike, your helmet, your lights, a noisemaker and your friends. Join us to demonstrate the need for a network of safe cycle routes!

Critical Mass (Global bike ride: Celebrate Cycling & its virtues[1])
Assert our right to ride on roads, and not in the car door opening death “lanes”.
Grassroots, sustainable bike culture in action!
We will ride around handing out info flyers to the community.
This is the only monthly safe, sustainable bike ride in Newcastle : We don't encourage cycling in the car door opening death lane. It's not very syustainable to ride in car door opening death lane for too long, eventually you will get hit by an opening door. See "*** Stop cars annoying you - some riding in traffic advice ***" for more info.

Meet people, share skills, make new friends.
Unsponsored and unaffiliated, Critical Mass is an intentional community
in motion, one that brings life back to the car dominated streets of our
fabulous city. Critical Mass is Pollution Free Traffic, Safety in Numbers,
Party on Wheels. Ride daily; celebrate monthly! Critical Mass.

Working bikes for participants:
The NBEC gives away 1 working bike for each critical mass bike ride.
When you complete the ride you get your "deposit" refunded.

Themes:
Jan- Healthy is happy
Feb- Animal road kill
Mar- Consumerism Kills
Apl- Wars for Oil
May- Climate Change
Jne- Urban sprawl
Jly- Clean air
Aug- More roads, more cars, more death
Spt- Bloomin' Bike Ride (Bikes are life)
Oct- Ladies Ride (Helmets for car driver!)
Nov- Car door opening death bike lanes
Dec- Car road toll carnage

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*** Camp for Climate Action Australia December 2010***
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Climate Camp 2010, invitation and update
You are invited to the ‘Camp for Climate Action Australia 2010’
Put it in your diaries, register on-line
Only three months to go!
When: 1st – 5th December 2010, with the mass action at Bayswater power
station on Sunday 5th.
What: A five day program of climate change issues and solutions, planning,
networking and one huge day of peaceful direct action targeting Australia's equal largest source of C02 emissions - Bayswater power station.
Where: Lake Liddell Recreation Area, The Hunter Valley, NSW: 16km East of
Muswellbrook, 1 ½ hrs. West of Newcastle, 3 hrs. North-West of Sydney
Who: You, your friends and family!
If you're concerned about the future and want to do something about it
Climate Camp is for you! Come for a workshop, the mass action or the whole
five days!
Go to www.climatecamp.org.au for all the information you need to come along or to get involved.

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*** Top 10 solutions to reasons people do not ride a bike ***
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Compiled by James Davies and Daniel Endicott during Bike Love Fest 2010.

1. DANGER (feeling of being vulnerable of getting squashed by a car without a metal cage surrounding you).
Build up your confidence on quiet back streets where cars are not as intimidating. Learn road/traffic skills and you will soon be confident on more busy roads.

2. DANGER (myths of more deaths cycling compared to walking or driving).
Only motorbikes are the deadly form of transport from NSW death stats. Walking, driving, cycling have almost identical death rates for time spent travelling. Federal Office of Road Safety : Fatality per million hours :
Pushbike : 0.4 Pedestrian : 0.8 Motorist 0.5
ALSO more deaths are caused by cars and their toxic exhaust emissions. So think about your ethical contribution to air pollution killing people.

3. TIME (Pushbikes are too slow).
But most (over 50%) city trips are under 5km. When parking is taking into account and not having to squeeze exercise into your busy day, cycling is usually quicker. Also the time you waste at work paying for your car and petrol can mean if you ditch the car for a sustainable bike lifestyle you can retire 25 years early. Travel times for bikes are grossly unknown to most people. With a correct bike setup or faster bike you will be surprised how faster you can be compared to distant memories of highschool cycling on a bike too slow and too small for you. Also top speed means little when comparing trip times in the city. So 60km/hr car will not always beat a 25km/hr bike. You will be suprised how easy riding a bike for half an hour is. And you will probably go 5 or 10km in half an hour.

4. WEATHER (Too hot, cold, wet, windy, etc)
Wearing correct layers of clothes and rain proof jackets, easily removed or added solves most problems. For heat remember to drink lots of water. After your ride the cool breeze is gone so you will heat up after finishing your bike ride. Then you will cool down again which means later you will think it is cooler relative to after just hopping off the bike. Thinking it is cooler on a hot day is a good thing.

5. UNSOCIALABLY SWEATY (when weather is too hot)
Prevent the sweat by buying electric assist push-bike. Or have a wash or wipe down after your ride.

6. HELMET HAIR
Fashion your hair for a helmet or take a brush with you. If your not riding because you don't want to look stupid wearing a helmet then think about this - Cars are every day blocking or slowing down emergency vehicles causing them to reach their destination too late sometimes which could mean someone dies that would of been saved. If you drive a car you are partly responsible for this. Hollywood culture of perfect hair is also a part of consumeristic culture which brings unhappiness and destruction to the world

7. HILLS or HEAVY LOAD
Get electric assist. Or combine public transport with walking or cycling. Get bike trailers.

8. "I DRIVE A CAR", says Aussie Joe Blow
But you don't have to drive a car everywhere. Try a bike for some trips. Try walking to close by places. Try some public transport sometimes. Just because you always drive a car does not give you the right to block or slow down emergency vehicles, or create road rage, or emit toxic exhaust emmissions, contributing to killing people.

9. BIKE WILL GET STOLEN
Get a lock and or insurance for your bike. Or get a cheap second hand bike that you will not mind as much if it gets stolen.

10. I AM NOT FIT ENOUGH TO RIDE A BIKE
What a load of nonsense. Except for a very few morbid obese people or people with specific difficulties you are fit enough. You do not have to be super fit with a fast bike wearing lycra and going as fast as you can. Wear what you are comfortable with and take a steady pace. You will be suprised how easy riding a bike for half an hour is. And you will probably go 5 or 10km in half an hour.

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*** Top 10 safety tips***
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Cycling is safe, practical and fun if you do it right. But there is much more to riding a bicycle than balance and steering. Many of the "bike safety" things we were taught as kids are wrong and some are dangerous. These tips could help save your life and help with drivers who are distracted, talking/texting on their phones, slightly drunk, or slightly vision impaired.

1. Keep your Machine In Safe Condition. Give your bike an occasional "tune up". Before hopping on your bike, give it a “quick check”. Make sure that wheels are tight; squeeze brakes hard to see that they work and that cables are not about to snap. Take note of which brake is for the front and back wheels. In Australia the right brake should be for the front wheel, so that when you are indicating right (across on coming traffic) your left hand can operate the back brake.

2. Don't ride close to parked cars...
a) because car doors opening will hit you (Dooring is the most common cause of injury in the inner city.) Or you will swerve to miss a door and get hit by passing traffic.
b) even if bike pictures are painted on the road, trying to tell you to ride close to parked cars. Almost all bike pictures painted on Newcastle roads are in a dangerous position near parked cars, and you don't have to ride in these "bike picture lanes". However, if you find the one or two sign-posted bike lanes (safely wide enough to ride in) on the road you are riding on you must (legally) ride in it.
Unsign-posted "bike picture lanes" are too narrow & Road Rules 153, 144 & 247 advise not to ride in them. They are car-door-opening-death lanes. When passing parked cars, 30m beforehand, check for cars, then move into the next lane safely, away from door opening zone.
c) because cars tailgating the car overtaking you closely won't see you until the last second (many cyclists hit by a car from behind, the motorist says, "I didn't see them" - Avoid drivers’ blind spots.)
d) because cars entering from side streets won't see you. They are looking for cars or motorbikes in the traffic lane. They aren't looking for a cyclist trying to crash into a car door.

3. Follow the road rules for your own safety. (remember 99% of us do not know important safety road rules). Wear a helmet, ride on the left hand side of the road, stop at traffic lights, and have effective front and back lights at night. Pedestrians always have right of way (not only at pedestrian crossings). Watch out for pedestrians who may not have seen or heard you coming.

4. Give way at every intersection for crossing traffic even when you have right of way. This is where riding a bike can be much more safer than driving a car. In a car it's impossible to do this. On a bike, going slower and being much more manoeuvrable you can miss close calls if you see them. So check what all cars are doing in intersections and assume they will do wrong, and you can have an exit plan.

5. Start out on quieter roads until you build your confidence.
Find a safer route via backstreets or go on separate bike paths where possible. Give way to pedestrians, dogs, prams, kids on bike etc. Try to avoid roads with speed limits of 80 km/hr and more. Many cyclists are killed by drivers who drift out of their lane in a vague moment. At 60km/hr you are more likely to survive.

6. Bad road surfaces. Watch for grates or potholes or oil on road. Or wet surfaces. Not being able to stop because of wet brakes. (In wet weather keep "touching" your brakes to help to dry the rims in case of an emergency).

7. Learn Proper Lane Position:
a) Try and travel in a straight line so you are predictable and avoid weaving in and out of parked cars.
b) Beginners usually “hug the curb” and then wonder why cars pass so close. Experienced cyclists let traffic pass when they can but they “take the lane” when needed for safety. Take the lane when moving through narrow sections of road, pinch points, speed humps and roundabouts. Taking the lane might generate a bit more aggro from drivers, but it is safer and it's legal. Signal your intentions to change position or direction well in advance.

8. Use a hook turn to turn right at busy intersections (that is, pull over to the left, flip your bike around, and wait with that traffic for a green light to go straight, to what was your right).

9. Be visible: lights are crucial at night, & wear visible clothing.
Wearing dark clothing always makes a person difficult to see. (Bright clothes that help to get you "noticed", as opposed to "seen", can be a life saver.) Wear an orange or green high vis safety vest. If you ride at night get one with reflective stripes ($6 at “$2 shops”). They are an occupational health and safety requirement for road workers, and cyclists are just as vulnerable.

10. Learn From Experienced Cyclists. Experience can be a harsh teacher and it is a slow one. (It takes at least 10,000 km of cycling in traffic to become confident if you try to learn on your own.) Why make all the beginners' mistakes yourself when you can learn from others? Ride with a buddy or bike bus so that you can learn all this in your own time, in a comfortable environment. Learn to be able to ride in a straight line while checking blind spots. Learn effective emergency stop techniques including safe use of front brake.

For a positive experience out on the road be the change that you want to see on the roads. Smile at other road users, wave them through, speak kindly to pedestrians, forgive other road users mistakes

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/bicycles/cyclingtips.html
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/bicycles/makingitsafertocycle/bicyclesafety/cyclingrules.html

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*** Planning for the World Naked Bike Ride (A protest bike ride that you can wear clothes or not) March 2011 ***---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Protest for Cyclist Rights, Environment, Peace and Body Positive Image.
Against cars, aggression, consumerism & non-renewable energy. Spencer Tunic does legal non-offensive nude public photo events. Decorate your bike or your body at a secret venue, then ride with your protest message in a positive and fun way to the people of Newcastle. Media attention grabbing to show pushbike culture can help solve many of the world's social problems!
Join the email groups to help plan the 2011 ride.
wiki.worldnakedbikeride.org

Reasons for extra name in the title for this ride:
When many people hear World Naked Bike Ride they laugh it off as crazy nude people on bikes and they disregard it straight away, before understanding what the ride is. Some people want nothing to do with nudity. People say the ride is illegal because it is nude. IT IS NOT A NUDE RIDE! The ride is a clothing optional ride (Decorated, Clothed, or Naked). So you don't have to go nude, and even if you do go nude, the legality can be somewhat compared to other peaceful nude events in Australia ; 100% Legal! No Arrests in Australia in all the ride's history. Just like the 1000s of naked people who posed for Spencer Tunick's photos at the Opera House in 2010 but with bikes and meaning. Clothing is 100% OPTIONAL. Wear what you want, bodypaint or nothing at all.
It is a protest ride which gets a lot of media attention drawing attention to the goodness of sustainable pushbike culture, and the badness of car consumer culture.

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*** Critical Mass - January theme: Healthy is happy***
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Being healthy helps fight depression. Having a healthy active lifestyle where exercise is a part of everyday normal activity gives good lifelong habits. The 3 things that keep people the ealthiest in later years is walking, gardening, and cycling. So best to get into a good habit of cycling now. Rather than having random spurts of exercise, cycle instead (a BNSW motto).

Refer to 1st Critical Mass item above for the Ride info

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*** Critical Mass - February theme: Animal road kill ***
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You thought the human road toll was bad? Do you care for animals? Is your makeup tested on animals? Free range chicken eggs? Got a pet?
Cars kill way more animals on the roads than people know? If people won't stop driving because it kills so many people a year, maybe they will stop driving if they know they kill heaps of fluffy dogs and cats.....

Refer to 1st Critical Mass item above for the Ride info

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*** Bike Love Corral (local activist communities) ***
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Bike Love Corral
A manifestation of bike fun from a Newcastle bike activism groups.
The Bike Love Corral (and morning bike bus) at Newcastle University Thursdays during semester.
bikelovecorral.blogspot.com

For local Enviro, sustainable, climate friendly organisations / events check out the links:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/links

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*** The Bike Love Corral at University Thursdays during semester***
------------------------------------------------------------------

The Bike Bus, which is run by the Bike Love Corral, will depart at 8am from outside the Gateway Hotel, Maitland Road in Islington, every Thursday morning, and pick up extra riders on the way to The University of Newcastle. The map can be found at http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bike-Love-Corral-Thursday-Bike-Bus-to-Uni. Anyone is welcome to join the Bike Bus, whether a member of NUBUG or not.

BIKE LOVE CORRAL
Where:Outside NUSA building, Thursdays during semester 10am to 4pm

We love push bikes and will provide the bike, accessories, activities
and fun for FREE! Bikes are the easy, cheap, enviro friendly way to get
around town and connect with our community. All day: Bike fixing and
traffic skills workshops. Help fix / check your own bike OR choose one
to help fix and keep. Buy or borrow bikes from the Newcastle Community
Bike Library. Bike Activism info/workshops on Bike User Groups, Bike Co-op
models, etc.

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*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Info
Bikes should be safe & like new - bike help/library/co-op/workshops***
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OPEN: Friday & Saturday (and some other weekday afternoons (ring to check)) Closed most public holidays.

Too many bike shops tell customers that their bike is not worth fixing, the cost being more than a cost of a new bike. What a load of
unsustaina-garbage.
If you cost new tubes, new tires, new wheels, labour and a few other things you quickly get over $200 to fix a bike.
What about fixing the buckled wheels? And sanding the rust off the wheel rims? Etc.
And the NBEC still has plenty of as new tires waiting to be used.
So spend up big when buying climate change consumer throw-away never repair
goodies. Or get stuff for free at your sustaina-fun-NBEC!
NBEC takes ethical responsibility for its products and accepts them back to be re-used by other poeple. Not like other shops where they don't care how much of their product goes to landfill, to pollute the environment.

Properly repaired & maintained bikes should ride like new ones!
If yours doesn't, then it needs fixing. No excuses for unsafe bikes!

A well maintained bike will keep working safely. Remember to fix any small
problems ASAP, otherwise they become bigger and take longer to fix.
Save money, resources, and the planet and don't buy new bikes or new parts.
If you are annoyed at your bike it might be due to the bike set-up or riding style, so ask for some info. Best way to maintain a bike is to use it each day, use the brakes and gears. Keep it out of the weather overnight. Get a black plastic cover from NBEC if your bike has to be left outside overnight (the dew each morning rusts up cables).

At: Newcastle's Bike Ecology Centre,
106 Robert St Islington
Phone: 49616582
Email: newcastlecriticalmass[@]yahoo.com.au
web: newcastlebikeecologycentre.blogspot.com
Time: 9am to 5pm

What Fun can be had:
1. Borrow a bike from the Community Push-Bike Library (returnable deposit :$5 to $150)
2. Buy a second hand bike ($5 to $150)
3. Get parts & non-working bikes for free
4. Use tools for free (volunteers can help you use them)
5. Fix up a non-working bike for free (volunteers can help you fix them)
6. Join a fixing workshop for free
7. Stop getting annoyed by cars for free
8. Get bike info/handouts/magazines/stickers/newsletters/flyers/etc.
9. Donations of pre-loved bikes or parts can also be done
10. Help us build a fantastic sustainable community self-help centre!
11. Learn different tyre/tube combos to stop punctures
12. The NBEC will buy bikes from NBEC volunteers if they are up to bike library standards (ride like a new bike, no buckles, etc)
13. If you want a working bike for free refer to Critical Mass promo.

Get a spare, 2nd hand, back-up bike!
This is quite important, but many people learn the hard way when their only bike breaks down, or is stolen.
Having a back-up bike puts your mind at ease, so you don't get rushed into
buying a new bike when something unfortunate happens to the bike you're riding. Or when you goto head off in the morning and you have a flat tire. Hop on your spare! Or have a not-so-good bike you can lock up somewhere and not worry (too much that it's stolen)

LOCKS, LIGHTS and MUDGAURDS.....
Heavy duty chain & padlocks are usually at the NBEC
Flashing red safey lights for $2 each. This is very cheap, they work, and NBEC has some if you want to get them. I recommend putting sticky tape around the seal of the light for wet weather protection. Even my more expensive back light needs this sticky tape, as it gets a soaking from my back wheel in the recent wet weather. It stops working the next day sometimes,
and I need to dry it out for it to work again. Or try Marte's trick of a cover over your backrack to stop mud/water going onto seat mounted rear lights or your clothes. Or if you have a real commuting bike it will have mudgaurds. But don't use mudgaurds with knobly "mountain bike" tyres because the knobly bits can catch on the mudgaurd and cause damage, mudgaurd squashing and bike stopping. Especially a possible life
threatening problem on front wheels.

You'd love to help out your local bike community, but have been wondering how...
Here's your chance! Get in touch with Dan the bike man for more info, no experience required (49616582, Newcastlecriticalmass(at)yahoo.com.au
Choose from helping with The Bike Love Corral, Bike Rides, Postering, helping make Library bikes, or your own idea.

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*** Newcastle Community bike library full details ***---------------------------------------------------------------------------
When returning a borrowed bike you will get your full deposit back if it is in no worse condition when you borrowed it. So you need to keep your bike (or helmet, lock, etc.) in good/similar shape (otherwise you will only get part of your "deposit" back). These full details have mainly been written because of a few smart alecs (eg. one said, "the back wheel was buckled when I got it"). So we are not going to let a few drongos spoil it for everyone. If you are getting someone else to return your bike get confirmation that it is OK to do so. You may be asked for identification when returning your bike.

If your just borrowed items have something wrong, then notify within 5 working days, otherwise it is assumed (not limited to) the following is correct:
Helmet: Has been checked that the straps are strong, and buckle works. The inside protective foam has no cracks. The outside of the helmet is either a material cover (over the linside foam) or it has a smooth plastic cover over it. The smooth plastic cover can have some cracks sometimes without loosing safety.(not taking care and bumping against hard things will crack plastic)
Locks: Still work. An adequate description and money value needed to be entered on the borrowing form. (rain can rust them up)
Bike:
1. Wheels:
a. Still pumped up with valve cap on (thorns can puncture them)
b. Tyre still operates correctly (Skidding can wear them out)
c. Spokes unbroken, rim true and straight without buckles or dints, hub bearings spin freely (jumping, hitting bumps can damage)
2. Brakes: Still operate correctly stopping the bike and releasing aswell(rain can rust them up). Includes levels, cables, brake device.
3. Seat pole not bent (if too high they can bend). Seat still operating and on bike tight.
4. Gears working (rain can rust them up)). Includes levels, cables, gear device.
5. Frame, forks, cranks, handlebars not bent or cracked. (jumping, hitting bumps can damage)
6. Pedals operate correctly(jumping, hitting bumps can damage)
7. Reflectors still intact. Every adult bike will have a rear red reflector, and at least one wheel orange reflector. (not taking care and bumping against hard things will crack plastic)
8. Hand grips still correctly sitting on bars, without bar end showing.
9. Bike can still steer correctly. (jumping, hitting bumps can damage)

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*** Stop cars annoying you - some riding in traffic advice ***---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many people get scared off riding a bike on the road because cars are passing them too fast and too close. We are getting the same situation on shared walking/cycling paths aswell (were people are getting scared by cyclists passing them too closely and to fast).
Q:What has caused this?
A: The council & RTA in Newcastle has put in the worst bike picture "lanes" on the roads that don't even meet the safety standards. Narrow bike picture "lanes" situated between parked cars & the left traffic lane is a recipe for disaster. If riding in them & a person opens their car door you will crash into them. And cars are passing you too close & too fast for comfort. Even though for adults cycling with safety skills is less crashes then driving in cars.
HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS?
Unfortunately a lot of research, different lane position riding and cycling experience is required to bust the myth that riding a bike as far left as possible is wrong. Please read the explantions below to expand your mind!

If you think riding a bike is too hard or too dangerous, then you are doing it wrong.

Stop getting annoyed by cars and stay out of the car door lane.
You really aren't being kind to motorists by getting out of their way/lane.
We are kind when we don't put kids jumping out of cars lives at risk.

Unsign-posted "bike picture lanes" are too narrow & Road Rules 153, 144 & 247 advise not to ride in them. They are car-door-opening-death lanes. When passing parked cars, 30m beforehand, check for cars, then move into the next lane safely, away from door opening zone.

Please never ride in the car door lane....
Even when Bicycle Victoria continue to publish crap about riding slowly, or checking
for rear brake lights etc. I only heard/saw my 1st one last month and it was
sickening. And one of my friends just got doored, lucky to be alive. Many Councils
are incouraging car door death riding by placing bike pictures in the car door zone.
They look like bike lanes and motorists and cyclists think they should ride there.

Yes I admit motorists get angry when you take the lane, but they don't know the
dangers of car-door-death riding. Why don't I just make motorists happy, and ride
in car door lane? Answer is I don't want to die. I'd rather be safe and ride in the
traffic lane, and then other cars travel at safe speeds behind me. Win - Win
situation for everyone!

more info in Autumn 2010 newsletter......

Glass punctures:

Glass punctures are a thing of the past for me. Putting an old worn out tyre (with the metal beading cut from it) inside the back tyre of my bike means I get no more glass punctures, and can keep riding until the back tyre is very bald. The inner protection tyre works best if it is a smooth tyre, with no knobbles on it. I would recommend only putting on a rear
wheel, as it is the most puncture prone wheel. The NBEC has some old tyres suitable to be made into inner protection layers. Many "racing" cyclists continually complain about glass where they ride, "causing" them to ride out in the traffic. But motorists get angry with the cyclists not using
the road shoulder, and the cyclists get angry with the motorists being angry with them. This angry cycle of whingers continues until they find something else to whinge about. I plead for happy people to solve problems and stop whinging.

Riding Styles:
Most people pedal too slowly, and don't have correct seat height.
Once your balance is good on a bike (and you can hop on and off easily), you should aim for the following:
1. Leg extension is almost maximum when riding, and at the bottom of the leg stroke (a slight bend in the knee is OK). If you have a big bend in the knee at the maximum extenxion point, then you are damaging your knees, you tire easily, etc.

2. Leg rotation speed should be 80-100 times a minute. This mainly has to do with gear selection. If you are in too high a gear you are pedalling slowly and if you exert too much force you will again do damage to your body. A faster pedalling gear is easy to pedal and will not make you wear out as fast. Pedalling too slowly can also damage your bike, with many people telling me that their 5th, 6th, or 7th gear at the back slips over teeth. The usual problem (after ruling out chain wear/ gear problems) is they are in the incorrect gear for the speed they are going.
But you can ride slowly, slow leg rotation, as long as you aren't exerting too much force on your legs. If your body doesn't ache, and your bike is working correctly, well done!

Gears:
front 1-2-3 (1 is closest to the bike frame, away from the pedals)
back 1-2-3-4-5-6 (1 is closest to the centre of your back wheel)

Good gear combos to use :
Going up hills:
front 1
back 1-2-3

On flats:
front 2
back 3-4-5

Fast and down hills:
front 3
back 4-5-6
############## More ################

Some safe traffic cycling tips can be found here:
www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
(but US, so they ride on the right side of the road, so be careful)

Register for a comprehensive practical and theory based traffic skills cycling course with the Newcastle Bike-Ecology Centre. Because if you get annoyed with cars or car doors then you ain't riding correctly.

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*** Newcastle Cycleways Movement (NCM) meeting & rides ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NCM works with Government bodies for better bicycle designs in the Greater
Newcastle Area. Its aims are to promote the safe responsible use of bicycles for transport, leisure and fitness. NCM are the local BUGs who are affiliated with the states peak cycling lobbying organisation (Bicycle NSW)

Members have individual third party liability insurance (so they are covered if they are INVOLVED in an accident and someone or something is hurt), bike shop discounts, legal advice, and more.

Everyone gets: magazines, newsletters, rides. See website.

Regular ride (see web for others):
8:00am Saturday's, Followed by breakfast.
At: Stewart St Railway Crossing, Newcastle West.
This ride gets a lot bigger over the warmer months...
Do NCM rides "promote the safe responsible use of bicycles" as the NCM motto is?
How do NCM ride leaders safely ride on roads with bike pictures on them?

"NBEC Community Cycling Proposal (which should have NCM input):

To gather local community support with encouraging members of the local
community to
cycle more and more often.

They may need their bike fixed or a new 2nd hand bike.
The NBEC can help with fixing bikes and learning how to maintain it.

Work with the local Community to educate/learn about safer cycling now.
We can't wait for bike paths everywhere. The local community wants to get
healthy,
reduce greenhouse gases from cars, stop childhood obesity, and have safer
streets NOW.

Cycling in car door lane bad,
Cycling where a car will squeeze dangerously close past you bad.
Cycling in predictable straight lines good.
Cycling where cars will pass you safely good."

Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, starting at 7 p.m.
in the New Charlestown Bowling Club (at the far right after the main entrance)
http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~magsb/ (AGM in August)
E-Mail: cycleways@hunterlink.net.au, Phone: (02) 4944 7869

BUG Wiki website (http://bug.blinddog.org/) has lots of advice about how you can influence your Council, through its Management Plan, its Traffic Committee and its annual Budget.

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*** Newcastle Free stuff : On footpaths in your suburb, food and more***
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Find unwanted goodies on the side of the footpath in areas around Newcastle.
Most stuff appears Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.
Main roads have most of the good stuff taken very quickly, and then it seems like there isn't good stuff to be got....But check out the backstreets!
Make it a part of your saving renewable sustainable transport from
landfill/reverse pollution lifestyle too!

2010 Bulk Waste Collection Dates
http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/28068/2010_Bulk_Waste_Collection_for_website.pdf

Week Beg Week Beg Suburbs
03.01.11 27.06.11 Stockton & Carrington
10.01.11 04.07.11 Tighes Hill, Islington, Wickham & Maryville
17.01.11 11.07.11 Mayfield, Mayfield East
24.01.11 18.07.11 Sandgate, Warabrook, Mayfield West, Hexham
31.01.11 25.07.11 Shortland & Birmingham Gardens
07.02.11 01.08.11 Maryland & Fletcher
14.02.11 08.08.11 Minmi, Mayfield bordered by Hanbury St,
Maitland Rd, Upfold & Railway Line, Blackhill
21.02.11 15.08.11 Tarro & Beresfield
28.03.11 22.08.11 Maryland & Wallsend
07.03.11 29.08.11 Wallsend
14.03.11 05.09.11 Elermore Vale
21.03.11 12.09.11 Jesmond, Lambton & New Lambton Heights
28.03.11 19.09.11 Waratah West & Lambton North
04.04.11 26.09.11 Lambton & New Lambton
11.04.11 03.10.11 New Lambton
18.04.11 10.10.11 Kotara
25.04.11 17.10.11 New Lambton & Kotara
02.05.11 24.10.11 Waratah, Georgetown & Broadmeadow
09.05.11 31.10.11 Hamilton, Part Adamstown, Part Broadmeadow
16.05.11 07.11.11 Adamstown & Adamstown Heights
23.05.11 14.11.11 Merewether
30.05.11 21.11.11 Merewether, Bar Beach Ave Bar Beach
06.06.11 28.11.11 Newcastle, Newcastle East & West, The Hill
13.06.11 05.12.11 Cooks Hill, Bar Beach, The Junction
20.06.11 12.12.11 Hamilton South

CHEAP or FREE food from various charities.
Look at the food register.xlsx file at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/files/
_________________________________________________________________________

[1] Biketivism (Push-bike Activism) promotes:
- Clean air not toxic exhaust fumes
- Carbon free not climate changing chaos
- Peace not wars for oil/consumerism or animal Road Kill
- Sustainability not peak oil depressions
- Safe First Class Road Users bypassing speeding car culture carnage
- Effective communities not Urban car sprawl
- Cheap transport not multinational greed
- Health & fitness not sedentary obesity
- Safety in Numbers, Party on wheels
- Push-Bike FUN not evil road rage
- Preserve the environment not highways, roads,land clearing, dams,mines
- Human power empowerment (etc¦.)
- We don't block traffic, WE ARE TRAFFIC!

Biketivism Fun - Spring 2010

2010-09-12T17:25:00.000-07:00

Newsletter of the Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre
Encouraging, Educating, Enabling, Empowering, Sustaining
4 newsletters a year, for more news join : Critical Mass email yahoo group

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**************************************
*** Bike Love Fest - Newcastle's own Push-bike festival ***
*** World Carfree Day - Newcastle Bike Ride Wed, 22nd Sept 6pm ***
*** Ride Planet Earth - Ride for Climate Change awareness 28/11/2010***
*** Other community festivals or days or conferences or weeks ***
*** Camp for Climate Action Australia 2010 ***
*** Bike plan submissions ***
*** National Ride To Work Day 13th of October ***
*** NUBUG news (Newcastle Uni Bike User Group) ***

Repeated newsletter items:
*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Info ***
*** Stop cars annoying you - some riding in traffic advice ***
*** Newcastle University Bicycle Users' Group (NUBUG). ***
*** Newcastle Cycleways Movement (NCM) meeting & rides ***
*** BULK-WASTE COLLECTION areas ***
*** More Stuff ***
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Bike Love Fest - Newcastle's own Push-bike festival ***
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Love Fest
30 September - 4 October 2010
http://wiki.worldnakedbikeride.org/index.php?title=Newcastle_Bike_Love_Corral

Bike Love Fest
Newcastle's own Push-bike festival will celebrate bike culture with many diverse activities this October long weekend. As well as the usual Newcastle bike culture events on every week, all year round, more events have been organised for bike lovers!

EVENTS SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY 30 Sept:
• Bike Love Fest Events Bike Library (Pick-up or fix bike time)
Location: Newcastle Bike-Ecology Centre, 106 Robert St Islington. Time: from 9am to 12pm and 4pm to 6pm. The Bike Love Fest Events Bike Library is for bike lovers who need to borrow a bike to join in the Bike Love Fest activities. We want you to look after the bike you borrow and join in the Bike Love Fest events, so a "deposit" applies. To get your "deposit" back you need to return the bike in no worse condition than when you borrowed it plus you can collect special Bike Love Tokens distributed at the Bike Love Events. The more Bike Love Fest Events you attend the more Bike Love Tokens you will collect and the less you pay - attend enough events then it's FREE!
Bike Love Fest Events Bike Library
Bike deposit starts at $100 and is fully refunded if you attend 5 or more Bike Love Fest Events. If you attend less than 5 then $10 will be deducted for each missed event. You get at least $50 of your deposit returned if you return the bike in no worse condition than when you borrowed it and attend no events. If you look after the bike and join in the bike fun - then it’s effectively FREE! A similar deposit applies if you are fixing up a bike to have during the festival (this is to minimise the dumping of bikes around the CBD of Newcastle which has happened in previous years).

• EVENT : Fast Training ride with Newcastle University Bicycle User Group
Meet at Adamstown end of Fernleigh Track at 2pm. It's an opportunity to go for a quick ride out of the traffic. Expect speeds about 30km/hour, and doing so the ride should take about 50 minutes. This is only for cyclists who can keep that pace, because waiting for slow riders defeats the purpose of a training ride.

FRIDAY 1 Oct:
• Bike Love Fest Events Bike Library (Pick-up, return or fix bikes)
Location: Newcastle Bike-Ecology Centre, 106 Robert St Islington. Time: from 9am to 5pm
• EVENT : Critical Mass Bike Ride (Global Ride Celebrating Cycling)
Assert our right to ride on roads and not in the car door death lane. Bring lights. criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/ Start Civic Park 6pm. Speed will be as fast as the slowest person
• EVENT : Bike Dinner
following the Critical Mass Bike Ride at local eatery 8pm. Bring your bike, lights, lock & money.

SATURDAY 2 Oct:
• EVENT : Saturday Morning: "Saturday Social Saunter"
Newcastle Cycleways Movement Inc. ride Distance: ~ one hour; Average speed 15-20kph. Starts at 8am from Stewart Ave Railway Crossing, Newcastle West. Easy ride, suitable for beginners/new members. An excellent opportunity to start/get back to cycling and meet some new people.
• Bike Love Fest Events Bike Library (Pick-up, return or fix bikes)
Location: Newcastle Bike-Ecology Centre, 106 Robert St Islington. Time: from 9am to 2pm
• EVENT : Promotional Ride for World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR)
WNBR is a global naked or clothed legal bike protest ride. This is a semi-naked promotional ride, so wear at least minimums: Ride starts at Location: Newcastle Bike-Ecology Centre, 106 Robert St, Islington. Time: 3pm. Ride speed will be as fast as the slowest person. Body painting & bike decorating from 2pm to 3pm Location: Newcastle Bike-Ecology Centre, 106 Robert St, Islington. Bring swimmers and towel.
Peacefully expose the vulnerability of cyclists, humanity and nature in the face of cars, aggression, consumerism and non-renewable energy. Oz rides in March. australia.worldnakedbikeride.org
• EVENT : Bike Dinner for the WNBRiders
Following the Promotional Ride for World Naked Bike Ride, riders will be taken to the beach to wash the body paint off then on to a local eatery for a group meal. Bring lights, some money and a bike lock.

SUNDAY 3 Oct:
• EVENT : Amy's Bake-off Beach Bike Ride:
Starts at Location: Newcastle Bike-Ecology Centre, 106 Robert St, Islington. Time: 11am. (Remember daylight saving!) Visit the best beaches in the world, by bike. Ride speed will be as fast as the slowest person. Bring as much home-made baked goods as you can to share around at the end of the ride. You can also bring a picnic lunch or similar.
• EVENT : Bike Polo
Meet at Centennial Park, Tooke St, Cooks Hill at 1:30pm From 2pm to 3pm the games will be on. The Newcastle Gentlemen's Bike Polo Club will bring their equipment. Bring your own too if you desire.
• EVENT : Bike Love Fest Events Bike Library (Returning bikes time)
At Location : Newcastle Bike-Ecology Centre, 106 Robert St, Islington. Time: from 4pm to 6pm
• EVENT : Bike Culture Films
Location: Croatian Wickham Sports Club, Wickham Park, Albert St Wickham. Time: 7pm. The premises are licensed and all ages. Please show your appreciation for the use of the Croation Club for our film night by purchasing beverages at the bar! Featuring local and global films and documentaries. Bring some money, a bike lock and lights for the trip home.

MONDAY 4 Oct:
• EVENT : Newie's Fabulous Foreshore Ride (11am to 12pm)
A family friendly bike ride for the public holiday. Meet on the Western side of Cowper St bridge (Carrington Bridge), Wickham. Ride the shared pedestrian cycleway to Nobbys beach crossing no main roads.
• EVENT : Bike games in Centennial Park from 2pm to 4pm
Join in games, or teach us some new ones. Slow races, tips and more!
• EVENT : Bike Love Fest Events Bike Library (Returning bikes time)
Location Newcastle Bike-Ecology Centre, 106 Robert St, Islington. Time: from 4pm to 6pm

EVERYDAY:
• EVENT : Share the Love!
Do you have an idea for a bike cultural event / fun bike activity? Add your event idea to the Bike Love Fest notice board at Bike Love Fest Events Bike Library (at Newcastle Bike-Ecology Centre) with adequate notice and see other bike lovers join in with you. It could be a ride, a game, a costume parade, a debate - anything as long as bikes, cycling and having fun with other cyclists is integral.

Bike Love Fest partners are:
Critical Mass Global Ride Celebrating Cycling. Assert our right to ride on roads and not in the car door death lane.
criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/

Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Community volunteer bike help concept offering free bikes / help all year round Fri / Sat at 106 Robert St Islington (West of Wickham Park) 49616582 Sustainable Bike Culture hub of Newcastle.
newcastlebikeecologycentre.blogspot.com

Newcastle Cycleways Movement Inc. Work with Government bodies to improve bicycle facilities & promote the safe responsible use of bicycles for transport, leisure & fitness.
users.hunterlink.net.au/~magsb

University of Newcastle Bicycle User's Group Cycling advocacy group, which seeks to promote cycling for fun, sport and transport. They have events, advocacy, rides, etc. nubug.org

World Naked Bike Ride Peacefully expose the vulnerability of cyclists, humanity and nature in the face of cars, aggression, consumerism and non-renewable energy. (Naked or clothed legal bike protest)
australia.worldnakedbikeride.org

Bike Love Corral website
wiki.worldnakedbikeride.org/index.php?title=Newcastle_Bike_Love_Corral

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*** World Carfree Day - Newcastle Bike Ride Wed, 22nd Sept 6pm ***
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During Bike week, celebrate world car free day with a bike ride organised by The Bike Love Corral
Where: Newcastle Civic Park
When : 6pm Wednesday, 22nd Sept,
Bring your bike lights and ride around town and the beaches. http://www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd/

Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don't have to accept our car-dominated society.

But we do not want just one day of celebration and then a return to "normal" life. When people get out of their cars, they should stay out of their cars. It is up to us, it is up to our cities, and our governments to help create permanent change to benefit pedestrians, cyclists, and other people who do not drive cars.

Let World Carfree Day be a showcase for just how our cities might look like, feel like, and sound like without cars…365 days a year.

As the climate heats up, World Carfree Day is the perfect time to take the heat off the planet, and put it on city planners and politicians to give priority to cycling, walking and public transport, instead of to the automobile.

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*** Ride Planet Earth - Ride for Climate Change awareness ***
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In December 2009 cyclists across the planet took to highways, streets and dirt tracks demonstrating their capacity and willingness to take action against dangerous climate change. On 28th November 2010 they will do it again to ensure a sustainable future for our planet.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA RIDE:
28th November 2010, 11am to 12pm
A family friendly bike ride. Meet on the Western side of Cowper St bridge (Carrington Bridge), Wickham. Ride the shared pedestrian cycleway to Nobbys beach crossing no main roads.

The Ride Planet Earth Campaign is promoting behaviour change, focusing on sustainable transport and travel, as part of the action necessary to fight dangerous climate change. Fossil fuel based transport and travel accounts for roughly 35% of industrialised nations’ carbon emissions. Therefore addressing this issue is key to ensuring a safe and stable climate.
Ride Planet Earth is also raising awareness about the impact of climate change on communities in the non-industrialised world. We believe increased awareness leads to change, as people realise the potential impact their actions can have on vulnerable communities on the other side of the planet.

facebook: The Ride Planet Earth Challenge
http://rideplanetearth.org/

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*** Camp for Climate Action Australia 2010***
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Climate Camp 2010, invitation and update
You are invited to the ‘Camp for Climate Action Australia 2010’
Put it in your diaries, register on-line
Only three months to go!
When: 1st – 5th December 2010, with the mass action at Bayswater power
station on Sunday 5th.
What: A five day program of climate change issues and solutions, planning,
networking and one huge day of peaceful direct action targeting Australia's equal largest source of C02 emissions - Bayswater power station.
Where: Lake Liddell Recreation Area, The Hunter Valley, NSW: 16km East of
Muswellbrook, 1 ½ hrs. West of Newcastle, 3 hrs. North-West of Sydney
Who: You, your friends and family!
If you're concerned about the future and want to do something about it
Climate Camp is for you! Come for a workshop, the mass action or the whole
five days!
Go to www.climatecamp.org.au for all the information you need to come along or to get involved.

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*** Bike plan submissions ***
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Make a submission to Bike_Plan@rta.nsw.gov.au

Here's one:

The recently released NSW Bike Plan is missing a few core elements. Most of it is great, but please include the following for a safe bike plan.

1. On page 29 Item 3.13 : There should be education for the whole public on not riding close to parked cars. The Car door opening zone is not a safe place to ride (refer also to item 3). And vehicles to legally pass with more than 1m gap to cyclist needs to be educated and enforced by the law

2. Funding should be more than $158 million. What about $1.58 billion to effectively implement some of the things in the plan. And stop wasting money on roads/ highways which is usually in direct opposition to sustainable active transport. More roads & cars means more car addition, sedentary lifestyle, car crash deaths, people getting sick with tixic car emmisions, etc.

3. Removing the dangerous parts of cyle infrustructure. Bollards, and bike pictures in the car door death lane head the list. A bollard in the middle of the shared cycle/ped path is great to stop cars, but deadly when a cyclist hits it at speed.
Confusing "bike lanes" in Newcastle: The bike pictures on the roads in Newcastle are in the wrong place. Most are in the car-door-opening-death-zone, encouraging people to cycle where they will get hit by an opening door, or worse, swerve into traffic trying to avoid the door. Unsignposted "bike picture lanes" are too narrow & Road Rules 153, 144 & 247 advise not to ride in them. So cycle safely & legally (away from parked cars) in left of left hand lane.
So the bike pictures making the road more dangerous should be removed by sand blasting them off the road. For the council and RTA to be able to tick a box saying they have put something in for cycists should be stopped, and proper safe fully separated/segregated Copenhagen style lanes should be installed.

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*** National Ride To Work Day 13th of October ***
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Ride To Work Day (www.ride2work.com.au)
Ride to Work is a behaviour change program that encourages workers to feel good and have fun by commuting to work by bike and experiencing the health, financial and environmental benefits of riding. Ride to Work Day will be held on Wednesday 13 October 2010.

Join the Commuter Revolution and register for Ride to Work Day, 13 October 2010

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*** NUBUG news (Newcastle University Bicycle User Group) ***
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On the 13th of October there will be Ride To Work Day, which is a national initiative. In Newcastle, NUBUG will be involved in the co-ordination of the event. There will be two groups riding from Customs House in Newcastle, to the Forum, in Callaghan: the first group for slow riders, and the second group for fast riders. The route that we are riding is Route One, which we will be promoting as a safe way to get to uni.

The Forum will sponsor the event to the effect that they will provide free breakfast and the location for our arrival, and the Tom Farrel Institute has pledged $1000 to promote the event.

Route One
We have a map showing the safest way to ride from Newcastle to Callaghan, which has been compiled into a map simpler than the NUBUG Bike Paths Map. This new map will appear on our website shortly, at nubug.org. This map will be promoted to new cyclists and new Novocastrians as the ideal path to choose.

Launch of the Bike Bus to Uni

Cycling to University just got easier and safer with a Bike Bus starting this year.

Bike Buses have been operating in Sydney & other cities worldwide for many years. Daniel Endicott, a regular Bike Bus rider, said "riding in the bike bus group is safer, and encourages non-regular cyclists to start riding".

Bike Love Corral has organised a bike bus to Uni each Thursday morning to promote cycling, which Mr. Endicott descibes as a "healthy, clean and safe way to get around the city". He supports the Bike Bus because cyclists can "learn road skills from experienced riders in a relaxed atmosphere. You don't learn everything about riding your bike when you get off your training wheels; learning some riding hints from experienced riders means you don't waste years learning them by yourself. Starting to ride your bike to places can be daunting at first, but building your confidence is a critical factor for more enjoyable cycling."

Newcastle University Bike User Group (NUBUG) is a partner of Bike Love Corral and also hosts the BLC bike fixing workshop every Thursday during semester. NUBUG is the voice for cycling advocacy & cycling events on campus and is helping to address cyclist's needs.

This is the first regular bike bus for Newcastle, starting from Islington going to Callaghan each Thursday morning during semester.

The most important piece of advice Mr. Endicott had to offer was "don't ever ride in the car door opening lane, because you never know when they will open".

The Bike Bus, which is run by the Bike Love Corral, will depart at 9:15am from outside the Gateway Hotel, Maitland Road in Islington, every Thursday morning, and pick up extra riders on the way to The University of Newcastle. The map can be found at http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bike-Love-Corral-Thursday-Bike-Bus-to-Uni. Anyone is welcome to join the Bike Bus, whether a member of NUBUG or not.

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*** The Bike Love Corral at University Thursdays during semester***
------------------------------------------------------------------

Where:Outside NUSA building, Thursdays during semester 10am to 4pm

BIKE LOVE CORRAL
We love push bikes and will provide the bike, accessories, activities
and fun for FREE! Bikes are the easy, cheap, enviro friendly way to get
around town and connect with our community. All day: Bike fixing and
traffic skills workshops. Help fix / check your own bike OR choose one
to help fix and keep. Buy or borrow bikes from the Newcastle Community
Bike Library. Bike Activism info/workshops on Bike User Groups, Bike Co-op
models, Critical Mass & World Naked Bike Ride.

supported by:
NUSA Enviro Collective
Critical Mass
World Naked Bike Ride
Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre
Newcastle Cycleways Movement
Newcastle University Bicycle Users' Group (NUBUG)

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*** Other community festivals or days or conferences or weeks ***---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bike Futures Conference in Melbourne on 14th to 15th October.
See the attached postcard
Website Link www.bikefutures.com.au
And details of the conference itself at http://www.bv.com.au/bike-futures/43715/

2010 Hunter Homeless Connect Day

Monday 18 October
Broadmeadow PCYC
7.00am – 2.00pm
Theme: ‘In Their Shoes’

Like last year we will give out free push-bikes (As new, working). And we will offer free bike safety checks and fixing.
Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre (Community volunteer bike help concept)
FREE : Help fix/check your own bike OR choose one to help fix & keep, Bike fixing & traffic skills workshops (stop cars annoying you), donate bikes/parts or get parts.
80 kids bikes and some helmets
I suggest public transport, walking, or cycling to get there

Fair Share festival and School of Social Justice
Fri. 22nd and Sat. 23nd October -

The Fair Share Festival is organised to go from Friday 22nd 4pm-8.30pm, then Saturday 23rd 9am-4.30pm and will be held at Hamilton Public School, Tudor St, Newcastle. It an Eco-Social Expo and School, (10-12 workshops) aimed to educate and inspire the public towards achieving sustainable and caring society, so it includes a holistic focus on all 3 of economic, social and ecological sectors, as being all inter-dependent (as also now taught in Permaculture meaning "Permanently sustainable culture"). We'll focus on... equitable, sustainable, community-strengthening financial/economic and eco-social systems.... as ethical, enduring alternatives to the "greed is good" system which have produced not only boom-and-bust disasters like the GFC -Global Financial Crisis - but great costs to communities (the poor in particular), culture, the environment and health.

The still-unravelling disasters of both the GFC- Global Financial Crisis - and the eco-system crisis of species extinction and climate change, necessitate changes to business practices and structures, economic policies, attitudes and life-styles....from excessive individualism, greed and materialism, to a new basis of co-operation, respect for the community of all species, and the strengthening of human communities.

FSF is also a Festival, with exhibitors, displays and "edutainment" breaks of relevant issue-highlighting drama, comedy/satire, songs and even a magician with a sustainability-teaching show.
See our website for more info. www.transitionnewcastle.org.au

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*** NSW Bike Week - Community Fun Ride at the Fernleigh Track ***
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To celebrate NSW Bike Week, the City of Newcastle has organised a Community Fun Ride. NSW Bike Week is a state-wide promotion initiated to raise the profile of cycling as a viable transport mode as well as promoting health, safety and supporting the environmental benefits of using a bike.
All are welcome to attend a leisurely bike ride along the Fernleigh Track, a free BBQ breakfast, prizes, free giveaways and entertainment!
Date
Sunday 19 September 2010
Time
9.00am - 12.00pm
Location
Fernleigh Track, Station Street entrance at Whitebridge

Event Details
􀂃Bike ride along the Fernleigh Track
􀂃Chance to win great prizes
􀂃BBQ Breakfast (and healthy options)
􀂃Bicycle safety checks
􀂃Cycling resources and give-aways
􀂃Music by DJ’s Begzy and Ntaprise
􀂃Badge-making

Further Information
For more information, please phone
The City of Newcastle on 4974 2667 or go
to the website www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au.

PRIZES TO BE WON!
Simply fill out the survey on the day, to be in the draw to win some fantastic prizes.
The winners will receive vouchers for a bike or accessories of their choice

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*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Info
Bikes should be safe & like new - bike help/library/co-op/workshops***
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OPEN: Friday & Saturday (and some other weekday afternoons (ring to check)) Only 9am to 2pm on Saturday of the Bike Love Fest.

Too many bike shops in Newie tell customers that their bike is not worth fixing, the cost being more than a cost of a new bike. What a load of
unsustaina-garbage.
If you cost new tubes, tires, wheels and a few other things you quickly get over $100 to fix a bike.
What about fixing the buckled wheels? And sanding the rust off the wheel rims? Etc.
And the NBEC still has plenty of as new tires waiting to be used.
So spend up big when buying climate change consumer throw-away never repair
goodies. Or get stuff for free at your sustaina-fun-NBEC!
NBEC takes ethical responsibility for its products and accepts them back to be re-used by other poeple. Not like other shops where they don't care how much of their product goes to landfill, to pollute the environment.

Properly repaired & maintained bikes should ride like new ones!
If yours doesn't, then it needs fixing. No excuses for unsafe bikes!

A well maintained bike will keep working safely. Remember to fix any small
problems ASAP, otherwise they become bigger and take longer to fix.
Save money, resources, and the planet and don't buy new bikes or new parts.
If you are annoyed at your bike it might be due to the bike set-up or riding style, so ask for some info. Best way to maintain a bike is to use it each day, use the brakes and gears. Keep it out of the weather overnight. Get a black plastic cover from NBEC if your bike has to be left outside overnight (the dew each morning rusts up cables).

At: Newcastle's Bike Ecology Centre,
106 Robert St Islington
Phone: 49616582
Email: newcastlecriticalmass[@]yahoo.com.au
web: newcastlebikeecologycentre.blogspot.com
Time: 9am to 5pm

What Fun can be had:
1. Borrow a bike from the Community Push-Bike Library (returnable deposit :$5 to $150)
2. Buy a second hand bike ($5 to $150)
3. Get parts & non-working bikes for free
4. Use tools for free (volunteers can help you use them)
5. Fix up a non-working bike for free (volunteers can help you fix them)
6. Join a fixing workshop for free
7. Stop getting annoyed by cars for free
8. Get bike info/handouts/magazines/stickers/newsletters/flyers/etc.
9. Donations of pre-loved bikes or parts can also be done
10. Help us build a fantastic sustainable community self-help centre!
11. Learn different tyre/tube combos to stop punctures
12. The NBEC will buy bikes from NBEC volunteers if they are up to bike library standards (ride like a new bike, no buckles, etc)
13. If you want a working bike for free refer to Critical Mass promo.

Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre motto:
REDUCE consumption, waste, & pollution,
RE-USE & repair.
RE-CYCLE as the last resort

Get a spare, 2nd hand, back-up bike!
This is quite important, but many people learn the hard way when their only bike breaks down, or is stolen.
Having a back-up bike puts your mind at ease, so you don't get rushed into
buying a new bike when something unfortunate happens to the bike you're riding. Or when you goto head off in the morning and you have a flat tire. Hop on your spare! Or have a not-so-good bike you can lock up somewhere and not worry (too much that it's stolen)

Mission/Vision of similar global centres:

The Community Bicycle Center exists to empower people through bicycles and
bicycling experiences. As a result of Community Bicycle Center's work,
people of all ages and backgrounds will improve their well being (skills,
attitudes, beliefs, and health) through bicycle experiences.

Our indicators of success include:
reducing bicycle-related injuries
increasing the number of bicycle transportation trips
and increasing access to safe bicycles.

LOCKS, LIGHTS and MUDGAURDS.....
Heavy duty chain & padlocks are usually at the NBEC
Flashing red safey lights for $2 each. This is very cheap, they work, and NBEC has some if you want to get them. I recommend putting sticky tape around the seal of the light for wet weather protection. Even my more expensive back light needs this sticky tape, as it gets a soaking from my back wheel in the recent wet weather. It stops working the next day sometimes,
and I need to dry it out for it to work again. Or try Marte's trick of a cover over your backrack to stop mud/water going onto seat mounted rear lights or your clothes. Or if you have a real commuting bike it will have mudgaurds. But don't use mudgaurds with knobly "mountain bike" tyres because the knobly bits can catch on the mudgaurd and cause damage, mudgaurd squashing and bike stopping. Especially a possible life
threatening problem on front wheels.

You'd love to help out your local bike community, but have been wondering how...
Here's your chance! Get in touch with Dan the bike man for more info, no experience required (49616582, Newcastlecriticalmass(at)yahoo.com.au
Choose from helping with The Bike Love Corral, Bike Rides, Postering, helping make Library bikes, or your own idea.

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*** Stop cars annoying you - some riding in traffic advice ***---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many people get scared off riding a bike on the road because cars are passing them too fast and too close. We are getting the same situation on shared walking/cycling paths aswell (were people are getting scared by cyclists passing them too closely and to fast).
Q:What has caused this?
A: The council & RTA in Newcastle has put in the worst bike picture "lanes" on the roads that don't even meet the safety standards. Narrow bike picture "lanes" situated between parked cars & the left traffic lane is a recipe for disaster. If riding in them & a person opens their car door you will crash into them. And cars are passing you too close & too fast for comfort. Even though for adults cycling with safety skills is less crashes then driving in cars.
HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS?
Unfortunately a lot of research, different lane position riding and cycling experience is required to bust the myth that riding a bike as far left as possible is wrong. Please read the explantions below to expand your mind!

If you think riding a bike is too hard or too dangerous, then you are doing it wrong.

Stop getting annoyed by cars and stay out of the car door lane.
You really aren't being kind to motorists by getting out of their way/lane.
We are kind when we don't put kids jumping out of cars lives at risk.

Unsign-posted "bike picture lanes" are too narrow & Road Rules 153, 144 & 247 advise not to ride in them. They are car-door-opening-death lanes. When passing parked cars, 30m beforehand, check for cars, then move into the next lane safely, away from door opening zone.

Please never ride in the car door lane....
Even when Bicycle Victoria continue to publish crap about riding slowly, or checking
for rear brake lights etc. I only heard/saw my 1st one last month and it was
sickening. And one of my friends just got doored, lucky to be alive. Many Councils
are incouraging car door death riding by placing bike pictures in the car door zone.
They look like bike lanes and motorists and cyclists think they should ride there.

Yes I admit motorists get angry when you take the lane, but they don't know the
dangers of car-door-death riding. Why don't I just make motorists happy, and ride
in car door lane? Answer is I don't want to die. I'd rather be safe and ride in the
traffic lane, and then other cars travel at safe speeds behind me. Win - Win
situation for everyone!

more info in Autumn 2010 newsletter......

Glass punctures:

Glass punctures are a thing of the past for me. Putting an old worn out tyre (with the metal beading cut from it) inside the back tyre of my bike means I get no more glass punctures, and can keep riding until the back tyre is very bald. The inner protection tyre works best if it is a smooth tyre, with no knobbles on it. I would recommend only putting on a rear
wheel, as it is the most puncture prone wheel. The NBEC has some old tyres suitable to be made into inner protection layers. Many "racing" cyclists continually complain about glass where they ride, "causing" them to ride out in the traffic. But motorists get angry with the cyclists not using
the road shoulder, and the cyclists get angry with the motorists being angry with them. This angry cycle of whingers continues until they find something else to whinge about. I plead for happy people to solve problems and stop whinging.

Riding Styles:
Most people pedal too slowly, and don't have correct seat height.
Once your balance is good on a bike (and you can hop on and off easily), you should aim for the following:
1. Leg extension is almost maximum when riding, and at the bottom of the leg stroke (a slight bend in the knee is OK). If you have a big bend in the knee at the maximum extenxion point, then you are damaging your knees, you tire easily, etc.

2. Leg rotation speed should be 80-100 times a minute. This mainly has to do with gear selection. If you are in too high a gear you are pedalling slowly and if you exert too much force you will again do damage to your body. A faster pedalling gear is easy to pedal and will not make you wear out as fast. Pedalling too slowly can also damage your bike, with many people telling me that their 5th, 6th, or 7th gear at the back slips over teeth. The usual problem (after ruling out chain wear/ gear problems) is they are in the incorrect gear for the speed they are going.
But you can ride slowly, slow leg rotation, as long as you aren't exerting too much force on your legs. If your body doesn't ache, and your bike is working correctly, well done!

Gears:
front 1-2-3 (1 is closest to the bike frame, away from the pedals)
back 1-2-3-4-5-6 (1 is closest to the centre of your back wheel)

Good gear combos to use :
Going up hills:
front 1
back 1-2-3

On flats:
front 2
back 3-4-5

Fast and down hills:
front 3
back 4-5-6
############## More ################

Some safe traffic cycling tips can be found here:
critical-mass.info
www.ohiobike.org/resources.htm
www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
www.bicyclecommute.wordpress.com
www.communitybike.net

Register for a comprehensive practical and theory based traffic skills cycling course with the Newcastle Bike-Ecology Centre. Because if you get annoyed with cars or car doors then you ain't riding correctly.
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*** Newcastle Cycleways Movement (NCM) meeting & rides ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NCM works with Government bodies for better bicycle designs in the Greater
Newcastle Area. Its aims are to promote the safe responsible use of bicycles for transport, leisure and fitness. NCM are the local BUGs who are affiliated with the states peak cycling lobbying organisation (Bicycle NSW)

Members have individual third party liability insurance (so they are covered if they are INVOLVED in an accident and someone or something is hurt), bike shop discounts, legal advice, and more.

Everyone gets: magazines, newsletters, rides. See website.

Regular ride (see web for others):
8:00am Saturday's, Followed by breakfast.
At: Stewart St Railway Crossing, Newcastle West.
This ride gets a lot bigger over the warmer months...
Do NCM rides "promote the safe responsible use of bicycles" as the NCM motto is?
How do NCM ride leaders safely ride on roads with bike pictures on them?

"NBEC Community Cycling Proposal (which should have NCM input):

To gather local community support with encouraging members of the local
community to
cycle more and more often.

They may need their bike fixed or a new 2nd hand bike.
The NBEC can help with fixing bikes and learning how to maintain it.

Work with the local Community to educate/learn about safer cycling now.
We can't wait for bike paths everywhere. The local community wants to get
healthy,
reduce greenhouse gases from cars, stop childhood obesity, and have safer
streets NOW.

Cycling in car door lane bad,
Cycling where a car will squeeze dangerously close past you bad.
Cycling in predictable straight lines good.
Cycling where cars will pass you safely good."

Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, starting at 7 p.m.
in the New Charlestown Bowling Club (at the far right after the main entrance)
http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~magsb/ (AGM in August)
E-Mail: cycleways@hunterlink.net.au, Phone: (02) 4944 7869

BUG Wiki website (http://bug.blinddog.org/) has lots of advice about how you can influence your Council, through its Management Plan, its Traffic Committee and its annual Budget.

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*** Newcastle BULK-WASTE COLLECTION areas***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Find unwanted goodies on the side of the footpath in areas around Newcastle.
Most stuff appears Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.
Main roads have most of the good stuff taken very quickly, and then it seems like there isn't good stuff to be got....But check out the backstreets!
Make it a part of your saving renewable sustainable transport from
landfill/reverse pollution lifestyle too!

2010 Bulk Waste Collection Dates
http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/28068/2010_Bulk_Waste_Collection_for_website.pdf

Week Beg Week Beg Suburbs
04.01.10 28.06.10 Stockton & Carrington
11.01.10 05.07.10 Tighes Hill, Islington, Wickham & Maryville
18.01.10 12.07.10 Mayfield, Mayfield East
25.01.10 19.07.10 Sandgate, Warabrook, Mayfield West, Hexham
01.02.10 26.07.10 Shortland & Birmingham Gardens
08.02.10 02.08.10 Maryland & Fletcher
15.02.10 09.08.10 Minmi, Mayfield bordered by Hanbury St,
Maitland Rd, Upfold & Railway Line, Blackhill
22.02.10 16.08.10 Tarro & Beresfield
01.03.10 23.08.10 Maryland & Wallsend
08.03.10 30.08.10 Wallsend
15.03.10 06.09.10 Elermore Vale
22.03.10 13.09.10 Jesmond, Lambton & New Lambton Heights
29.03.10 20.09.10 Waratah West & Lambton North
05.04.10 27.09.10 Lambton & New Lambton
12.04.10 04.10.10 New Lambton
19.04.10 11.10.10 Kotara
26.04.10 18.10.10 New Lambton & Kotara
03.05.10 25.10.10 Waratah, Georgetown & Broadmeadow
10.05.10 01.11.10 Hamilton, Part Adamstown, Part Broadmeadow
17.05.10 08.11.10 Adamstown & Adamstown Heights
24.05.10 15.11.10 Merewether
31.05.10 22.11.10 Merewether, Bar Beach Ave Bar Beach
07.06.10 29.11.10 Newcastle, Newcastle East & West, The Hill
14.06.10 06.12.10 Cooks Hill, Bar Beach, The Junction
21.06.10 13.12.10 Hamilton South

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** More Stuff ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Community produce/products/services at Wickham:
www.figtree.org.au
http://www.beanstalk.org.au/index2.htm

NEWCASTLE CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIVITIES AND MEETINGS:
www.risingtide.org.au
www.climateaction.org.au
www.transitionnewcastle.org.au

COMMUNITY POLITICS:
www.getup.org.au

ENVIRO:
www.foe.org.au
ENVIROWIKI and Grassroots Enviro are growing, but needs YOUR help
http://www.envirowiki.info/ - the wiki resource for enviro and social
justice activists that YOU can edit!
http://envirowiki.info/index.php/Environmental_issues
http://www.grassrootsenvironment.net
other links:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/links

_____________________________________________________________________________

[1] Biketivism (Push-bike Activism) promotes:
- Clean air not toxic exhaust fumes
- Carbon free not climate changing chaos
- Peace not wars for oil/consumerism or animal Road Kill
- Sustainability not peak oil depressions
- Safe First Class Road Users bypassing speeding car culture carnage
- Effective communities not Urban car sprawl
- Cheap transport not multinational greed
- Health & fitness not sedentary obesity
- Safety in Numbers, Party on wheels
- Push-Bike FUN not evil road rage
- Preservation of environment not more highways, roads, land clearing, dams,mines
- Human power empowerment (etc¦.)
- We don't block traffic, WE ARE TRAFFIC!

Biketivism Fun - Autumn 2010

2010-03-02T14:41:00.000-08:00

**************************************
*** Critical Mass Bicycle Ride 6pm, 1st Friday of every month ***
*** World Naked Bike Ride Newcastle- Sunday 14 March 2010 ***
*** People's Blockade of the World's Biggest Coal Port - Sun 28th March ***
*** Welcome to the Newcastle University Bicycle Users' Group (NUBUG). ***
*** The Bike Love Corral at University Thursdays during semester***
*** NEWS on Climate change, sustainability, etc ***

Repeated newsletter items:
*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Info ***
*** Stop cars annoying you - some riding in traffic advice ***
*** Newcastle Cycleways Movement (NCM) meeting & rides ***
*** BULK-WASTE COLLECTION areas ***
*** More Stuff ***
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Critical Mass Bicycle Ride 6pm, 1st Friday of every month ***
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meet at 5:30pm Civic Park, Newcastle.
Free push-bike ride around town, exact route decided by riders
Web : http://criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/Newcastle_NSW
OR : critical-mass.info

Critical Mass (Global bike ride: Celebrate Cycling & its virtues[1])
Assert our right to ride on roads, and not in the car door opening death “lanes”.
Grassroots, sustainable bike culture in action!
We will ride around handing out info flyers to the community.
This is the only monthly safe, sustainable bike ride in Newcastle : We don't encourage cycling in the car door opening death lane. It's not very syustainable to ride in car door opening death lane for too long, eventually you will get hit by an opening door. See "*** Stop cars annoying you - some riding in traffic advice ***" for more info.

Meet people, share skills, make new friends.
Unsponsored and unaffiliated, Critical Mass is an intentional community
in motion, one that brings life back to the car dominated streets of our
fabulous city. Critical Mass is Pollution Free Traffic, Safety in Numbers,
Party on Wheels. Ride daily; celebrate monthly! Critical Mass.

Working bikes for participants:
The NBEC gives away 1 working bike for each critical mass bike ride.
When you complete the ride you get your "deposit" refunded.

Lights:
May - Oct Critical Mass rides are in the dark. Lights are required.
At $2 each, $4 for front and back there is no more excuse to not ride at night.
Nov - April are usually in daylight saving periods, possibly in daylight.

POSTERS:
1000's of Critical Mass Posters & stickers at Yahoo discussion group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/files

1. Retire 25 years early! : Combine Train, Bus & Push-Bike Trips With a Big Lock & A Cheap Bike. Put your health & Safety 1st
2. I’m safely passing parked cars! I’m not a road hog, cycling in the traffic lane! I could be your mum. Learn safety, respect & love!
3. “Cycling is Too Dangerous?”: Learn To Ride Safer &/Or Take the Back Streets. Let’s really save lives: motorists wear helmets.
4. “Push-Bike riding is too hard & sweaty?” : Learn to ride properly OR Ride slower &/Or Have A Sponge Down
5. Push-Bikes Are Safer Than Walking Or Driving! When will you do your own research? Or is your news Limited?
6. Push-Bikes Slow Everyone Down To Safe 30km/hr community speeds. Local Clean air to walk, cycle, bus & train!
7. Council & RTA Say, “Narrow “Bike Picture Lanes” are bad; Car Doors & squeeze points frighten cylists. Take the lane safely”
8. “Rain, Shopping, Security, Helmets & Kids”: Lame Excuses For Not Having
Push-Bike-Fun. Find/Learn Solutions.
9. Equal Respect: Push-Bikes Wait 30s At Red Lights. Motorists Wait 30s To Safely Change lanes when overtaking Cyclists.
10. Push-Bike Riders “Pay” For Roads & City Parking Spots With Taxes And NCC Rates. Motorists are more subsidized!
11. “Get off the main road?” But riding push-bikes in back streets takes longer. Is motorist’s time more important than cyclist’s?
12. Most Cyclists try to be nice by riding in car-door opening death lanes. But cycling in the traffic lane is safer for cars & bikes!
13. Push-bikers stop whinging about broken glass!
Get better tyre combos, to ride safer, and to not swerve into traffic!

------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** *** World Naked Bike Ride Newcastle- Sunday 14 March 2010 ******---------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Naked Bike Ride Australia 2010

Newcastle:
Date: Sunday 14 March 2010
Time: 5pm
Location: Civic Park, opposite Newcastle Town Hall
Ride details
Newcastle will ride on Sunday the 14th March 2010. Assembly location is Civic Park, opposite the Newcastle Town Hall (the same as Critical Mass) and time is 5pm so please bring your bike lights.
It is usual practice that visitors from out-of-town can be helped with the loan of a bike on the day. Body painting is optional (though encouraged) so you can write slogans and protest messages that tell the public what the ride is about. Peace signs, hearts and flowers are always in theme. Body painting will place at a secret private location and this works well. The ride will include a party (before or after the ride) at a venue to be determined which will feature music, BBQ and vegan food and beer.

The official Southern Hemisphere World Naked Bike Ride date is Saturday the 13th of March 2010 and Sydney will ride on that date. Keen riders could participate in both cities.

For more details see:
http://wiki. worldnakedbikeri de.org/index. php?title= Newcastle
You can also download the flyer and poster for the event from that website and we really appreciate if you can print, distribute and post these to encourage participation in the event.
Facebook group: http://www.facebook .com/group. php?gid=18181494 080
Facebook event: http://www.facebook .com/event. php?eid=13763895 1594&ref= ts
World Naked Bike Ride Australia 2010
Peacefully expose the vulnerability of cyclists, humanity and nature in the face of cars, aggression, consumerism and non-renewable energy.

At least 7 Australian towns and cities will participate in the next southern hemisphere leg of the World Naked Bike Ride in March 2010. The official southern hemisphere ride date is Saturday the 13th of March 2010.
The dates and locations are:

Saturday the 6th of March 2010: Nimbin.
Sunday the 7th of March 2010: Byron Bay.
Saturday the 13th of March 2010: Sydney and Adelaide.
Sunday the 14th of March 2010: Newcastle.
Sunday the 21st of March 2010: Canberra and Melbourne.
Ballarat has a WNBR Organiser who has volunteered in late 2009. They plan to hold the first WNBR in Ballarat in 2011 to do justice to the planning, organisation and pubicity.
Check website for details: http://australia. worldnakedbikeri de.org/ or follow the links to the towns cities webpage on this wiki website.
Other cities across the world will also host rides as part of the southern hemisphere leg of WNBR's global movement, including Lima (Peru), Golden Bay (New Zealand), Sao Paulo and Brasília (Brazil). Riders in some northern hemisphere locations (such as Brighton UK) ride in solidarity with the southern riders.
The World Naked Bike Ride is an annual clothing optional protest ride for Naturism, Environmentalism, Peace and the rights of cyclists to use the road safely.
The ride is not a race and goes at an easy recreational pace. An element of competition between cyclists is present only in respect of how bizarrely they can decorate their bodies with paint, slogans and bits of costume. Many riders paint their bodies with peace signs, hearts and flowers.
The dress code for the ride is "Go as bare as you dare"! Nudity is not compulsory. It is not a ride promoting overtly sexual behaviour in public.
It is a very hippie and green event.
Many problems beset the world:
There is a need for people to hold a body positive image. A lot of people have hang ups about the human body and can not distinguish between non-sexual nudity and pornography. People are living creatures and part of nature, not superior or detached from it. Shame or disgust of human bodies, it all their colours, shapes and sizes is a form of prejudice.
Burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and mineral oil) causes environmental damage including climate change, air pollution, acid rain and water pollution. The destruction of our natural environment threatens all living things with extinction. We face the carbon-induced nemesis of nature.
Without using nuclear fuels (uranium, plutonium) nuclear accidents, nuclear weapons, depleted uranium tipped weapons and nuclear contamination would not exist. Exposure to nuclear radiation causes cancer, genetic mutations and death. Nuclear material remains radioactive virtually forever.
Health Problems including asthma and respiratory illnesses occur partly because of the pollution caused by burning fossil fuels. Obesity, diabetes and lack of exercise come from our sedentary car-addicted lifestyles.
We see violence everyday because of the fraudulent wars fought over oil, road rage and deaths and injuries to pedestrians and cyclists from motorised vehicles. Worldwide it was estimated that 1.2 million people were killed and 50 million more were injured in motor vehicle collisions in 2004. We need a peaceful and gentler world which includes our roads.
For a future to exist for tomorrow's generations, we must stop exploiting mineral energy, stop polluting the Earth, stop fighting and killing in the name of consumerist wealth accumulation and learn to love and respect all life, and to continue to spread this message.
The World Naked Bike Ride Mission Statement
Peacefully expose the vulnerability of cyclists, humanity and nature in the face of cars, aggression, consumerism and non-renewable energy.
World Naked Bike Ride History
Manifestación Ciclonudista Mundial began in Spain in 2001 and the WNBR grew from that protest which takes the form of a naked bike ride. Since then, the WNBR has spread to over 50 cites in about 20 countries with the participation of thousands of riders. Because of differing climates, the WNBR is conducted in two legs. The Southern hemisphere WNBR occurs on the second Saturday of March and has included Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and cities in Florida (USA) where the weather is comfortable at that time of year. Eugene in Oregan, USA and Brighton in the UK have braved the winter weather to ride on the Southern hemisphere date. The Northern hemisphere WNBR is much larger, both in terms of number of rides and participants with some rides like Portland, Oregan alone getting about 5000 riders in 2009. WNBR is most popular in Europe and North America.
WNBR Australian History
There is a story that Australia participated in the first WNBR on 12 June 2004. Six naked bike riders (4 men and two women), led by Luke and Kathy, are supposed to have rode from Tweed Heads to Bilambil through the countryside. There are no known photographs of the ride and Luke and Kathy have lost contact with the rest of the WNBR. Did it really happen?
In 2005 Marte Kinder organised the first WNBR in Australia that not only went through a city, but was photographed and witnessed. Marte founded the movement in Australia and has since built the organisation in terms of riders and rides around Australia by recruiting participants and Organisers in various cities and towns.
5 riders participated on the 13th of February 2005, 11 riders on the 12th of March 2006, 26 riders on the 10th of March 2007, 30 riders on the 9th of March 2008, 20 riders on the 14th of March 2009 World Naked Bike Rides in Newcastle.
14 riders participated on the 12th of March 2006, 25 riders on the 10th of March 2007, 40 to 50 riders on the 9th of March 2008, 12 riders on the 6th of June 2008 (WNBR Winter Wonderland), 40 to 50 riders on the 9th of March 2009 World Naked Bike Rides in Melbourne.
32 riders participated on the 10th of March 2007 and 6 riders on the 8th of March 2008 World Naked Bike Rides in Brisbane.
6 riders participated on the 8th of March 2008 and 14 riders on the 9th of March 2009 World Naked Bike Ride in Adelaide.
15 riders participated on the 8th of March 2008 and about 40 on the 14th of March 2009 World Naked Bike Ride in Byron Bay.
25 riders participated on the 8th of March 2008 and 15 riders on the 15th of March 2009 World Naked Bike Ride in Sydney.
45 riders participated on the 7th of March 2009 World Naked Bike Ride in Nimbin.

Upcoming WNBR Events
The following 7 Australian towns and cities are having World Naked Bike Rides in 2010:
Adelaide :

Date: Saturday the 13th of March 2010
Time: 1pm
Location: Victoria Square/Tarndanyangg a , Adelaide City
View Poster on web site
Byron Bay

Date: Sunday the 7th of March 2010
Time: 2pm
Location: The Rails Car Park
View Poster on the web site
Canberra

Date: Sunday the 21st of March 2010 (exact date to be advised)
Time: 11am for 12pm ride
Location: Barrine Drive Carpark nr Commonwealth Avenue
View Poster on the web site
Melbourne :

Date: Sunday the 21sth of March, 2010
Time: 3pm
Location: to be advised
View Poster on the web site
Newcastle :

Date: Sunday the 14th of March 2010
Time: 5pm
Location: Civic Park, opposite Newcastle Town Hall
View Poster on the web site
Nimbin :

Date: Saturday the 6th of March 2010
Time: 10:30am
Location: Peace Park
View Poster on the web site
Sydney :

Date: Saturday the 13th of March, 2010
Time: 12 noon
Location: the Archibald Fountain, Hyde Park
View Poster on the web site
Why not join in?
Everyone is very welcome to participate or help organise! I have not seen any photos of past events where riders are not grinning and laughing their heads off. WNBR is terrific fun! Why not have a go?
To find out more, go to http://australia. worldnakedbikeri de.org/ If you do not have a computer or internet connection you could use an internet café or public libraries´ computers.
If people in Australia are interested in attending a WNBR event in Australia, please have a look at the website first. Also, if you live anywhere where there is no WNBR planned, you are welcome to organise one yourself and you will get supportive and friendly help from the Australian Co-ordinator. It is pretty easy to do and a very rewarding experience. The WNBR Worldwide site http://www.worldnak edbikeride. org/ has reference pages with tips for people to use when organising. It will happen if you help make it happen!
What does it cost?
Nothing. There are no fees involved at all. There are no forms to fill in. There is no registration and we do not want to collect people´s personal details.
WNBR is loads of fun and a consciousness expanding, giggle festival. You could help save the world or at least die laughing while trying.

Yours truly naked in two wheeled protest,

Marte Kinder
World Naked Bike Ride Australia Coordinator and Media Liaison
World Naked Bike Ride Nudecastle Organiser

bbbbbb
email: wnbrnudecastle@ yahoo.com. au
website: http://australia. worldnakedbikeri de.org/index. html
yahoo group: http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/WNBR_ Newcastle/

------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** People's Blockade of the World's Biggest Coal Port - Sun 28th March ***------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday 28th March
10am onwards
Horseshoe Beach
Newcastle, Australia.

Join hundreds of other people in a fun, peaceful, and effective action against Australia's single biggest contribution to climate change.

Join in on the water or the shore
BYO vessel, or use one of ours
Or...make your own funky raft!

What's happening
Hundreds of people will peacefully occupy Newcastle Harbour, and prevent the passage of coal ships. This will be the fifth action of its kind in Newcastle. No one has ever been arrested. At the last, in March 2009, we successfully stopped all ship movements in the harbour for the day.

There'll be plenty happening on the shore too, so please come along and show your support even if you can't get out on the water. Good food will be available by donation.

There'll be a ceremony of home made rafts! Check out the funky floating masterpieces, and enter your own creation!

What about boats?
Bring your canoe, kayak, tinnie, surfboard, whatever pleasure craft you like. Don't have your own boat, and don't fancy yourself a raft-maker? That's fine. Rising Tide is organising as many kayaks as we can, and making them available for general use. If you have access to a multitude of kayaks, please get in touch!

What about safety?
There will be fast rescue boats, generously provided and operated by Greenpeace. If you get into trouble, someone will save you. We will also have a first aid tent on shore.

Why should we blockade the coal port?
Now, more than ever, we need to be turning up the heat on the coal industry, and their friends in government. The export coal industry is Australia's single biggest, and fastest growing contribution to the global climate crisis.

Newcastle, already the world's biggest coal port, is set to open a massive new coal terminal this year, bringing the export capacity of the Hunter Valley coal chain to an incredible 178 million tonnes of coal per annum. That's the climate change equivalent of 30 Bayswater Power Stations. Within ten years, the coal corporations plan on exporting more than 300 million tonnes of coal per annum - a tripling of current export capacity.

Tripling coal exports means tripling coal mining. As Newcastle coal exports boom, more precious bushland will be razed, more waterways polluted, more communities ripped apart as the transnational coal companies carve their way westwards into the Liverpool Plains. The profits will be exported, but the devastation will stay here in the Hunter. The catastrophic effects of climate change will hurt all around the world.

This madness has to stop. The climate crisis is deepening, and time is fast running out. Politicians are failing to take action against the rampant coal companies, so we have to do it ourselves.

Hundreds of people will be doing just that in Newcastle on 28th March, and we'd love you to join us. We'll be taking to the harbour in a big way, occupying the world's biggest coal port with a mass of people, and demanding:
an immediate ban on the expansion of the coal industry in Australia,
a swift phase out of coal, replacing all coal industry jobs with jobs in renewable energy and other sustainable industries.
www.risingtide.org.au

------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Welcome to the Newcastle University Bicycle Users' Group (NUBUG). ***---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Marshall invites you to join a new club:

The Newcastle University Bicycle Users' Group (NUBUG).

Tom writes:
"Facilities Management wants to improve cycling infrastructure for staff and students, but wants recommendations from cyclists first. To gather opinions and advocate cycling in a representative manner, I am setting up a bicycle users' group to exist as a NUSA-affiliated club, which will facilitate meetings and other communication in order to work collectively with the university.

By improving the cycling facilities, I mean specifically lobbying the university, Newcastle City Council and RailCorp for cycle paths separate from both roads and footpaths. We are also looking to have more bike racks and showers built at uni, in a co-ordinated manner. Our aim is to make cycling safer and more comfortable for those who already ride, and in doing so, encourage others to cycle to uni. This is a product of a NUSA enviro campaign I have been helping to run this year, which involves the free bike workshop at NUSA on Thursdays, called the Bike Love Corral."

-------------------------------------------------------------------
*** The Bike Love Corral at University Thursdays during semester***
------------------------------------------------------------------
NUSA's Enviro Collective's Ride a Bike Campaign is hosting the
festival-friendly Bike Love Corral.

Where:Outside NUSA building, Thursdays during semester 10am to 4pm

BIKE LOVE CORRAL
We love push bikes and will provide the bike, accessories, activities
and fun for FREE! Bikes are the easy, cheap, enviro friendly way to get
around town and connect with our community. All day: Bike fixing and
traffic skills workshops. Help fix / check your own bike OR choose one
to help fix and keep. Buy or borrow bikes from the Newcastle Community
Bike Library. Bike Activism info/workshops on Bike User Groups, Bike Co-op
models, Critical Mass & World Naked Bike Ride.

supported by:
NUSA Enviro Collective
Critical Mass
World Naked Bike Ride
Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre
Newcastle Cycleways Movement
Newcastle University Bicycle Users' Group (NUBUG)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** NEWS on Climate change, sustainability, etc ***---------------------------------------------------------------------------
too much to include....

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Info
Bikes should be safe & like new - bike help/library/co-op/workshops***
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPEN: Friday & Saturday (and some other weekday afternoons (ring to check))

Too many bike shops in Newie tell customers that their bike is not worth fixing, the cost being more than a cost of a new bike. What a load of
unsustaina-garbage.
If you cost new tubes, tires, wheels and a few other things you quickly get over $100 to fix a bike.
What about fixing the buckled wheels? And sanding the rust off the wheel rims? Etc.
And the NBEC still has plenty of as new tires waiting to be used.
So spend up big when buying climate change consumer throw-away never repair
goodies. Or get stuff for free at your sustaina-fun-NBEC!
NBEC takes ethical responsibility for its products and accepts them back to be re-used by other poeple. Not like other shops where they don't care how much of their product goes to landfill, to pollute the environment.

Properly repaired & maintained bikes should ride like new ones!
If yours doesn't, then it needs fixing. No excuses for unsafe bikes!

A well maintained bike will keep working safely. Remember to fix any small
problems ASAP, otherwise they become bigger and take longer to fix.
Save money, resources, and the planet and don't buy new bikes or new parts.
If you are annoyed at your bike it might be due to the bike set-up or riding style, so ask for some info.

At: Newcastle's Bike Ecology Centre,
106 Robert St Islington
Phone: 49616582
Email: newcastlecriticalmass[@]yahoo.com.au
web: newcastlebikeecologycentre.blogspot.com
Time: 9am to 5pm

What Fun can be had:
1. Borrow a bike from the Community Push-Bike Library (returnable deposit :$5 to $150)
2. Buy a second hand bike ($5 to $150)
3. Get parts & non-working bikes for free
4. Use tools for free (volunteers can help you use them)
5. Fix up a non-working bike for free (volunteers can help you fix them)
6. Join a fixing workshop for free
7. Stop getting annoyed by cars for free
8. Get bike info/handouts/magazines/stickers/newsletters/flyers/etc.
9. Donations of pre-loved bikes or parts can also be done
10. Help us build a fantastic sustainable community self-help centre!
11. Learn different tyre/tube combos to stop punctures
12. The NBEC will buy bikes from NBEC volunteers if they are up to bike library standards (ride like a new bike, no buckles, etc)
13. If you want a working bike for free refer to Critical Mass promo.

Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre motto:
REDUCE consumption, waste, & pollution,
RE-USE & repair.
RE-CYCLE as the last resort

Get a spare, 2nd hand, back-up bike!
This is quite important, but many people learn the hard way when their only bike breaks down, or is stolen.
Having a back-up bike puts your mind at ease, so you don't get rushed into
buying a new bike when something unfortunate happens to the bike you're riding. Or when you goto head off in the morning and you have a flat tire. Hop on your spare! Or have a not-so-good bike you can lock up somewhere and not worry (too much that it's stolen)

Mission/Vision of similar global centres:

The Community Bicycle Center exists to empower people through bicycles and
bicycling experiences. As a result of Community Bicycle Center's work,
people of all ages and backgrounds will improve their well being (skills,
attitudes, beliefs, and health) through bicycle experiences.

Our indicators of success include:
reducing bicycle-related injuries
increasing the number of bicycle transportation trips
and increasing access to safe bicycles.

LOCKS, LIGHTS and MUDGAURDS.....
Heavy duty chain & padlocks are usually at the NBEC
Flashing red safey lights for $2 each. This is very cheap, they work, and NBEC has some if you want to get them. I recommend putting sticky tape around the seal of the light for wet weather protection. Even my more expensive back light needs this sticky tape, as it gets a soaking from my back wheel in the recent wet weather. It stops working the next day sometimes,
and I need to dry it out for it to work again. Or try Marte's trick of a cover over your backrack to stop mud/water going onto seat mounted rear lights or your clothes. Or if you have a real commuting bike it will have mudgaurds. But don't use mudgaurds with knobly "mountain bike" tyres because the knobly bits can catch on the mudgaurd and cause damage, mudgaurd squashing and bike stopping. Especially a possible life
threatening problem on front wheels.

You'd love to help out your local bike community, but have been wondering how...
Here's your chance! Get in touch with Dan the bike man for more info, no experience required (49616582, Newcastlecriticalmass(at)yahoo.com.au
Choose from helping with The Bike Love Corral, Bike Rides, Postering, helping make Library bikes, or your own idea.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Stop cars annoying you - some riding in traffic advice ***---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many people get scared off riding a bike on the road because cars are passing them too fast and too close. We are getting the same situation on shared walking/cycling paths aswell (were people are getting scared by cyclists passing them too closely and to fast).
Q:What has caused this?
A: The council & RTA in Newcastle has put in the worst bike picture "lanes" on the roads that don't even meet the safety standards. Narrow bike picture "lanes" situated between parked cars & the left traffic lane is a recipe for disaster. If riding in them & a person opens their car door you will crash into them. And cars are passing you too close & too fast for comfort. Even though for adults cycling with safety skills is less crashes then driving in cars.
HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS?
Unfortunately a lot of research, different lane position riding and cycling experience is required to bust the myth that riding a bike as far left as possible is wrong. Please read the explantions below to expand your mind!

If you think riding a bike is too hard or too dangerous, then you are doing it wrong.

Stop getting annoyed by cars and stay out of the car door lane.
You really aren't being kind to motorists by getting out of their way/lane.
We are kind when we don't put kids jumping out of cars lives at risk.

Unsign-posted "bike picture lanes" are too narrow & Road Rules 153, 144 & 247 advise not to ride in them. They are car-door-opening-death lanes. When passing parked cars, 30m beforehand, check for cars, then move into the next lane safely, away from door opening zone.

Please never ride in the car door lane....
Even when Bicycle Victoria continue to publish crap about riding slowly, or checking
for rear brake lights etc. I only heard/saw my 1st one last month and it was
sickening. And one of my friends just got doored, lucky to be alive. Many Councils
are incouraging car door death riding by placing bike pictures in the car door zone.
They look like bike lanes and motorists and cyclists think they should ride there.

Yes I admit motorists get angry when you take the lane, but they don't know the
dangers of car-door-death riding. Why don't I just make motorists happy, and ride
in car door lane? Answer is I don't want to die. I'd rather be safe and ride in the
traffic lane, and then other cars travel at safe speeds behind me. Win - Win
situation for everyone!

############## Little Known Road Rule ################

WHen I talk about a right to ride safely my context is
best summed up in an example:

All vehicles should travel "as far left as
practicable"

But many Aussies think bicyclists should ride as far
left as POSSIBLE. That's where we see most bicyclists
ride, so it must be law right??

We have a right to bicycle as far left as safely
practicable, including giving room for a car door that
could open in front of us. And having road position
to reduce the amount of motorists dangerously sqeezing
past us when overtaking

I try to have this info in my auto signature so I
don't need to answer these questions. But thanks for
asking and maybe I will change my auto signature.

I think current bike lanes are way too narrow and
there are too many car door opening and cars squeezing
past too closely occurances for them to be perfect.
Many first time cyclists using these bike lanes still
feel frightened. I agree for experienced cyclists
that some bike lanes make you feel more safe. But
when the first time cyclists still feel frightened in
the "You beaut new bike lane" it is easy to see why
they revert to cars.

Bike lanes are good when accompanied with education of
safe bicycling. I would never separate these two
things.

But a major
reason Critical Mass exists is to assert our right to
ride (safely) on the road. Until different solutions
like Michael suggest exist we need to continue to
assert our right to get from A to B safely and timely.

So Critical Mass is a celebration of cyclings good virtues (mostly enviro). And our
right to ride on the road. We do NOT have a right to ride dangerously (running red lights,
mowing down children, etc). We have a right to ride SAFELY on the roads.
But as I said motorists are taking away this right for us to ride safely by
passing many cyclists too closely. Many motorists say to get into the
bike lane, but the bike picture lanes in Newcastle aren?t mandatory because they
are too narrow.

Many cyclists complain about cars or trucks passing
them`too closely when they ride on the very edge of
the road or gutter. Most people are unaware that this
riding style usually encourages cars to dangerously
overtake, sharing the lane when there is not enough
room to share. This further encouragement of the now
socially acceptable practice of passing cyclists too
close means when a cyclist rides in a different manner
(Critical Mass style for example) it is socially
unacceptable. I suggest to them to get a flag that
sticks out in traffic (like me) OR learn safer cycling
techniques, so we can be spared the whinging.
Cyclists require 2m passing distance which usually
means the car/truck would need to change
lanes to overtake. That means the car/truck needs to
wait until the other lane is clear. Or should the
car/truck just force its way into the other lane,
making on-coming traffic swerve to miss them??

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Road Rule Rage ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Council and RTA education needed about Bike pictures on roads

Page 6 Section 1.3 of the NSW bicycle Guidelines RTA (V1.2 Issued July 2005):
“no practioner should design or install any facility that requires or encourages
road users to contravene an Australian Road Rule”. But this is happening with the
encouragement of passing cyclists too closely. The following evidence in the road
rules and RTA publications supports this assertion.

Road rule 247 - Riding in a bicycle lane on a road ($44 fine)
(1) The rider of a bicycle riding on a length of road with a bicycle
lane designed for bicycles travelling in the same direction as the
rider must ride in the bicycle lane unless it is impracticable to do
so. NSW: Only applies where there is a bike lane sign (bike logo
above ‘LANE’) beside the road. NOT where only bike logo on road.
(2) In this rule road does not include a road-related area.

RTA Road Users Handbook OCT 2007: pg39 “When overtaking give bicycle riders a safe
amount of space. This means at least 1 metre to the side in a 50km/hr zone”. This
is good. Congratulations!
RTA Road Users Handbook OCT 2007: pg40 “Allow ample room in case a car door is
opened. Do not ride between and around parked vehicles” This is on the way to being
good advice. But confusion is still there. Perhaps for the second sentence:
Do not swerve inbetween parked vehicles, and then out into the traffic lane without
checking for other traffic.
RTA Road Users Handbook OCT 2007: pg88 “Bicycle lanes: When a bicycle lane is marked
on the road, cyclists must use it”
THIS IS CAUSING ROAD RAGE!!!!!!!!!! This is what people quote when they say bikes
should be riding where the bike pictures are painted on the road. They are confused
with the sign posted bike lanes, because it isn’t explained in the handbook.
The RTA needs to fix this straight away! I suggest: When a bike lane is signposted,
cyclists must use it, unless impracticable to do so. Other non-sign posted bicycle
picture lanes are narrower and usually don’t give enough room when a car is also
parked in it. Cyclists are not required to ride in non-sign posted bike lanes.

But that is happening with the application of “Advisory Treatments” (shared bike
picture and car parking areas) and Bicycle Shoulder lanes Page 23 Section 5.1.2 of
the NSW bicycle Guidelines RTA (V1.2 Issued July 2005) It says “riders still need to
travel cautiously in the bicycle shoulder lane to avoid unexpected opening car doors”.
How can you avoid a child opening a door when you can’t see him from behind. Yes,
the person opening the door is at fault, but tell that to the cyclist who got knocked
over from the opening car door, and fell into a traffic lane, and a truck ran over
him. So the safe option is to ride at the safe distance from an open door. Many
cases this puts the cyclist into the traffic lane. Then motorists are encouraged to
illegally overtake in the same lane, squeezing too close past the cyclist. They are
encouraged because they past many other cyclists, without leaving their lane (even
though these cyclists were riding very close to the parked cars, and so there was
more room inbetween them when the motorist overtook the cyclist.)

Conclusion:
The RTA handbook, with the combination of the location of bike pictures (not “bike
lanes”) on NSW roads is encouraging road users to contravene Australian Road Rule No.
144. They encourage in these ways:
a) visually they think bicyclists should ride where the bike pictures are. The
lane width still allows them to squeeze past them in the same lane.
b) The practice of squeezing past bicyclists is continued on other roads without
the bike pictures because they have been encouraged to do so in point a above
c) The RTA handbook says “When a bicycle lane is marked on the road, cyclists
must use it”. Again motorists think the authorities say its OK to squeeze past
cyclists
d) Squeezing past cyclists is very dangerous. If defined as less than 1m room,
than it’s not enough, for a cyclist that needs some room to maneovre
It also contravenes RTA’s policy of promoting safe bicycling. Because people don’t
want to ride in the car-door lane, because people still open without checking.

Solutions
a) The RTA handbook must be fixed ASAP.
b) Education campaign must be done to fix this problem. TV, radio, newspapers,
mail, posters, etc.
c) The police should be apart of the education campaign, issuing fines
d) Societies attitudes won’t change quickly, so the education campaign must be
comprehensive and long-lasting
e) The bike pictures painted on the roads, encouraging road users to contravene
an Australian Road Rules must be removed
f) Only bike pictures painted on the roads that meet AUSTROADS standards, and
don’t encourage breaking the rules should be implemented.

Some more road rule info:
The Road Transport (Safety & Traffic Management) Act 1999, came into force in NSW
in Dec 1999. It incorporates the Australian Road Rules plus NSW specific provisions).:
Road Rule

153 Bicycle lanes
(1) A driver (except the rider of a bicycle) must not drive in a
bicycle lane, unless the driver is permitted to drive in the bicycle
lane under this rule or rule 158. ($114 fine)
(2) If stopping or parking is permitted at a place in a bicycle lane
under another law of this jurisdiction, a driver may drive for up to
50 metres in the bicycle lane to stop or park at that place.
(3) A driver may drive for up to 50 metres in a bicycle lane if:
(a) the driver is driving a public bus, public minibus or taxi, and is
dropping off or picking up, passengers; and
(b) there is not another law of this jurisdiction prohibiting the
driver from driving in the bicycle lane.
(4) A bicycle lane is a marked lane, or the part of a marked lane:
(a) beginning at a bicycle lane sign applying to the lane; and
(b) ending at the nearest of the following:
(i) an end bicycle lane sign applying to the lane;
(ii) an intersection (unless the lane is at the unbroken side of
the continuing road at a T–intersection or continued across
the intersection by broken lines);
(iii) if the road ends at a dead end — the end of the road.

144 Keeping a safe distance when overtaking ($114 fine)
A driver overtaking a vehicle:
(a) must pass the vehicle at a sufficient distance to avoid a
collision with the vehicle or obstructing the path of the vehicle;
and
(b) must not return to the marked lane or line of traffic where the
vehicle is travelling until the driver is a sufficient distance past
the vehicle to avoid a collision with the vehicle or obstructing the
path of the vehicle.

Note : The definition of overtake includes passing, while traveling in the adjacent
marked lane.
Which doesn’t happen if motorists squeeze past a cyclist in the same lane

http://www.yeatesit.biz/transresource.htm:

The general problem with appearing to "endorse" in your words
"fourth-rate bike lanes" is that they have become viewed as "acceptable" to
motorists and road authorities and can be death traps for inexperienced cyclists
hence in general, they are better described as minimum or substandard
... it is a factual audit assessment ... use Austroads Part 14 or if
necessary, international practices. The RTA guide is not sufficient.

Glass punctures:

Glass punctures are a thing of the past for me. Putting an old worn out tyre (with the metal beading cut from it) inside the back tyre of my bike means I get no more glass punctures, and can keep riding until the back tyre is very bald. The inner protection tyre works best if it is a smooth tyre, with no knobbles on it. I would recommend only putting on a rear
wheel, as it is the most puncture prone wheel. The NBEC has some old tyres suitable to be made into inner protection layers. Many "racing" cyclists continually complain about glass where they ride, "causing" them to ride out in the traffic. But motorists get angry with the cyclists not using
the road shoulder, and the cyclists get angry with the motorists being angry with them. This angry cycle of whingers continues until they find something else to whinge about. I plead for happy people to solve problems and stop whinging.

Riding Styles:
Most people pedal too slowly, and don't have correct seat height.
Once your balance is good on a bike (and you can hop on and off easily), you should aim for the following:
1. Leg extension is almost maximum when riding, and at the bottom of the leg stroke (a slight bend in the knee is OK). If you have a big bend in the knee at the maximum extenxion point, then you are damaging your knees, you tire easily, etc.

2. Leg rotation speed should be 80-100 times a minute. This mainly has to do with gear selection. If you are in too high a gear you are pedalling slowly and if you exert too much force you will again do damage to your body. A faster pedalling gear is easy to pedal and will not make you wear out as fast. Pedalling too slowly can also damage your bike, with many people telling me that their 5th, 6th, or 7th gear at the back slips over teeth. The usual problem (after ruling out chain wear/ gear problems) is they are in the incorrect gear for the speed they are going.
But you can ride slowly, slow leg rotation, as long as you aren't exerting too much force on your legs. If your body doesn't ache, and your bike is working correctly, well done!

Gears:
front 1-2-3 (1 is closest to the bike frame, away from the pedals)
back 1-2-3-4-5-6 (1 is closest to the centre of your back wheel)

Good gear combos to use :
Going up hills:
front 1
back 1-2-3

On flats:
front 2
back 3-4-5

Fast and down hills:
front 3
back 4-5-6
############## More ################

Some safe traffic cycling tips can be found here:
critical-mass.info
www.ohiobike.org/resources.htm
www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
www.bicyclecommute.wordpress.com
www.communitybike.net

Register for a comprehensive practical and theory based traffic skills cycling course with the Newcastle Bike-Ecology Centre. Because if you get annoyed with cars or car doors then you ain't riding correctly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Newcastle Cycleways Movement (NCM) meeting & rides ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NCM works with Government bodies for better bicycle designs in the Greater
Newcastle Area. Its aims are to promote the safe responsible use of bicycles for transport, leisure and fitness. NCM are the local BUGs who are affiliated with the states peak cycling lobbying organisation (Bicycle NSW)

Members have individual third party liability insurance (so they are covered if they are INVOLVED in an accident and someone or something is hurt), bike shop discounts, legal advice, and more.

Everyone gets: magazines, newsletters, rides. See website.

Regular ride (see web for others):
8:00am Saturday's, Followed by breakfast.
At: Stewart St Railway Crossing, Newcastle West.
This ride gets a lot bigger over the warmer months...
Do NCM rides "promote the safe responsible use of bicycles" as the NCM motto is?
How do NCM ride leaders safely ride on roads with bike pictures on them?

"NBEC Community Cycling Proposal (which should have NCM input):

To gather local community support with encouraging members of the local
community to
cycle more and more often.

They may need their bike fixed or a new 2nd hand bike.
The NBEC can help with fixing bikes and learning how to maintain it.

Work with the local Community to educate/learn about safer cycling now.
We can't wait for bike paths everywhere. The local community wants to get
healthy,
reduce greenhouse gases from cars, stop childhood obesity, and have safer
streets NOW.

Cycling in car door lane bad,
Cycling where a car will squeeze dangerously close past you bad.
Cycling in predictable straight lines good.
Cycling where cars will pass you safely good."

Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, starting at 7 p.m.
in the New Charlestown Bowling Club (at the far right after the main entrance)
http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~magsb/ (AGM in August)
E-Mail: cycleways@hunterlink.net.au, Phone: (02) 4944 7869

BUG Wiki website (http://bug.blinddog.org/) has lots of advice about how you can influence your Council, through its Management Plan, its Traffic Committee and its annual Budget.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Newcastle BULK-WASTE COLLECTION areas***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Find unwanted goodies on the side of the footpath in areas around Newcastle.
Most stuff appears Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.
Main roads have most of the good stuff taken very quickly, and then it seems like there isn't good stuff to be got....But check out the backstreets!
Make it a part of your saving renewable sustainable transport from
landfill/reverse pollution lifestyle too!

2010 Bulk Waste Collection Dates
http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/28068/2010_Bulk_Waste_Collection_for_website.pdf

Week Beg Week Beg Suburbs
04.01.10 28.06.10 Stockton & Carrington
11.01.10 05.07.10 Tighes Hill, Islington, Wickham & Maryville
18.01.10 12.07.10 Mayfield, Mayfield East
25.01.10 19.07.10 Sandgate, Warabrook, Mayfield West, Hexham
01.02.10 26.07.10 Shortland & Birmingham Gardens
08.02.10 02.08.10 Maryland & Fletcher
15.02.10 09.08.10 Minmi, Mayfield bordered by Hanbury St,
Maitland Rd, Upfold & Railway Line, Blackhill
22.02.10 16.08.10 Tarro & Beresfield
01.03.10 23.08.10 Maryland & Wallsend
08.03.10 30.08.10 Wallsend
15.03.10 06.09.10 Elermore Vale
22.03.10 13.09.10 Jesmond, Lambton & New Lambton Heights
29.03.10 20.09.10 Waratah West & Lambton North
05.04.10 27.09.10 Lambton & New Lambton
12.04.10 04.10.10 New Lambton
19.04.10 11.10.10 Kotara
26.04.10 18.10.10 New Lambton & Kotara
03.05.10 25.10.10 Waratah, Georgetown & Broadmeadow
10.05.10 01.11.10 Hamilton, Part Adamstown, Part Broadmeadow
17.05.10 08.11.10 Adamstown & Adamstown Heights
24.05.10 15.11.10 Merewether
31.05.10 22.11.10 Merewether, Bar Beach Ave Bar Beach
07.06.10 29.11.10 Newcastle, Newcastle East & West, The Hill
14.06.10 06.12.10 Cooks Hill, Bar Beach, The Junction
21.06.10 13.12.10 Hamilton South

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** More Stuff ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Community produce/products/services at Wickham:
www.figtree.org.au
http://www.beanstalk.org.au/index2.htm

NEWCASTLE CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIVITIES AND MEETINGS:
www.risingtide.org.au
www.climateaction.org.au
www.transitionnewcastle.org.au

COMMUNITY POLITICS:
www.getup.org.au

ENVIRO:
www.foe.org.au
ENVIROWIKI and Grassroots Enviro are growing, but needs YOUR help
http://www.envirowiki.info/ - the wiki resource for enviro and social
justice activists that YOU can edit!
http://envirowiki.info/index.php/Environmental_issues
http://www.grassrootsenvironment.net
other links:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/links

_____________________________________________________________________________

[1] Biketivism (Push-bike Activism) promotes:
- Clean air not toxic exhaust fumes
- Carbon free not climate changing chaos
- Peace not wars for oil/consumerism or animal Road Kill
- Sustainability not peak oil depressions
- Safe First Class Road Users bypassing speeding car culture carnage
- Effective communities not Urban car sprawl
- Cheap transport not multinational greed
- Health & fitness not sedentary obesity
- Safety in Numbers, Party on wheels
- Push-Bike FUN not evil road rage
- Preservation of environment not more highways, roads, land clearing, dams,mines
- Human power empowerment (etc¦.)
- We don't block traffic, WE ARE TRAFFIC!

Biketivism Fun - Summer 2009/2010

2009-12-02T15:14:00.000-08:00

Newsletter of the Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre

Encouraging, Educating, Enabling, Empowering, Sustaining

4 newsletters a year, for more news join : Critical Mass email yahoo group

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

**************************************

*** Critical Mass Bicycle Ride 6pm, 1st Friday of every month ***

*** Ride Planet Earth : Global push-bike ride Sun 6th Dec 2009 ***

*** 12 December Walk Against Warming - Newcastle ***

*** World Naked Bike Ride - Australia National Convention 2009/2010 ***

*** The Artist as Family on Bikes & sustainability *NBEC ***

*** NEWS on Climate change, sustainability, etc ***

*** Stop cars annoying you - some riding in traffic advice ***

Repeated newsletter items:

*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Info ***

*** The Bike Love Corral at University Thursdays during semester

*** Bicycle User Groups (BUGs) News ***

*** BULK-WASTE COLLECTION areas ***

*** More Stuff ***

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

*** Critical Mass Bicycle Ride 6pm, 1st Friday of every month ***

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meet at 5:30pm Civic Park, Newcastle.

Free push-bike ride around town, exact route decided by riders

Web : http://criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/Newcastle_NSW

OR : critical-mass.info

Critical Mass (Global bike ride: Celebrate Cycling & its virtues[1])

Assert our right to ride on roads, and not in the car door opening death “lanes”.

Grassroots, sustainable bike culture in action!

We will ride around handing out info flyers to the community.

This is the only monthly safe, sustainable bike ride in Newcastle : We don't encourage cycling in the car door opening death lane. It's not very syustainable to ride in car door opening death lane for too long, eventually you will get hit by an opening door. See "*** Stop cars annoying you - some riding in traffic advice ***" for more info.

Meet people, share skills, make new friends.

Unsponsored and unaffiliated, Critical Mass is an intentional community

in motion, one that brings life back to the car dominated streets of our

fabulous city. Critical Mass is Pollution Free Traffic, Safety in Numbers,

Party on Wheels. Ride daily; celebrate monthly! Critical Mass.

Working bikes for participants:

The NBEC gives away 1 working bike for each critical mass bike ride.

When you complete the ride you get your "deposit" refunded.

Lights:

May - Oct Critical Mass rides are in the dark. Lights are required.

At $2 each, $4 for front and back there is no more excuse to not ride at night.

Nov - April are usually in daylight saving periods, possibly in daylight.

POSTERS:

1000's of Critical Mass Posters & stickers at Yahoo discussion group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/files

1. Retire 25 years early! : Combine Train, Bus & Push-Bike Trips With a Big Lock & A Cheap Bike. Put your health & Safety 1st

2. I’m safely passing parked cars! I’m not a road hog, cycling in the traffic lane! I could be your mum. Learn safety, respect & love!

3. “Cycling is Too Dangerous?”: Learn To Ride Safer &/Or Take the Back Streets. Let’s really save lives: motorists wear helmets.

4. “Push-Bike riding is too hard & sweaty?” : Learn to ride properly OR Ride slower &/Or Have A Sponge Down

5. Push-Bikes Are Safer Than Walking Or Driving! When will you do your own research? Or is your news Limited?

6. Push-Bikes Slow Everyone Down To Safe 30km/hr community speeds. Local Clean air to walk, cycle, bus & train!

7. Council & RTA Say, “Narrow “Bike Picture Lanes” are bad; Car Doors & squeeze points frighten cylists. Take the lane safely”

8. “Rain, Shopping, Security, Helmets & Kids”: Lame Excuses For Not Having

Push-Bike-Fun. Find/Learn Solutions.

9. Equal Respect: Push-Bikes Wait 30s At Red Lights. Motorists Wait 30s To Safely Change lanes when overtaking Cyclists.

10. Push-Bike Riders “Pay” For Roads & City Parking Spots With Taxes And NCC Rates. Motorists are more subsidized!

11. “Get off the main road?” But riding push-bikes in back streets takes longer. Is motorist’s time more important than cyclist’s?

12. Most Cyclists try to be nice by riding in car-door opening death lanes. But cycling in the traffic lane is safer for cars & bikes!

13. Push-bikers stop whinging about broken glass!

Get better tyre combos, to ride safer, and to not swerve into traffic!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

*** Ride Planet Earth : Global push-bike ride Sun 6th Dec 2009 ***

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cyclists from around the globe will take to the streets on the 6th of December 2009, demonstrating the capacity and willingness of ordinary people to take action against climate change. The next day in Copenhagen, the COP15 negotiations begin. Ride Planet Earth aims at helping convince world’s governments to take immediate action in order to close a global climate deal.

Participants will be recording video messages to address the COP15, stating not only that public action is necessary, but also that they will be taking action personally, to demonstrate that ordinary people will take the lead if governments fail to reach an agreement.

Ride Planet Earth, started by Kim Nguyen, has begun as a solo bicycle journey from Brisbane, Australia, to Copenhagen, Denmark, to collect messages from people already affected by global warming and their will for economic change.

Over the course of the journey a mass solidarity movement has developed and bicycle rides are occurring on every continent as to promote radical alternatives to burning fossil fuel.

* All the details about where rides are taking place can be found at the Ride Planet Earth website or the Ride Planet Earth facebook page.

Contacts:

Newcastle ride :

Sunday 6th December 10am at Islington Park.

Ride to Nobby's beach along the foreshore shared walking/cycleway.

Ride Length/time: 1 hour

Organised by:

Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre

w: newcastlebikeecologycentre.blogspot.com

ph: 49616582.

e: Newcastlecriticalmass@yahoo.com.au

www.rideplanetearth.org

"Start Cycle Change: Stop Climate Chaos"

Kim Paul Nguyen

Project Manager

phone: 00420608263088

email: kim@rideplanetearth.org

facebook: The Ride Planet Earth Challenge

skype: kim.paul.nguyen1

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

*** 12 December Walk Against Warming - Newcastle ***

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please forward to networks, friends and family!

and check out the facebook page

here

*Walk Against Warming Newcastle*

*When:* 1pm Saturday 12 December

*Where:* Wheeler Place 1pm, 1-2 speakers, then march to Customs House

Plaza/Park, a couple more speakers (TBC)

*Bring:* your friends, family, colleagues & banners, signs, instruments and

your voices! (and if you like, wear blue shoe laces in collaboration with

the national walks)

Let's tell our government to make Copenhagen count!

Please help distribute posters and flyers (and if you'd like electronic

copies of same) - contact zoetiarerogers@gmail.com

For more information about the Walk please contact can@climateaction.org.au

------------------------------------------------------------------------

*** World Naked Bike Ride - Australia National Convention Summer 2009/2010 ***---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dates: Tuesday 29th of December 2009 to Monday 4th of January 2010. Gates open for access by ConFesters midday Monday 28th ( check ConFest website for details )

Place: Woorooma ConFest Site East of Moulamein

Cost: ConFest entry is $70 for adults and $1 for children under 16 years old. All the activities and workshops (including the WNBR Australia National Convention) within the site are free.

Features of the programme include:

World Naked Bike Ride practice rides. Twice daily clothing optional bike rides through the vast (nearly 1000 acres) natural Confest private site. Spread the message of peace, love, and protection of mother earth through sustainable cycling.

Pre-Ride mud baths.

Post-Ride skinny dipping and refreshment.

Bike fixing workshops. Learn how to fix and repair your bike with help and instruction from a professional bike mechanic. Tools are supplied for use at the workshop.

New Organiser's Workshop. Learn how to become a World Naked Bike Ride organiser and plan a World Naked Bike Ride in your town or city.

Australian Organisers National Conference. New and existing Organisers and Coordinators will meet to plan future WNBR activities within Australia.

Plus all the other activities and workshops of ConFest. At Easter 2008 there were over 400 workshops on an amazing variety of topics.

Everyone welcome!

Biketivism Fun - Spring 2009

2009-09-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

Newsletter of the Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre
Encouraging, Educating, Enabling, Empowering
4 newsletters a year, for more news join : Critical Mass email yahoo group

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
**************************************
GET ON YOUR BIKE FOR BIKE WEEK (26 Sept to 4 Oct 2009)!!!

*** Help & prepare for Bike Week & The Bike Love Corral, Wednesdays
*** The "Bike Love Corral" visits This Is Not Art 2009 Festival
- Newcastle Community Bike Library & fix/help - Thursday to Monday
- Critical Mass - Friday
- World Naked Bike Ride - Saturday
- Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre - Sunday
- Newcastle Cycleways Movement Inc. - Monday
- Bike games TBA
*** Bike Week Family Fun Ride at the Fernleigh Track (draft)
*** Earth Ride Day 30th September
**************************************

*** The Bike Love Corral at University Thursdays during semester
*** Ride to Work Day Wednesday 14th October
*** NEWS on Climate change, sustainability, etc ***
*** Support your bike community at Critical Mass 1st Fri, monthly ***

Repeated newsletter items:
*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Info ***
*** Street & Health Smarts - Knowledge, Safety, Fun, bike buses etc. ***
*** Bicycle User Groups (BUGs) News ***
*** BULK-WASTE COLLECTION areas ***
*** More Stuff ***
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Help & prepare for Bike Week & The Bike Love Corral, Wednesdays
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
You've read the 2009 Newcastle bike week events below and you can't wait to join in the fun...
You'd love to help out your local bike community, but have been wondering how...
Here's your chance! Get in touch with Dan the bike man for more info, no experience required (49616582, Newcastlecriticalmass(at)yahoo.com.au
Choose from helping with The Bike Love Corral, Bike Rides, Postering, helping make Library bikes, or your own idea.

WEDNESDAY afternoon Bike Library Working Bees in September (12pm - 6pm)
Come around to the Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre and help build the
Newcastle Community Bike Library. We supply the broken bikes, and the help for you to fix them for free! The NBEC will buy bikes from NBEC volunteers if they are up to bike library standards (ride like a new bike, no buckles, etc)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** **************************************
GET ON YOUR BIKE FOR BIKE WEEK !!!
*** The "Bike Love Corral" visits This Is Not Art 2009 Festival

*** **************************************

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Bike Love Corral returns as a special event for This Is Not Art.
We help promote/educate about bikes, and provide bikes for the many artists visiting the festival from around the country. Join in the many bike fun things at the Bike Love Corral!

http://www.thisisnotart.org/about/:
This Is Not Art: a supercharged convergence of writers, performersm thinkers, independent musicians and industry, creative researchers, electronic artists, dilettantes, and DIY culture makers in a showcase featuring over 400 local, national and international artists.

BIKE LOVE CORRAL
We love push bikes and will provide the bike, accessories, activities
and fun for FREE! Bikes are the easy, cheap, enviro friendly way to get
around town and connect with our community. All day: Bike fixing and
traffic skills workshops. Help fix / check your own bike OR choose one
to help fix and keep. Buy or borrow bikes from the Newcastle Community
Bike Library. Bike Activism workshops on Bike User Groups, Bike Co-op
models, Critical Mass & World Naked Bike Ride.

Newcastle Community Bike Library
Buy or borrow bikes, helmets, locks and lights (cheap deposit applies).

Pre-register to borrow a bike: email Dan
newcastlecriticalmass@yahoo.com.au by 20 Sept. These must be picked
up from NBEC by or on 1st Oct. More bikes available each day at the
Corral in Civic Park.

Location: Civic Park
Days: Thursday - Monday
Times: 11.00 to 16.00

Bike activist groups supporting the Corral have special events each day
in Civic Park:

Critical Mass - Friday
Global Ride Celebrating Cycling. Assert our right to ride on roads and
not in the car door death lane.
criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/
Start Civic Park 18.00. Bike decorating from 16.00 to 18.00

World Naked Bike Ride - Saturday
Peacefully expose the vulnerability of cyclists, humanity and nature in
the face of cars, aggression, consumerism and non-renewable energy. Oz
rides in March.
australia.worldnakedbikeride.org
Semi-naked promotional ride (wear at least minimums):
Start Civic Park 17.00. Body painting from 11.00 to 17.00

Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre - Sunday
Community volunteer bike help concept offering free bikes / help all
year round Fri / Sat at Islington
newcastlebikeecologycentre.blogspot.com
Community Bike Re-use Workshop 2-3pm,

Newcastle Cycleways Movement Inc. - Monday
Work with Government bodies to improve bicycle facilities in the
greater Newcastle Area.
Its aims are to promote the safe responsible use of bicycles for
transport, leisure and fitness. Members get bike riding insurance,
discounts, rides, legal advice, and more.
users.hunterlink.net.au/~magsb
How to lobby govt. workshop: 2 – 3pm

- Bike games TBA

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Bike Week Family Fun Ride at the Fernleigh Track (draft) ***
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Family Fun Ride at the Fernleigh Track (Draft info only, check for more info closer to event)
Newcastle City Council, together with Newcastle Cycleways Movement have organised a Family Fun Ride to celebrate NSW Bike Week. All are welcome to attend a family bike ride along the Fernleigh Track, followed by a free BBQ breakfast!
Date
Sunday 27 September 2009
Time
9.00am – 11:00am
Breakfast available from 9:30am
Event Details
𐂃 6km bike ride along the Fernleigh Track
𐂃 Opportunity the walk the latest stretch of path from Whitebridge to Redhead, before it officially opens.
𐂃 Chance to win a FREE bicycle and accessories
𐂃 Breakfast from 9:30am
𐂃 Bicycle safety checks
𐂃 Cycling resources and give-aways
Location
Fernleigh Track entrance, off Station
Street, Whitebridge.
Further Information
For more information, please phone Newcastle City Council on 4974 2667 or go to the website www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au.
FREE BIKE and accessories
to be won!
On the day, simply fill out the survey to be in the competition.
Winners will be drawn at 10:45am.
Note: winners must be present at the time of the draw in order to claim their prize.
The winners will receive vouchers for a bike and accessories of their choice

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*** Earth Ride Day 30th September ***
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Earth Ride Day
30th September 2009 aims to have millions of people right around the globe on their bikes! Earth Ride is about encouraging everyone to engage in a solution now that we already know offers significant benefits towards the goal of a low carbon future. Riding a bike for transport will significantly reduce your carbon footprint in comparison to taking the car and is even better than riding on public transport. The savings are as endless as the journeys we all undertake - riding to school, the shops, to visit friends and family - wherever you need to go! In addition to helping create the future environment you want, riding a bike is a convenient, healthy and fun way to get about!
Register now at www.earthride.com.au

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*** The Bike Love Corral at University Thursdays during semester***
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NUSA's Enviro Collective's Ride a Bike Campaign is hosting the
festival-friendly Bike Love Corral.

Where:Outside NUSA building, Thursdays during semester 10am to 4pm

BIKE LOVE CORRAL
We love push bikes and will provide the bike, accessories, activities
and fun for FREE! Bikes are the easy, cheap, enviro friendly way to get
around town and connect with our community. All day: Bike fixing and
traffic skills workshops. Help fix / check your own bike OR choose one
to help fix and keep. Buy or borrow bikes from the Newcastle Community
Bike Library. Bike Activism info/workshops on Bike User Groups, Bike Co-op
models, Critical Mass & World Naked Bike Ride.

supported by:
NUSA Enviro Collective
Critical Mass
World Naked Bike Ride
Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre

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*** Ride to Work Day Wednesday 14th October***
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2009 Ride to Work Day
This date for this year’s event is Wednesday 14th October. To register and get details on how to involve your workplace, as well as a downloadable poster go to our Commuting Events page at http://www.bicyclensw.org.au/content/commuting-events

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*** NEWS on Climate change, sustainability, etc ***---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The NSW Government is reviewing the State Plan.
Join in and give them your ideas and views on what the State Plan should be focusing on, such as encouraging sustainable active transport through provision for bikes. http://www.nswstateplan.net.au/

Climate Camp 2009

The Climate Camp 09 will be three inspiring days of workshops, sustainable living and grassroots direct action from October 9 -11th; aimed at stopping the expansion of Australia’s oldest coal mine in Helensburgh, forty minutes south of Sydney.

Last year, the Camp for Climate Action at Newcastle was a resounding success, building to a climax in which over a thousand people joined a peaceful protest to stop trains transporting coal and focus the nation’s attention on the polluting coal industry.
Follow this link to find out more about the camp. http://climatecamp.org.au/

Farrell “Futures Series” Forums
September 4th and 25th, 2009

WHERE: University of Newcastle, CT Building Room CT202

The Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment is putting on a series of FREE forums covering a number of topics. The three forums are:

• “Implications and opportunities in a carbon-constrained world” – September 4th, 2-5pm.
• “Climate Change: What does this mean for our region” – September 25th, 3-4.30pm.
• “Forecasting coal production until 2100” – Scheduled for late October. Date to be confirmed.

Climate Camp Fundraising and Awareness-raising Gig
September 9th, 2009

WHERE: The Lass O’Gowrie (Evening til around
midnight)

Please join us at the first of two
fundraising events for Climate Camp 2009.
Entertainment includes Pub Quiz and
prizes, and performances by:
- Paul Spencer,
- Charlotte and the Nightmare,
- Matt McFarlane,
- Rob Burns,
and more

Money raised by donations
and bar sales, as well as raffles.
A second gig featuring Le Minibus will
also be held at The Lass in late September, on a date to be confirmed.

Transition Newcastle:
Sustainable House Day, Sunday 13 September 2009. Six houses around the Lower Hunter that are working towards being more sustainable will be open to the public. We would encourage you to visit one or to contact us about volunteering to help on the day.

We have confirmed a booking at Town Hall for a Sensible Transport for Newcastle Forum on Thursday 24th September 6-8pm. This public forum will focus on the need to include oil vulnerability planning in any future with sustainable transport. Key note speaker will be Elliot Fishman from www.sensibletransport.org.au. More info to come.

Transition Newcastle is a grass-roots organisation creating a positive vision for the future, where we can form close community ties, and network with the myriad of environmental organisations, and work with Council and businesses to accelerate the pace of change we must make, in order to effectively tackle the twin challenges of peak oil and climate change.

Website: www.transitionnewcastle.org.au

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*** Support your bike community at Newcastle Critical Mass 1st Friday of every month***
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Critical Mass is a global monthly bicycle ride to Celebrate & Promote Cycling. Meet at Civic Park, Newcastle 5:30pm for 6:00pm ride on the 1st Friday of every month.
criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki
##################################
Monthly Blurb

Critical Mass is your once a month opportunity to ride in SAFETY and style.
Assert your right to travel safely on roads, and not in the car door lane.
Sustainable transport, not 2nd class citizens.
Meet people, share skills, make new friends.
Unsponsored and unaffiliated, Critical Mass is an intentional community
in motion, one that brings life back to the car dominated streets of our
fabulous city. Critical Mass is Pollution Free Traffic, Safety in Numbers,
Party on Wheels. Ride daily; celebrate monthly! Critical Mass.

Working bikes for participants:
The NBEC gives away 1 working bike every month for a critical mass bike ride.
When you complete the ride you get your "deposit" refunded.

Posters & stickers at Yahoo discussion group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/files

DISCLAIMER: Critical Mass is a global bike ride, and is organised by local community bike love, & not anyone in particular.

Note: May - Oct Critical Mass rides are in the dark. Lights are required. At $2 each, $4 for front and back there is no more excuse to not ride at night.
Nov - April are usually in daylight saving periods, possibly in daylight.

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*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Info
Bikes should be safe & like new - bike help/library/co-op/workshops ***
- Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre, Friday & Saturday ***
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Closed over the This Is Not Art Festival (see above).

Too many bike shops in Newie tell customers that their bike is not worth fixing, the cost being more than a cost of a new bike. What a load of
unsustaina-garbage.
If you cost new tubes, tires, wheels and a few other things you quickly get over $100 to fix a bike.
What about fixing the buckled wheels? And sanding the rust off the wheel rims? Etc.
And the NBEC still has plenty of as new tires waiting to be used.
So spend up big when buying climate change consumer throw-away never repair
goodies. Or get stuff for free at your sustaina-fun-NBEC!

Properly repaired & maintained bikes should ride like new ones!
If yours doesn't, then it needs fixing. No excuses for unsafe bikes!

A well maintained bike will keep working safely. Remember to fix any small
problems ASAP, otherwise they become bigger and take longer to fix.
Save money, resources, and the planet and don't buy new bikes or new parts.
If you are annoyed at your bike it might be due to the bike set-up or riding style, so ask for some info.

At: Newcastle's Bike Ecology Centre,
106 Robert St Islington
Phone: 49616582
Email: newcastlecriticalmass[@]yahoo.com.au
web: newcastlebikeecologycentre.blogspot.com
Time: 9am to 5pm

What Fun can be had:
1. Borrow a bike from the Community Push-Bike Library (returnable deposit :$5 to $150)
2. Buy a second hand bike ($5 to $150)
3. Get parts & non-working bikes for free
4. Use tools for free (volunteers can help you use them)
5. Fix up a non-working bike for free (volunteers can help you fix them)
6. Join a fixing workshop for free
7. Stop getting annoyed by cars for free
8. Get bike info/handouts/magazines/stickers/newsletters/flyers/etc.
9. Donations of pre-loved bikes or parts can also be done
10. Help us build a fantastic sustainable community self-help centre!
11. Learn different tyre/tube combos to stop punctures
12. The NBEC will buy bikes from NBEC volunteers if they are up to bike library standards (ride like a new bike, no buckles, etc)
13. If you want a working bike for free refer to Critical Mass promo.

Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre motto:
REDUCE consumption, waste, & pollution,
RE-USE & repair.
RE-CYCLE as the last resort

Get a spare, 2nd hand, back-up bike!
This is quite important, but many people learn the hard way when their only bike breaks down, or is stolen.
Having a back-up bike puts your mind at ease, so you don't get rushed into
buying a new bike when something unfortunate happens to the bike you're riding. Or when you goto head off in the morning and you have a flat tire. Hop on your spare!

Mission/Vision of similar global centres:

The Community Bicycle Center exists to empower people through bicycles and
bicycling experiences. As a result of Community Bicycle Center's work,
people of all ages and backgrounds will improve their well being (skills,
attitudes, beliefs, and health) through bicycle experiences.

Our indicators of success include:
reducing bicycle-related injuries
increasing the number of bicycle transportation trips
and increasing access to safe bicycles.

LOCKS, LIGHTS and MUDGAURDS.....
$10 heavy duty locks for the NBEC are here!
Apparently the heavy duty U or D locks are only $15 from Target. Which sounds cheap. Also the Cheap shop in town (opposite Mesuem) has flashing red safey lights for $2 each. This is very cheap, they work, and NBEC has some if you want to get them. I recommend putting sticky tape around the seal of the light for wet weather protection. Even my more expensive back light needs this sticky tape, as it gets a soaking from my back wheel in the recent wet weather. It stops working the next day sometimes,
and I need to dry it out for it to work again. Or try Marte's trick of a cover over your backrack to stop mud/water going onto seat mounted rear lights or your clothes. Or if you have a real commuting bike it will have mudgaurds. But don't use mudgaurds with knobly "mountain bike" tyres because the knobly bits can catch on the mudgaurd and cause damage, mudgaurd squashing and bike stopping. Especially a possible life
threatening problem on front wheels.

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*** Street & Health Smarts - Knowledge is Safety, for making cycling more fun ***
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If you think riding a bike is too hard or too dangerous, then you are doing it wrong.

Stop getting annoyed by cars and stay out of the car door lane.
You really aren't being kind to motorists by getting out of their way/lane.
We are kind when we don't put kids jumping out of cars lives at risk.
If cars still annoy you, then you aren't riding safely enough.

Glass punctures:

Glass punctures are a thing of the past for me. Putting an old worn out tyre (with the metal beading cut from it) inside the back tyre of my bike means I get no more glass punctures, and can keep riding until the back tyre is very bald. The inner protection tyre works best if it is a smooth tyre, with no knobbles on it. I would recommend only putting on a rear
wheel, as it is the most puncture prone wheel. The NBEC has some old tyres suitable to be made into inner protection layers. Many "racing" cyclists continually complain about glass where they ride, "causing" them to ride out in the traffic. But motorists get angry with the cyclists not using
the road shoulder, and the cyclists get angry with the motorists being angry with them. This angry cycle of whingers continues until they find something else to whinge about. I plead for happy people to solve problems and stop whinging.

Riding Styles:
Most people pedal too slowly, and don't have correct seat height.
Once your balance is good on a bike (and you can hop on and off easily), you should aim for the following:
1. Leg extension is almost maximum when riding, and at the bottom of the leg stroke (a slight bend in the knee is OK). If you have a big bend in the knee at the maximum extenxion point, then you are damaging your knees, you tire easily, etc.

2. Leg rotation speed should be 80-100 times a minute. This mainly has to do with gear selection. If you are in too high a gear you are pedalling slowly and if you exert too much force you will again do damage to your body. A faster pedalling gear is easy to pedal and will not make you wear out as fast. Pedalling too slowly can also damage your bike, with many people telling me that their 5th, 6th, or 7th gear at the back slips over teeth. The usual problem (after ruling out chain wear/ gear problems) is they are in the incorrect gear for the speed they are going.
But you can ride slowly, slow leg rotation as long as you aren't exerting too much force on your legs. If your body doesn't ache, and your bike

Gears:
front 1-2-3 (1 is closest to the bike frame, away from the pedals)
back 1-2-3-4-5-6 (1 is closest to the centre of your back wheel)

Good gear combos to use :
Going up hills:
front 1
back 1-2-3

On flats:
front 2
back 3-4-5

Fast and down hills:
front 3
back 4-5-6
############## More ################

Some safe traffic cycling tips can be found here:
critical-mass.info
www.ohiobike.org/resources.htm
www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
www.bicyclecommute.wordpress.com
www.communitybike.net

Register for a comprehensive practical and theory based traffic skills cycling course with the Newcastle Bike-Ecology Centre. Because if you get annoyed with cars or car doors then you ain't riding correctly.
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*** Bicycle User Groups (BUGs) news ***
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*** Newcastle Cycleways Movement (NCM) meeting & rides ***

NCM works with Government bodies for better bicycle designs in the Greater
Newcastle
Area. Its aims are to promote the safe responsible use of bicycles for
transport,
leisure and fitness. NCM are the local BUGs who are affiliated with the states
peak
cycling lobbying organisation (Bicycle NSW)

Members have individual third party liability insurance (so they are covered if
they
are INVOLVED in an accident and someone or something is hurt), bike shop
discounts,
legal advice, and more.

Everyone gets: magazines, newsletters, rides. See website.

Regular ride (see web for others):
8:00am Saturday's, Followed by breakfast.
At: Stewart St Railway Crossing, Newcastle West.
This ride gets a lot bigger over the warmer months...
Do NCM rides "promote the safe responsible use of bicycles" as the NCM motto is?
How do NCM ride leaders safely ride on roads with bike pictures on them?

"NBEC Community Cycling Proposal (which should have NCM input):

To gather local community support with encouraging members of the local
community to
cycle more and more often.

They may need their bike fixed or a new 2nd hand bike.
The NBEC can help with fixing bikes and learning how to maintain it.

Work with the local Community to educate/learn about safer cycling now.
We can't wait for bike paths everywhere. The local community wants to get
healthy,
reduce greenhouse gases from cars, stop childhood obesity, and have safer
streets NOW.

Cycling in car door lane bad,
Cycling where a car will squeeze dangerously close past you bad.
Cycling in predictable straight lines good.
Cycling where cars will pass you safely good."

Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, starting at 7 p.m.
in the Charlestown Bowling Club (in the Downstairs Meeting Room to the left)
http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~magsb/ (AGM in August)
E-Mail: cycleways@hunterlink.net.au, Phone: (02) 4944 7869

BUG Wiki website (http://bug.blinddog.org/) has lots of advice about how you can
influence your Council, through its Management Plan, its Traffic Committee and
its
annual Budget.

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*** Newcastle BULK-WASTE COLLECTION areas***
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Find unwanted goodies on the side of the footpath in areas around Newcastle.
Most stuff appears Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.
Main roads have most of the good stuff taken very quickly, and then it seems
like
there isn't good stuff to be got....But check out the backstreets!
Make it a part of your saving renewable sustainable transport from
landfill/reverse
pollution lifestyle too!

2008 schedule finally on NCC website:

Area Week Beg Week Beg Suburbs
1 28.01.08 30.06.08 Stockton & Carrington
2 14.01.08 07.07.08 Tighes Hill, Islington, Wickham & Maryville
3 21.01.08 14.07.08 Mayfield, Mayfield East
4 07.01.08 21.07.08 Sandgate, Warabrook, Mayfield West, Hexham
5 04.02.08 28.07.08 Shortland & Birmingham Gardens
6 11.02.08 04.08.08 Maryland & Fletcher
7 18.02.08 11.08.08 Minmi, Mayfield bordered by Hanbury St,
Maitland Rd, Upfold & Railway Line, Blackhill
8 25.02.08 18.08.08 Tarro & Beresfield
9 03.03.08 25.08.08 Maryland & Wallsend
10 10.03.08 01.09.08 Wallsend
11 17.03.08 08.09.08 Elermore Vale
12 24.03.08 15.09.08 Jesmond, Lambton & New Lambton Heights
13 31.03.08 22.09.08 Waratah West & Lambton North
14 07.04.08 29.09.08 Lambton & New Lambton
15 14.04.08 06.10.08 New Lambton
16 21.04.08 13.10.08 Kotara
17 28.04.08 20.10.08 New Lambton & Kotara
18 05.05.08 27.10.08 Waratah, Georgetown & Broadmeadow
19 12.05.08 03.11.08 Hamilton, Part Adamstown, Part Broadmeadow
20 19.05.08 10.11.08 Adamstown & Adamstown Heights
21 26.05.08 17.11.08 Merewether
22 02.06.08 24.11.08 Merewether, Bar Beach Ave Bar Beach
23 09.06.08 01.12.08 Newcastle, Newcastle East & West, The Hill
24 16.06.08 08.12.08 Cooks Hill, Bar Beach, The Junction
25 23.06.08 15.12.08 Hamilton South

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*** More Stuff ***
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Community produce/products/services at Wickham:
www.figtree.org.au
http://www.beanstalk.org.au/index2.htm

NEWCASTLE CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIVITIES AND MEETINGS:
www.risingtide.org.au
www.climateaction.org.au

COMMUNITY POLITICS:
www.getup.org.au

ENVIRO:
www.foe.org.au
ENVIROWIKI and Grassroots Enviro are growing, but needs YOUR help
http://www.envirowiki.info/ - the wiki resource for enviro and social
justice activists that YOU can edit!
http://envirowiki.info/index.php/Environmental_issues
http://www.grassrootsenvironment.net
other links:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/links

_____________________________________________________________________________

[1] Biketivism (Push-bike Activism) promotes:
- Clean air not toxic exhaust fumes
- Carbon free not climate changing chaos
- Peace not wars for oil/consumerism or animal Road Kill
- Sustainability not peak oil depressions
- Safe First Class Road Users bypassing speeding car culture carnage
- Effective communities not Urban car sprawl
- Cheap transport not multinational greed
- Health & fitness not sedentary obesity
- Safety in Numbers, Party on wheels
- Push-Bike FUN not evil road rage
- Preservation of environment not more highways, roads, land clearing, dams,mines
- Human power empowerment (etc¦.)
- We don't block traffic, WE ARE TRAFFIC!

HDC steals green tick with dangerous city cycleway

2009-06-03T17:35:00.000-07:00

HDC has ignored the advice of local bicycle advocates and used its proposed cycleway in the rail corridor as leverage for getting the green tick of approval. No local bicycle advocate groups wanted the removal of the rail to the city to provide yet another unsafe cyclepath. There already is a cyclepath along Honeysuckle, and it would be prudent to fix the problems with that one before starting a new one. All of the new street links crossing this cyclepath will make it more dangerous to cycle than Hunter St. Did HDC research about cycle crash statistics at cross intersections? They would find out most crashes occur at cross intersections or with car door openings. Rather than adopt advocates suggested world’s best practice found in cycling cities of Holland, France, Germany, and now even Sydney, HDC stoops to another cyclepath so they can call it a “Green Corridor”. Remove the dangerous bike pictures in deathly car door lanes, and build
fully separated bike lanes.

Biketivism Fun - Winter 2009

2009-05-19T17:25:00.000-07:00

*** Ride of Silence 9am Sunday 24 May 2009***
*** Cultural STOMP Festival 2009 - "Be The Change"
Saturday June 6***
*** Transition Town Newcastle ***
*** Stage 3 of the Fernleigh Track ***
*** Newcastle Critical Mass 10th Anniversary 5th, June 2009 ***
*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Info ***
*** Street & Health Smarts - Knowledge, Safety, Fun, bike buses etc. ***
*** Bicycle User Groups (BUGs) News - AGM in August ***
*** BULK-WASTE COLLECTION areas ***
*** More Stuff ***
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*** Ride of Silence 9am Sunday 24 May 2009 ***
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Centennial Park, Tooke St Cooks Hill

A worldwide memorial ride to honour the memory of cyclists killed while riding their bicycles.

Meet at Centennial Park, Tooke St Cooks Hill at 9am. A safe, gentle-paced ride through to Adamstown and joining the Fernleigh track. Continuing to Whitebridge and making its way back to Centennial Park.

Join other concerned cyclists in simultaneous rides in other Australian cities and over 250 cities worldwide.

For Ride of Silence information go to:
www.rideofsilence.org

“People who chose to participate in this ride voluntarily assume the risks inherent with riding a bicycle in close proximity to vehicles on public roads and other surfaces that may contain hazards. This is a risk warning for the purpose of the Civil Liability Act. There is no public liability insurance. So, if you ride, ride carefully! ”.

Riding tips:
● Ride in respectful silence
● Wear black armbands to honour those killed
● Ride two abreast, obey all traffic laws
● Ride slowly, no faster than 20km/h

The Ride of Silence is an apolitical, peaceful, memorial occasion to honour those who can no longer speak for themselves

There is no registration, no sponsors, no prizes, no fees and no insurance. This is a safe, responsible and mature response to the carnage on the roads we share with motor vehicles.

We shall not forget them

The worldwide Ride of Silence Takes place at 6pm on 21st May in the northern hemisphere. For safety and visibility this is not appropriate for Australia on a dark autumn evening.
Poster is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/files

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*** Cultural STOMP Festival 2009 - "Be The Change"
Saturday June 6***---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Civic Park Newcastle, 9am to 6pm

The Cultural STOMP Festival is Newcastle’s Annual Celebration of Community, Cultural Diversity, the Environment and Social Justice.
STOMP provides a unique opportunity for all members of the community to share their culture, their message and their creative voice.
It is an open invitation to a collaboration between artists and all communities to participate in a celebration of the city and to create a unique and sustainable social environment for the future.

For 2009, we are looking for interested people to bring their energy and creative vigour to the process of exploring the theme of "Be The Change".

The Bike Corral at STOMP

Be the change you want to see in the world by RIDING A BIKE. It is the fun environmentally sustainable way to transport you, your family and things. Get there without noise, air pollution or climate changing, green house gasses. Foster fitness and friendlier, gentler community spaces rather than competitive, angry, fat, lazy, egotist car culture.

The Bike Corral consists of the below Sustainable Bike Culture Activism groups in Newcastle. Come get some info, or join a free workshop on bike fixing or riding skills.

Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre
Come and help make your bike safe, learn to fix bikes, learn cycling skills (to stop getting annoyed by cars), fix a pre-loved bike, donate bikes/parts or get parts: all these for FREE.
Also buy or borrow a bike from the bike library.
Fridays & Saturdays 9-5. 106 Robert St, Islington 2296 phone 49 616 582. Advocacy, Newsletters & more!
newcastlebikeecologycentre.blogspot.com

Critical Mass
Global monthly bicycle ride to Celebrate & Promote Cycling. Assert your right to use a whole lane safely because the bike “lanes” are legally too narrow.
Meet at Civic Park, Newcastle 5:30pm for 6:00pm ride on the 1st Friday of every month.
criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/

World Naked Bike Ride
Peacefully expose the vulnerability of cyclists, humanity and nature in the face of cars, aggression, consumerism and non-renewable energy.
Australian rides are held in March every year.
australia.worldnakedbikeride.org

Newcastle Cycleways Movement Inc.
Work with Government bodies to improve bicycle facilities & promote the safe responsible use of bicycles for transport, leisure and fitness.
Rides, insurance, newsletters, discounts, legal advice, and more.
users.hunterlink.net.au/~magsb

Web: http://octapod.org/projects/cultural-stomp-festival
Blog: http://theculturalstomp.ning.com/
On Facebook: Friends of the Cultural STOMP Festival Newcastle:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7212934178
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*** Transition Town Newcastle ***---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transition Newcastle is a grass-roots organisation creating a positive vision for the future, where we can form close community ties, and network with the myriad of environmental organisations, and work with Council and businesses to accelerate the pace of change we must make, in order to effectively tackle the twin challenges of peak oil and climate change.
We have a committee with members who work and live around Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, and we are gathering resources to assist local areas to start their own Transition Initiatives.
TTN is continuing momentum building with an "Open Space" gathering this Sunday 24th May.
Theme: Creating Connected and Sustainable Neighborhoods - Where do we start?
This is our first use of Open Space technology and is an open invitation. We are excited to bring the above question to all those who are interested in creating positive changes, to make our neighborhoods and communities better and more resilient places to live.
It doesn't matter if you are very experienced in community development and sustainability or new to the enormous possibilities of invigorating community life and promoting action.
Open Space Technology is an extraordinary tool - described as a simple way to run productive meetings and a powerful way to lead any kind of organisation in everyday practice and change. The topics discussed and outcomes are dependent on the interests of those who attend. It is a highly open, interactive process as is demonstrated by Open Space's only "law" - the Law of two Feet (i.e. If, during the course of the gathering any person finds themselves in a situation where they are neither learning nor contributing, they should use their feet and go to a more productive space).
This will be a professionally facilitated opportunity to develop our ideas and actions in the spirit of transitioning, and we invite everyone who has time, to join us for a joyful afternoon and help us make it worthwhile. We will organise some activities for children if needed.
Sunday 24th May 1-4pm Hamilton Public School (entrance off Steel St) – We would love you to join us in this adventure.

William Vorobioff
On behalf of the Newcastle Transition Team.
Please RSVP and let us know if you will be bringing children http://au.mc01g.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=transitionnc@optusnet.com.au
Website: www.transitionnewcastle.org.au

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*** Stage 3 of the Fernleigh Track ***
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Fernleigh Track ….Thanks and keep it going…

It’s great to hear that work will very soon be starting start on Stage 3 of the Fernleigh Track. Congratulations to local Company Site Worx Civil Contracting on gaining the contract to build an additional 4km of cycleway from Whitebridge to Redhead.

The Fernleigh Track has been just on 10 years in construction to date. It was nearly 20 years in the conception and planning before that. Without major funding, the final Stages 4 and 5 to Belmont could still be years away.

The Federal Government recently announced a National Infrastructure Fund for Cycling facilities. Competition for these funds will be intense. Newcastle Cycleways is heartened to see that Lake Macquarie and Newcastle Councils are making a concerted effort to gain significant funding from this source.

We believe that Fernleigh is a magnificent asset for the cyclists and walkers who share the track. It is the most significant of many projects needed to make cycling the safe, enjoyable and green transport choice it can be in this region. We encourage Local Councillors, State Members and Local Federal members to lend their verbal and written support to Council’s application. Please can we get this job finished?

David Bennett
Fernleigh Track Committee Cycling Representative
Vice President of Newcastle Cycleways Movement

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*** Newcastle Critical Mass 10th Anniversary 5th, June 2009 ***
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Newcastle Critical Mass turns 10 this year on World Environment Day, Friday 5th of June.
Critical Mass is a global monthly bicycle ride to Celebrate & Promote Cycling. Celebrate World Environment day with one of the most environmental ways of travelling. Push bikes emit no air pollution, no climate change gases, no ocean oil spills, no production of new cars if the bike is recycled/recovered/refixed, little road crashes deaths, little traffic jams, healthy transport to slow obesity epedemic, etc

Meet at Civic Park, Newcastle 5:30pm for 6:00pm ride on the 1st Friday of every month.
criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki
##################################
Monthly Blurb

Critical Mass is your once a month opportunity to ride in SAFETY and style.
Assert your right to travel safely on roads, and not in the car door lane.
Sustainable transport, not 2nd class citizens.
Meet people, share skills, make new friends.
Unsponsored and unaffiliated, Critical Mass is an intentional community
in motion, one that brings life back to the car dominated streets of our
fabulous city. Critical Mass is Pollution Free Traffic, Safety in Numbers,
Party on Wheels. Ride daily; celebrate monthly! Critical Mass.

Working bikes for participants:
The NBEC gives away 1 working bike every month for a critical mass bike ride.
When you complete the ride you get your "deposit" refunded.

Posters & stickers at Yahoo discussion group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/files

DISCLAIMER: Critical Mass is a global bike ride, and is organised by local community bike love, & not anyone in particular.

Note: May - Oct Critical Mass rides are in the dark. Lights are required. At $2 each, $4 for front and back there is no more excuse to not ride at night.
Nov - April are usually in daylight saving periods, possibly in daylight.

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*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Info
Bikes should be safe & like new - bike help/library/co-op/workshops ***
- Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre, Every Friday & Saturday ***
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Closed Saturday 6th because of above events.

Too many bike shops in Newie tell customers that their bike is not worth fixing, the cost being more than a cost of a new bike. What a load of
unsustaina-garbage.
If you cost new tubes, tires, wheels and a few other things you quickly get over $100 to fix a bike.
What about fixing the buckled wheels? And sanding the rust off the wheel rims? Etc.
And the NBEC still has plenty of as new tires waiting to be used.
So spend up big when buying climate change consumer throw-away never repair
goodies. Or get everything for free at your sustaina-fun-NBEC!

Properly repaired & maintained bikes should ride like new ones!
If yours doesn't, then it needs fixing. No excuses for unsafe bikes!

A well maintained bike will keep working safely. Remember to fix any small
problems ASAP, otherwise they become bigger and take longer to fix.
Save money, resources, and the planet and don't buy new bikes or new parts.
If you are annoyed at your bike it might be due to the bike set-up or riding style, so ask for some info.

At: Newcastle's Bike Ecology Centre,
106 Robert St Islington
Phone: 49616582
Email: newcastlecriticalmass[@]yahoo.com.au
web: newcastlebikeecologycentre.blogspot.com
Time: 9am to 5pm

What Fun can be had:
1. Borrow a bike from the Community Push-Bike Library (returnable deposit :$5 to $150)
2. Buy a second hand bike ($5 to $150)
3. Get parts & non-working bikes for free
4. Use tools for free (volunteers can help you use them)
5. Fix up a non-working bike for free (volunteers can help you fix them)
6. Join a fixing workshop for free
7. Stop getting annoyed by cars for free
8. Get bike info/handouts/magazines/stickers/newsletters/flyers/etc.
9. Donations of pre-loved bikes or parts can also be done
10. Help us build a fantastic sustainable community self-help centre!
11. Learn different tyre/tube combos to stop punctures
12. The NBEC will buy bikes from NBEC volunteers if they are up to bike library standards (ride like a new bike, no buckles, etc)
13. If you want a working bike for free refer to Critical Mass promo.

Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre motto:
REDUCE consumption, waste, & pollution,
RE-USE & repair.
RE-CYCLE as the last resort

Get a spare, 2nd hand, back-up bike!
This is quite important, but many people learn the hard way when their only bike breaks down, or is stolen.
Having a back-up bike puts your mind at ease, so you don't get rushed into
buying a new bike when something unfortunate happens to the bike you're riding. Or when you goto head off in the morning and you have a flat tire. Hop on your spare!

Mission/Vision of similar global centres:

The Community Bicycle Center exists to empower people through bicycles and
bicycling experiences. As a result of Community Bicycle Center's work,
people of all ages and backgrounds will improve their well being (skills,
attitudes, beliefs, and health) through bicycle experiences.

Our indicators of success include:
reducing bicycle-related injuries
increasing the number of bicycle transportation trips
and increasing access to safe bicycles.

LOCKS, LIGHTS and MUDGAURDS.....
$10 heavy duty locks for the NBEC are here!
Apparently the heavy duty U or D locks are only $15 from Target. Which sounds cheap. Also the Cheap shop in town (opposite Mesuem) has flashing red safey lights for $2 each. This is very cheap, they work, and NBEC has some if you want to get them. I recommend putting sticky tape around the seal of the light for wet weather protection. Even my more expensive back light needs this sticky tape, as it gets a soaking from my back wheel in the recent wet weather. It stops working the next day sometimes,
and I need to dry it out for it to work again. Or try Marte's trick of a cover over your backrack to stop mud/water going onto seat mounted rear lights or your clothes. Or if you have a real commuting bike it will have mudgaurds. But don't use mudgaurds with knobly "mountain bike" tyres because the knobly bits can catch on the mudgaurd and cause damage, mudgaurd squashing and bike stopping. Especially a possible life
threatening problem on front wheels.

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*** Street & Health Smarts - Knowledge is Safety, for making cycling more fun ***
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If you think riding a bike is too hard or too dangerous, then you are doing it wrong.

Stop getting annoyed by cars and stay out of the car door lane.
You really aren't being kind to motorists by getting out of their way/lane.
We are kind when we don't put kids jumping out of cars lives at risk.
If cars still annoy you, then you aren't riding safely enough.

Glass punctures:

Glass punctures are a thing of the past for me. Putting an old worn out tyre (with the metal beading cut from it) inside the back tyre of my bike means I get no more glass punctures, and can keep riding until the back tyre is very bald. The inner protection tyre works best if it is a smooth tyre, with no knobbles on it. I would recommend only putting on a rear
wheel, as it is the most puncture prone wheel. The NBEC has some old tyres suitable to be made into inner protection layers. Many "racing" cyclists continually complain about glass where they ride, "causing" them to ride out in the traffic. But motorists get angry with the cyclists not using
the road shoulder, and the cyclists get angry with the motorists being angry with them. This angry cycle of whingers continues until they find something else to whinge about. I plead for happy people to solve problems and stop whinging.

Riding Styles:
Most people pedal too slowly, and don't have correct seat height.
Once your balance is good on a bike (and you can hop on and off easily), you should aim for the following:
1. Leg extension is almost maximum when riding, and at the bottom of the leg stroke (a slight bend in the knee is OK). If you have a big bend in the knee at the maximum extenxion point, then you are damaging your knees, you tire easily, etc.

2. Leg rotation speed should be 80-100 times a minute. This mainly has to do with gear selection. If you are in too high a gear you are pedalling slowly and if you exert too much force you will again do damage to your body. A faster pedalling gear is easy to pedal and will not make you wear out as fast. Pedalling too slowly can also damage your bike, with many people telling me that their 5th, 6th, or 7th gear at the back slips over teeth. The usual problem (after ruling out chain wear/ gear problems) is they are in the incorrect gear for the speed they are going.
But you can ride slowly, slow leg rotation as long as you aren't exerting too much force on your legs. If your body doesn't ache, and your bike

Gears:
front 1-2-3 (1 is closest to the bike frame, away from the pedals)
back 1-2-3-4-5-6 (1 is closest to the centre of your back wheel)

Good gear combos to use :
Going up hills:
front 1
back 1-2-3

On flats:
front 2
back 3-4-5

Fast and down hills:
front 3
back 4-5-6
############## More ################

Some safe traffic cycling tips can be found here:
critical-mass.info
www.ohiobike.org/resources.htm
www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
www.bicyclecommute.wordpress.com
www.communitybike.net

Register for a comprehensive practical and theory based traffic skills cycling course with the Newcastle Bike-Ecology Centre. Because if you get annoyed with cars or car doors then you ain't riding correctly.
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*** Bicycle User Groups (BUGs) news ***
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*** Newcastle Cycleways Movement (NCM) meeting & rides ***

NCM works with Government bodies for better bicycle designs in the Greater
Newcastle
Area. Its aims are to promote the safe responsible use of bicycles for
transport,
leisure and fitness. NCM are the local BUGs who are affiliated with the states
peak
cycling lobbying organisation (Bicycle NSW)

Members have individual third party liability insurance (so they are covered if
they
are INVOLVED in an accident and someone or something is hurt), bike shop
discounts,
legal advice, and more.

Everyone gets: magazines, newsletters, rides. See website.

Regular ride (see web for others):
8:00am Saturday's, Followed by breakfast.
At: Stewart St Railway Crossing, Newcastle West.
This ride gets a lot bigger over the warmer months...
Do NCM rides "promote the safe responsible use of bicycles" as the NCM motto is?
How do NCM ride leaders safely ride on roads with bike pictures on them?

"NBEC Community Cycling Proposal (which should have NCM input):

To gather local community support with encouraging members of the local
community to
cycle more and more often.

They may need their bike fixed or a new 2nd hand bike.
The NBEC can help with fixing bikes and learning how to maintain it.

Work with the local Community to educate/learn about safer cycling now.
We can't wait for bike paths everywhere. The local community wants to get
healthy,
reduce greenhouse gases from cars, stop childhood obesity, and have safer
streets NOW.

Cycling in car door lane bad,
Cycling where a car will squeeze dangerously close past you bad.
Cycling in predictable straight lines good.
Cycling where cars will pass you safely good."

Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, starting at 7 p.m.
in the Charlestown Bowling Club (in the Downstairs Meeting Room to the left)
http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~magsb/ (AGM in August)
E-Mail: http://au.mc01g.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=cycleways@hunterlink.net.au, Phone: (02) 4944 7869

BUG Wiki website (http://bug.blinddog.org/) has lots of advice about how you can
influence your Council, through its Management Plan, its Traffic Committee and
its
annual Budget.

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*** Newcastle BULK-WASTE COLLECTION areas***
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Find unwanted goodies on the side of the footpath in areas around Newcastle.
Most stuff appears Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.
Main roads have most of the good stuff taken very quickly, and then it seems
like
there isn't good stuff to be got....But check out the backstreets!
Make it a part of your saving renewable sustainable transport from
landfill/reverse
pollution lifestyle too!

2008 schedule finally on NCC website:

Area Week Beg Week Beg Suburbs
1 28.01.08 30.06.08 Stockton & Carrington
2 14.01.08 07.07.08 Tighes Hill, Islington, Wickham & Maryville
3 21.01.08 14.07.08 Mayfield, Mayfield East
4 07.01.08 21.07.08 Sandgate, Warabrook, Mayfield West, Hexham
5 04.02.08 28.07.08 Shortland & Birmingham Gardens
6 11.02.08 04.08.08 Maryland & Fletcher
7 18.02.08 11.08.08 Minmi, Mayfield bordered by Hanbury St,
Maitland Rd, Upfold & Railway Line, Blackhill
8 25.02.08 18.08.08 Tarro & Beresfield
9 03.03.08 25.08.08 Maryland & Wallsend
10 10.03.08 01.09.08 Wallsend
11 17.03.08 08.09.08 Elermore Vale
12 24.03.08 15.09.08 Jesmond, Lambton & New Lambton Heights
13 31.03.08 22.09.08 Waratah West & Lambton North
14 07.04.08 29.09.08 Lambton & New Lambton
15 14.04.08 06.10.08 New Lambton
16 21.04.08 13.10.08 Kotara
17 28.04.08 20.10.08 New Lambton & Kotara
18 05.05.08 27.10.08 Waratah, Georgetown & Broadmeadow
19 12.05.08 03.11.08 Hamilton, Part Adamstown, Part Broadmeadow
20 19.05.08 10.11.08 Adamstown & Adamstown Heights
21 26.05.08 17.11.08 Merewether
22 02.06.08 24.11.08 Merewether, Bar Beach Ave Bar Beach
23 09.06.08 01.12.08 Newcastle, Newcastle East & West, The Hill
24 16.06.08 08.12.08 Cooks Hill, Bar Beach, The Junction
25 23.06.08 15.12.08 Hamilton South

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*** More Stuff ***
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Community produce/products/services at Wickham:
www.figtree.org.au
http://www.beanstalk.org.au/index2.htm
Soon to work:
http://www.beanstalk.org.au/drupal/trading/search
Trading Board : Find someone with a skill or item you need

NEWCASTLE CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIVITIES AND MEETINGS:
www.risingtide.org.au
www.climateaction.org.au

COMMUNITY POLITICS:
www.getup.org.au

ENVIRO:
www.foe.org.au
ENVIROWIKI and Grassroots Enviro are growing, but needs YOUR help
http://www.envirowiki.info/ - the wiki resource for enviro and social
justice activists that YOU can edit!
http://envirowiki.info/index.php/Environmental_issues
http://www.grassrootsenvironment.net/
other links:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/links

_____________________________________________________________________________

[1] Biketivism (Push-bike Activism) promotes:
- Clean air not toxic exhaust fumes
- Carbon free not climate changing chaos
- Peace not wars for oil/consumerism or animal Road Kill
- Sustainability not peak oil depressions
- Safe First Class Road Users bypassing speeding car culture carnage
- Effective communities not Urban car sprawl
- Cheap transport not multinational greed
- Health & fitness not sedentary obesity
- Safety in Numbers, Party on wheels
- Push-Bike FUN not evil road rage
- Preservation of environment not more highways, roads, land clearing, dams,mines
- Human power empowerment (etc¦.)
- We don't block traffic, WE ARE TRAFFIC!

Newcastle Biketivism Fun - Autumn 2009

2009-02-24T16:29:00.000-08:00

Newsletter of the Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre:
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*** Critical Mass 1st Friday of every month ***
*** World Naked Bike Ride – 'Nudecastle' #5 Saturday 14 March 2009***
*** 'The People's Blockade of the World's Biggest Coal Port' # 4
Saturday 21st March***
*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Info ***
*** Street & Health Smarts - Knowledge, Safety, Fun, bike buses etc. ***
*** Bicycle User Groups (BUGs) News - AGM in August ***
*** BULK-WASTE COLLECTION areas ***
*** More Stuff ***
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*** Critical Mass 1st Friday of every month ***
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Critical Mass Bicycle Ride 6pm, 1st Friday of every month
Civic Park, Newcastle. Meet at 5:30pm
Web : http://criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/Newcastle_NSW
OR : critical-mass.info
Grassroots, sustainable bike culture in action!
Promoting Sustainable Culture by actively doing, saying, and cycling!
The fact that riding a bike is in the public anyway is a bonus!
We will ride around handing out info flyers to the community.
This is the only safe, sustainable bike ride in Newy: no car door lane riding!
##################################
Monthly Blurb
Critical Mass is your once a month opportunity to ride in SAFETY and style.
Assert your right to travel safely on roads, and not in the car door lane.
Sustainable transport, not 2nd class citizens.
Meet people, share skills, make new friends.
Unsponsored and unaffiliated, Critical Mass is an intentional community
in motion, one that brings life back to the car dominated streets of our
fabulous city. Critical Mass is Pollution Free Traffic, Safety in Numbers,
Party on Wheels. Ride daily; celebrate monthly! Critical Mass.
Working bikes for participants:
The NBEC gives away 1 working bike every month for a critical mass bike ride.
When you complete the ride you get your "deposit" refunded.
Posters & stickers at Yahoo discussion group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/files

DISCLAIMER:
Critical Mass is a global bike ride, and is a dis-organisation.
Critical Mass is not a NBEC ride.
NBEC and WNBR are the only environmental groups in Newcastle who support
Critical
Mass in actions, monthly and not only words. Everyone/group are most welcome.

Usual Critical Mass Calendar
Jan Lower speed limits - 30km/hr local speed limits. Encourages safer walking
and cycling!
Feb Solutions not whinging - The fun solutions to your problems are waiting for
you. Most whinging is solved by push-bikes
Mar Consumerism Kills - It kills the planet and our health when we spend more
time buying than exercising.
April Easter "Life" theme - bring life back to streets (Health & fitness not
sedentary obesity)
May CYCLE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
June Tour de Newie Pubs - Safety in Numbers, Party on wheels
July Clean air & no asthma babies - Health, not toxic exhaust emissions
August Pirate ride - Q:What do pirates hate? A: Caaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrsss Har
Har!!
Sept Bloomin' Bike Ride (Spring) - Life, Peace, no war or road rage
Oct Ladies Ride - Less females cycle & Car culture is hyped to be
safe! Fraid not! Boys invited too.
Nov Car-door opening "Bike lanes" bad- Council & RTA Say, â€œNarrow â€œBike
Picture Lanesâ€ are bad; Car Doors & squeeze points frighten cylists. But
cycling in the traffic lane is safer for cars & bikes!â€
Dec Happy Holiday Season - Live life like a holiday everyday..... ride a bike
Note:
May - Oct Critical Mass rides are in the dark. Lights are required.
At $2 each, $4 for front and back there is no more excuse to not ride at night.
Nov - April are usually in daylight saving periods, possibly in daylight.

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*** World Naked Bike Ride – 'Nudecastle' #5 Saturday 14 March 2009 ***
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World Naked Bike Ride is the biggest clothing optional (naked or clothed)protest event in the world. It is the grooviest, funniest, most hippie greenie event. Riding in the WNBR will give you a natural high and a feeling of joy, liberation and freedom that will amaze you. The memory of WNBR will cheer you for years to come.
Date: Saturday 14 March 2009
Time: 2:00PM (14:00hrs)
Cost: Free
Assemble Location: park on the Southern side of Hamilton Railway Station
After the ride: Wash off in the ocean, dress, & Party into the night
Schedule: Ride to secret painting place (1/2 hr). Paint (1 hr). Ride (1 hr).
Duration: approx 3 hours
The ride will be one of many rides occuring in Australia & overseas in the southern hemisphere leg of WNBR's global movementon the same weekend.
The WNBR is an annual clothing-optional protest ride for naturism, environmentalism,
peace and the rights of cyclists to use the road safely. It promotes environmental
consciousness and practices at every level of society in attempt to save the planet.
The ride is not a race and goes at an easy recreational pace. The only competition
is how creatively bizarre participants can get with decorating their bodies using
paint, slogans and bits of costume.
Though the dress code for the ride is “Go as bare as you dare!”, nudity is not
compulsory. It is not a ride promoting overtly sexual behaviour in public. Be fully
clothed if you want.
Many people still struggle to distinguish between concepts of non-sexual nudity and
pornography. The WNBR encourages society’s need for a body-positive mentality, and
protests against environmental damage caused by motorised vehicles.
Excessive burning of fossil fuels has instigated environmental damage in the forms
of climate change, air pollution, acid rain and water pollution.
From the onset of pollution and cancer, to obesity – the burning of fossil fuels and
car-addicted lifestyles are causing serious health problems, many of which are
affecting humans on a widespread scale.
Violence stemming from wars fought over oil and road rage results in the deaths and
injuries to innocent civilians, pedestrians, and cyclists.
The WNBR is an active social movement for a peaceful and gentler world, which
includes our roads.
“We face automobile traffic with our naked bodies as the best way of defending our
dignity and exposing the unique dangers faced by cyclists and pedestrians plus all
the negative effects of oil, cars, war, consumerism and non-renewable energy”, reads
the WNBR mission statement.
The WNBR group was created by Conrad Schmidt (of Vancouver, Canada) in 2004 to help
coordinate a large international naked bike ride between many different activist
groups across the World. Since then, the WNBR has spread to over 50 cites in about
20 countries with the participation of thousands of riders.
Enquiries for Newcastle: please contact Marte Kinder the WNBR Newcastle Organiser.
wnbrnudecastle@yahoo.com.au
From the World Naked Bike Ride, websites
http://worldnakedbikeride.org/australia/
&
http://nakedwiki.org/index.php?title=Newcastle
Please visit sites to get more info
The ride will assemble at 2pm on Saturday the 14th of March 2009 in the little park on the Southern side of Hamilton Railway Station. Visitors from out-of-town will be helped with the loan of a bike. Body painting is optional (though encouraged) so you can write slogans and protest messages that tell the public what the ride is about. Body painting will take place at a secret private location. The ride will lead participants to the WNBR Newcastle after party at the Newcastle Surf Life Saving Club which will feature music, BBQ and vegan food and beer.
What to bring
A bike in working order. If you have a bike in need of repair or do not have a bike please visit the Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre .You can ride a scooter or skates if you want to because any form of human powered transport is OK.
You MUST have a proper bike helmet.
Bring your friends.
You need to arrive clothed. Seriously, some people have not done this.
You need decent shoes for cycling because you may hurt your feet otherwise.
You need somewhere to put your clothes while you are riding. A luggage rack on your bike, or panniers or a basket that you can put your bag with your clothes. Clothing is optional on the ride and you are perfectly welcome to ride clothed or naked or somewhere in between.
Apply sunscreen before the event.
Bring a bottle of water.
Bring some money for the after party.
What not to bring
Alcohol or drugs. Ride in control and safe. There will be alcohol available at the after party.
Publicity: flyers, posters, images etc
Please print these and stick them up where people will see them. Why not colour one in and stick it to your refrigerator?

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*** 'The People's Blockade of the World's Biggest Coal Port' # 4
Saturday 21st March ***
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You, your family and friends are invited to
'The People's Blockade of the World's Biggest Coal Port' # 4
Saturday 21st March 10am - 5pm
Horseshoe Beach, Newcastle
Drag out your tinnies, home-made rafts, floaties or yachts, or borrow one of the many kayaks we've organised. Take peaceful direct action with a mass of others serious about the threat of climate change and determined to help create a better future.
In this email:
• What
• Where
• When
• Why
• Who
• Kayak Training
• Affinity Groups
• Legal Information
• Fund-raising
• What to Bring
• Get Involved
What: A fun day on the beach and water, for people of many backgrounds to come together and stand up for immediate, effective, safe and just solutions to climate change. There will be speakers, music, a BBQ lunch, face painting for the kids, and beach volley ball!
Kayaks will be available on the day (but please bring your own vessel if you can). There will be a peaceful flotilla of hundreds of vessels and people in the shipping channel, and we will attempt to stop the passage of coal ships for the entire time we're there.
Where: Meet at Horseshoe Beach, Newcastle, NSW (aka "the dog beach" - on the Harbour side of Nobbys Headland). There is a car-park there and we will reserve the parks closest for boat unloading.
When: Saturday 21st March, 10am - 5pm. Come for all or some of the day, but please consider staying the whole time if you intent to help blockade the port. Some short speeches will be heard at 10am, just before launch. A BBQ lunch will be served from 12 onwards, more speakers and music will be on between 12 - 1.
Why: The time for action on climate change is fast running out. Dangerous and uncontrollable tipping points are approaching. We know that greenhouse pollution needs to start falling rapidly and immediately if the countless amazing species of this beautiful planet are to survive.
Australia's domestic and export coal industries contribute a full two thirds of our total greenhouse footprint. Coal exports are not just Australia's biggest greenhouse impact, but our fastest growing, with coal ports in NSW and Queensland all undergoing rapid expansions. Here in Newcastle, the worlds' biggest coal port, developments now under construction will see coal exports double. Other plans in in the pipeline will see them triple.
Our political leaders are clearly failing us. Both State and Federal Governments appear unable to find the courage to stand up to the powerful coal lobby. While the earth warms, governments approve more and more coal projects, and hand over more and more public money to the coal industry. The Rudd Government was swept to power on a wave of community angst with climate change. But now it has committed Australia to a mere 5% cut in CO2 by 2020 - the worst target in the developed world - and promises to hand out billions of dollars in free pollution permits to the nation's worst polluters. All the while it continues to underfund and disadvantage solutions to the climate crisis like renewable energy and public transport.
Governments will continue to place the interests of polluters over the demands of the community and the needs of the biosphere until we force them to change. We've voted, we've written letters, we've met our local members. Now is the time to take the next step, and join the campaign of civil disobedience and nonviolent direct action to achieve the effective, necessary, and entirely possible solutions to the climate crisis.
Who: Concerned community members from across the Hunter, NSW and even some from inter-state. There will be young families, grand-parents, blue-collar workers, students and professionals. People from all walks of life have come together for each of the past Port Blockades, and this one will be bigger and more diverse than ever!
Kayak Training: If you've never used a kayak before, and want to use one on the 21st March, you need to learn a few things first (like "how do I get out of the damn thing if it goes upside down?"). You're invited to a kayak training workshop: Horseshoe Beach, Saturday 28th Feb 2 - 4pm We'll supply kayaks, bring a change of clothes and sun protection. Please RSVP by replying to this email.
Affinity Groups: are encouraged to participate with their own separately organised contribution to the larger action. An 'affinity group' is a group of people that share a common bond of any type and choose to take action together. It is certainly not necessary to come as part of an organised group, but if you contribute something separately, this is encouraged. Some examples could be: a group of friends coming dressed like sea creatures from the Great Barrier Reef, a fellowship group sharing one of their boat's together and decorating it with climate change banners, or playing a particular strategic role in the direct action objectives of the day.
If you would like more information or ideas about affinity groups or actions your group could take, please contact Naomi on 0434 641 662
Legal Information: The Port of Newcastle is owned by us, the people - it is public water. It is not illegal to occupy the port. We will be submitting a 'notice of assembly' over the waters of the harbour for the day which gives us legal protection on our right to protest there. Hundreds of people have participated in each of the three flotillas in the past, and not one person has been arrested.
While there can be no guarantee against arrest, if you are worried about it the best thing to do is just move when the police tell you to.
Coal is Dotty - Blockade Benefit Gig
We don't have enough money to put on the Blockade! So we're on a fund-raising drive. Please come along to the following gig to help us out:
• Wednesday 11th March, 6-11 pm
• The Lass O'Gowrie, Railway Street Wickham
• Featuring: Dhopec, Unfit for Human Consumption, Square Onions, Paul Spencer, Number Two, films, food, and a raffle.
• Wear something dotty: Because coal mining is dotty! There will be a prize for the dottiest costume.
If you can't make it to the gig but want to donate some money, you can do that from this page on our website: www.risingtide.org.au/donation

What to Bring!
• a boat or floating thing if you've got one, or a donation to use a kayak we've organised,
• sun protection (hat, sun-cream, long-sleeves),
• water,
• a change of clothes in case you get wet and cold on the water,
• a camera - we want a good record of the day,
• beach or water games - anything to amuse yourself and others throughout the day!
Get Involved, We Need Help!
• Constructing visual props and rafts. There are weekly working bees, every Sunday, 11 - 3 in Waratah. Call Pete on 0406 716 792 for details. We'd love to have your creativity and muscle!
• Marshalling and ensuring everything runs smoothly on the day. Please reply to this email if you're interested.
• Do some cake baking! We will be selling cakes and chai on the day. If you'd like to help prepare or run this stall or bake a cake to contribute,
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*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Info
Bikes should be safe & like new - bike help/library/co-op/workshops ***
- Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre, Every Friday & Saturday ***
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Closed Saturday 14 March (afternoon) & Saturday 21 March (all day) because of above events.

Too many bike shops in Newie tell customers that their bike is not worth fixing, the cost being more than a cost of a new bike. What a load of
unsustaina-garbage.
If you cost new tubes, tires, wheels and a few other things you quickly get over $100 to fix a bike.
What about fixing the buckled wheels? And sanding the rust off the wheel rims? Etc.
And the NBEC still has plenty of as new tires waiting to be used.
So spend up big when buying climate change consumer throw-away never repair
goodies. Or get everything for free at your sustaina-fun-NBEC!
Properly repaired & maintained bikes should ride like new ones!
If yours doesn't, then it needs fixing. No excuses for unsafe bikes!
A well maintained bike will keep working safely. Remember to fix any small
problems ASAP, otherwise they become bigger and take longer to fix.
Save money, resources, and the planet and don't buy new bikes or new parts.
If you are annoyed at your bike it might be due to the bike set-up or riding style, so ask for some info.
At: Newcastle's Bike Ecology Centre,
106 Robert St Islington
Phone: 49616582
Email: newcastlecriticalmass[@]yahoo.com.au
web: newcastlebikeecologycentre.blogspot.com
Time: 9am to 5pm
What Fun can be had:
1. Borrow a bike from the Community Push-Bike Library (returnable deposit :$5 to $150)
2. Buy a second hand bike ($5 to $150)
3. Get parts & non-working bikes for free
4. Use tools for free (volunteers can help you use them)
5. Fix up a non-working bike for free (volunteers can help you fix them)
6. Join a fixing workshop for free
7. Stop getting annoyed by cars for free
8. Get bike info/handouts/magazines/stickers/newsletters/flyers/etc.
9. Donations of pre-loved bikes or parts can also be done
10. Help us build a fantastic sustainable community self-help centre!
11. Learn different tyre/tube combos to stop punctures
12. The NBEC will buy bikes from NBEC volunteers if they are up to bike library standards (ride like a new bike, no buckles, etc)
13. If you want a working bike for free refer to Critical Mass promo.
Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre motto:
REDUCE consumption, waste, & pollution,
RE-USE & repair.
RE-CYCLE as the last resort
Get a spare, 2nd hand, back-up bike!
This is quite important, but many people learn the hard way when their only bike breaks down, or is stolen.
Having a back-up bike puts your mind at ease, so you don't get rushed into
buying a new bike when something unfortunate happens to the bike you're riding. Or when you goto head off in the morning and you have a flat tire. Hop on your spare!

Mission/Vision of similar global centres:
The Community Bicycle Center exists to empower people through bicycles and
bicycling experiences. As a result of Community Bicycle Center's work,
people of all ages and backgrounds will improve their well being (skills,
attitudes, beliefs, and health) through bicycle experiences.
Our indicators of success include:
reducing bicycle-related injuries
increasing the number of bicycle transportation trips
and increasing access to safe bicycles.

LOCKS, LIGHTS and MUDGAURDS.....
$10 heavy duty locks for the NBEC are here!
Apparently the heavy duty U or D locks are only $15 from Target. Which sounds cheap. Also the Cheap shop in town (opposite Mesuem) has flashing red safey lights for $2 each. This is very cheap, they work, and NBEC has some if you want to get them. I recommend putting sticky tape around the seal of the light for wet weather protection. Even my more expensive back light needs this sticky tape, as it gets a soaking from my back wheel in the recent wet weather. It stops working the next day sometimes,
and I need to dry it out for it to work again. Or try Marte's trick of a cover over your backrack to stop mud/water going onto seat mounted rear lights or your clothes. Or if you have a real commuting bike it will have mudgaurds. But don't use mudgaurds with knobly "mountain bike" tyres because the knobly bits can catch on the mudgaurd and cause damage, mudgaurd squashing and bike stopping. Especially a possible life
threatening problem on front wheels.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Street & Health Smarts - Knowledge is Safety, for making cycling more fun ***
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you think riding a bike is too hard or too dangerous, then you are doing it wrong.
Stop getting annoyed by cars and stay out of the car door lane.
You really aren't being kind to motorists by getting out of their way/lane.
We are kind when we don't put kids jumping out of cars lives at risk.
If cars still annoy you, then you aren't riding safely enough.
Glass punctures:
Glass punctures are a thing of the past for me. Putting an old worn out tyre (with the metal beading cut from it) inside the back tyre of my bike means I get no more glass punctures, and can keep riding until the back tyre is very bald. The inner protection tyre works best if it is a smooth tyre, with no knobbles on it. I would recommend only putting on a rear
wheel, as it is the most puncture prone wheel. The NBEC has some old tyres suitable to be made into inner protection layers. Many "racing" cyclists continually complain about glass where they ride, "causing" them to ride out in the traffic. But motorists get angry with the cyclists not using
the road shoulder, and the cyclists get angry with the motorists being angry with them. This angry cycle of whingers continues until they find something else to whinge about. I plead for happy people to solve problems and stop whinging.
Riding Styles:
Most people pedal too slowly, and don't have correct seat height.
Once your balance is good on a bike (and you can hop on and off easily), you should aim for the following:
1. Leg extension is almost maximum when riding, and at the bottom of the leg stroke (a slight bend in the knee is OK). If you have a big bend in the knee at the maximum extenxion point, then you are damaging your knees, you tire easily, etc.
2. Leg rotation speed should be 80-100 times a minute. This mainly has to do with gear selection. If you are in too high a gear you are pedalling slowly and if you exert too much force you will again do damage to your body. A faster pedalling gear is easy to pedal and will not make you wear out as fast. Pedalling too slowly can also damage your bike, with many people telling me that their 5th, 6th, or 7th gear at the back slips over teeth. The usual problem (after ruling out chain wear/ gear problems) is they are in the incorrect gear for the speed they are going.
But you can ride slowly, slow leg rotation as long as you aren't exerting too much force on your legs. If your body doesn't ache, and your bike
Gears:
front 1-2-3 (1 is closest to the bike frame, away from the pedals)
back 1-2-3-4-5-6 (1 is closest to the centre of your back wheel)
Good gear combos to use :
Going up hills:
front 1
back 1-2-3
On flats:
front 2
back 3-4-5
Fast and down hills:
front 3
back 4-5-6
############## More ################

Some safe traffic cycling tips can be found here:
critical-mass.info
www.ohiobike.org/resources.htm
www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
www.bicyclecommute.wordpress.com
www.communitybike.net
Register for a comprehensive practical and theory based traffic skills cycling course with the Newcastle Bike-Ecology Centre. Because if you get annoyed with cars or car doors then you ain't riding correctly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Bicycle User Groups (BUGs) news ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Newcastle Cycleways Movement (NCM) meeting & rides ***
NCM works with Government bodies for better bicycle designs in the Greater
Newcastle
Area. Its aims are to promote the safe responsible use of bicycles for
transport,
leisure and fitness. NCM are the local BUGs who are affiliated with the states
peak
cycling lobbying organisation (Bicycle NSW)
Members have individual third party liability insurance (so they are covered if
they
are INVOLVED in an accident and someone or something is hurt), bike shop
discounts,
legal advice, and more.
Everyone gets: magazines, newsletters, rides. See website.
Regular ride (see web for others):
8:00am Saturday's, Followed by breakfast.
At: Stewart St Railway Crossing, Newcastle West.
This ride gets a lot bigger over the warmer months...
Do NCM rides "promote the safe responsible use of bicycles" as the NCM motto is?
How do NCM ride leaders safely ride on roads with bike pictures on them?
"NBEC Community Cycling Proposal (which should have NCM input):
To gather local community support with encouraging members of the local
community to
cycle more and more often.
They may need their bike fixed or a new 2nd hand bike.
The NBEC can help with fixing bikes and learning how to maintain it.
Work with the local Community to educate/learn about safer cycling now.
We can't wait for bike paths everywhere. The local community wants to get
healthy,
reduce greenhouse gases from cars, stop childhood obesity, and have safer
streets NOW.
Cycling in car door lane bad,
Cycling where a car will squeeze dangerously close past you bad.
Cycling in predictable straight lines good.
Cycling where cars will pass you safely good."
Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, starting at 7 p.m.
in the Charlestown Bowling Club (in the Downstairs Meeting Room to the left)
http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~magsb/ (AGM in August)
E-Mail: cycleways@hunterlink.net.au, Phone: (02) 4944 7869
BUG Wiki website (http://bug.blinddog.org/) has lots of advice about how you can
influence your Council, through its Management Plan, its Traffic Committee and
its
annual Budget.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Newcastle BULK-WASTE COLLECTION areas***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Find unwanted goodies on the side of the footpath in areas around Newcastle.
Most stuff appears Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.
Main roads have most of the good stuff taken very quickly, and then it seems
like
there isn't good stuff to be got....But check out the backstreets!
Make it a part of your saving renewable sustainable transport from
landfill/reverse
pollution lifestyle too!

2008 schedule finally on NCC website:
Area Week Beg Week Beg Suburbs
1 28.01.08 30.06.08 Stockton & Carrington
2 14.01.08 07.07.08 Tighes Hill, Islington, Wickham & Maryville
3 21.01.08 14.07.08 Mayfield, Mayfield East
4 07.01.08 21.07.08 Sandgate, Warabrook, Mayfield West, Hexham
5 04.02.08 28.07.08 Shortland & Birmingham Gardens
6 11.02.08 04.08.08 Maryland & Fletcher
7 18.02.08 11.08.08 Minmi, Mayfield bordered by Hanbury St,
Maitland Rd, Upfold & Railway Line, Blackhill
8 25.02.08 18.08.08 Tarro & Beresfield
9 03.03.08 25.08.08 Maryland & Wallsend
10 10.03.08 01.09.08 Wallsend
11 17.03.08 08.09.08 Elermore Vale
12 24.03.08 15.09.08 Jesmond, Lambton & New Lambton Heights
13 31.03.08 22.09.08 Waratah West & Lambton North
14 07.04.08 29.09.08 Lambton & New Lambton
15 14.04.08 06.10.08 New Lambton
16 21.04.08 13.10.08 Kotara
17 28.04.08 20.10.08 New Lambton & Kotara
18 05.05.08 27.10.08 Waratah, Georgetown & Broadmeadow
19 12.05.08 03.11.08 Hamilton, Part Adamstown, Part Broadmeadow
20 19.05.08 10.11.08 Adamstown & Adamstown Heights
21 26.05.08 17.11.08 Merewether
22 02.06.08 24.11.08 Merewether, Bar Beach Ave Bar Beach
23 09.06.08 01.12.08 Newcastle, Newcastle East & West, The Hill
24 16.06.08 08.12.08 Cooks Hill, Bar Beach, The Junction
25 23.06.08 15.12.08 Hamilton South
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** More Stuff ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Community produce/products/services at Wickham:
www.figtree.org.au
http://www.beanstalk.org.au/index2.htm
Soon to work:
http://www.beanstalk.org.au/drupal/trading/search
Trading Board : Find someone with a skill or item you need
NEWCASTLE CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIVITIES AND MEETINGS:
www.risingtide.org.au
www.climateaction.org.au

COMMUNITY POLITICS:
www.getup.org.au
ENVIRO:
www.foe.org.au
ENVIROWIKI and Grassroots Enviro are growing, but needs YOUR help
http://www.envirowiki.info/ - the wiki resource for enviro and social
justice activists that YOU can edit!
http://envirowiki.info/index.php/Environmental_issues
http://www.grassrootsenvironment.net
other links:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle/links

_____________________________________________________________________________
[1] Biketivism (Push-bike Activism) promotes:
- Clean air not toxic exhaust fumes
- Carbon free not climate changing chaos
- Peace not wars for oil/consumerism or animal Road Kill
- Sustainability not peak oil depressions
- Safe First Class Road Users bypassing speeding car culture carnage
- Effective communities not Urban car sprawl
- Cheap transport not multinational greed
- Health & fitness not sedentary obesity
- Safety in Numbers, Party on wheels
- Push-Bike FUN not evil road rage
- Preservation of environment not more highways, roads, land clearing, dams,mines
- Human power empowerment (etc¦.)
- We don't block traffic, WE ARE TRAFFIC!

bike hugs,
Daniel Endicott
Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre (Sustaina-bikefun concept)
Volunteers & bike/part donations welcome
106 Robert St,Islington,NSW
0249616582
newcastlebikeecologycentre.blogspot.com
Open Most Fri, & Sats 9 to 5:
Free bike help, workshops and parts.
Cheap bikes,locks,lights,helmets & bike library
Advocacy & newsletter: groups.yahoo.com/group/NewcastleBikeEcologyCentre
Stop getting annoyed by cars:
Unsign-posted "bike picture lanes" are too narrow & Road Rules 153 & 247 advise not to ride in them. They are car-door-opening-death lanes. When passing parked cars, 30m beforehand, check for cars, then move into the next lane safely, away from door opening zone.
In Newy:
1.critical-mass.info : Bike celebration rides : 1st Friday,Monthly,Civic Park,6pm : groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle
2.worldnakedbikeride.org/australia : Colourful, fun-lovin bike protest rides
3.Newcastle Cycleways Movement Inc : Promote bikes & work with council/gov

Media Release : Party Parade for the Sustainable Cyclists

2008-12-16T15:10:00.000-08:00

Newcastle is holding a celebration for the riders of the The Otesha Project (Australia): Cycling for Sustainability on Saturday 20th December. 17 tour members embarked on a bicycle tour from Brisbane to Newcastle (over 1000 KM's), to empower, educate, and engage youth (schools and community groups) about sustainable consumption through a theatrical skit and workshops.

The Bike Parade begins at 5pm at the Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre (NBEC) at 106 Robert St Islington. The Otesha Crew will be hanging out at the NBEC all day to help decorate yourself and your bike for the parade. The parade seeks to spread the positive message of empowerment and sustainability in a loud, colourful and fun way that engages the public.

The Otesha Bike Parade takes us to the Otesha Party, 7pm at The Royal Exchange Hybrid Performing Arts Gallery, 32-34 Bolton Street Newcastle. Price: a $5 door charge applies for bike riders arriving with the parade.More door charge applies for others - so go in the Parade!The evening will feature fun theatrical presentations by the Otesha riders, music, a photo show of the NSW Otesha regional tour, food and refreshment.

The Otesha Project (Australia): Cycling for Sustainability is supported by:Newcastle Bike Ecology CentreWorld Naked Bike Ride, NewcastleThe Royal Exchange

Summer 2008/9 Biketivism Fun

2008-12-01T15:08:00.000-08:00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Critical Mass 1st Friday of every month ***
*** The Otesha Bike Parade and Party, Saturday the 20th of December ***
*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Open days ***
*** Other Stuff in last newsletters ***
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Critical Mass 1st Friday of every month ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Critical Mass Bicycle Ride 6pm, 1st Friday of every month
Civic Park, Newcastle. Meet at 5:30pmWeb : http://criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/Newcastle_NSW
OR : critical-mass.info
Critical Mass is your once a month opportunity to ride in safety & style.Assert your right to travel safely on roads, and not in the car door lane.Unsponsored and unaffiliated, Critical Mass is an intentional community in motion, one that brings life back to the car dominated streets of our fabulous city.
Critical Mass is Pollution Free Traffic, Safety in Numbers, Party on Wheels. Ride daily; celebrate monthly! Critical Mass.Promoting Sustainable Culture by actively doing, saying, and cycling!

More info at:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Critical_Mass_Newcastle

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** The Otesha Bike Parade and Party Saturday the 20th of December ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From http://nakedwiki.org/index.php?title=Newcastle#The_Otesha_Bike_Parade_and_Party The Otesha Project (Australia): Cycling for SustainabilityThe objectives of The Otesha Project (Australia) are to increase awareness about the impacts of the products and resources we consume, increase the number of responsible consumer choices made by young Australians, and increase the number of young role models and sustainability advocates.

The Otesha NSW Regional Cycling Tour17 tour members will embark on a bicycle tour from Brisbane to Newcastle (over 1000 KM's), explore the eastern coastline, engage youth about sustainable consumption, and live collectively in a bicycle crew.

The Otesha Cyclists will stay in Nelson Bay on the night of the 18 December and then cycle into Newcastle on Friday 19 December. The riders will be in Newcastle for 3 nights (Fri, Sat, Sun). The tour will officially end on Monday 22 December 2008.During their stay in Newcastle they will be visiting schools and community groups in the area to present their theatre performance and workshops.

The Otesha Bike Parade and Party
The Bike Parade preceeds the Party. Both legs of the event will be all ages.

Otesha Bike Parade
Date: Saturday the 20th of December
Time: Decorate or fix your bike some time between 9am and 5pm.
The Bike Parade begins at 5pm.
Place: Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre
Come to the Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre at 106 Robert St Islington anytime between 9am and 5pm. If you get there early you can fix your bike or find a pre-loved bike to ride. The Otesha Crew will be hanging out at the NBEC to help decorate yourself and your bike for the parade. They'll have some recycled material for you to use. Or bring your own recycled fabrics, cardboard, paints, colourful and funky stuff. The parade seeks to spread the positive message of empowerment and sustainability in a loud, colourful and fun way that engages the public.

The Otesha Bike Parade takes us to the Otesha Party.

Otesha Party
Date: Saturday the 20th of December
Time: doors open at 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start
Venue: The Royal Exchange Hybrid Performing Arts Gallery, 32-34 Bolton Street Newcastle. Price: a $5 door charge applies for bike riders arriving with the parade.
More door charge applies for others - so go in the Parade!
The evening will feature fun theatrical presentations by the Otesha riders, music, a photo show of the NSW Otesha regional tour, food and refreshment. Musical entertainment may be provided by Tim Crossey. The exact details of the programme are yet to be determined although it will be a fun get together of cycling activists, environmentalists, social justice and human rights advocates, community volunteers, pacifists, climate defenders, and assorted happy hippies and groovy artists.

Endorsement and support
The Otesha Project (Australia): Cycling for Sustainability is supported by:
Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre
World Naked Bike Ride, Newcastle
The Royal Exchange

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre Open daysBikes should be safe & like new - bike help/library/co-op/workshops ***
- Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre, Every Friday & Saturday ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Properly repaired & maintained bikes should ride like new ones!If yours doesn't, then it needs fixing. No excuses for unsafe bikes!
A well maintained bike will keep working safely. Remember to fix any small problems ASAP, otherwise they become bigger and take longer to fix.
Save money, resources, and the planet and don't buy new bikes or new parts.If you are annoyed at your bike it might be due to the bike set-up or riding style, so ask for some info.

At: Newcastle's Bike Ecology Centre,
106 Robert St Islington
Phone: 49616582Email: newcastlecriticalmass[@]yahoo.com.au
web: newcastlebikeecologycentre.blogspot.com
Time: 9am to 5pm

Things to do:
1. Borrow a bike from the Community Push-Bike Library (returnable deposit :$5 to $150)
2. Buy a second hand bike ($5 to $150)
3. Get parts & non-working bikes for free
4. Use tools for free (volunteers can help you use them)
5. Fix up a non-working bike for free (volunteers can help you fix them)
6. Join a fixing workshop for free
7. Stop getting annoyed by cars for free
8. Get bike info/handouts/magazines/stickers/newsletters/flyers/etc.
9. Donations of pre-loved bikes or parts can also be done
10. Help us build a fantastic sustainable community self-help centre!
11. Learn different tyre/tube combos to stop punctures
12. The NBEC will "buy" bikes from NBEC volunteers if they are up to bike library standards (ride like a new bike, no buckles, etc) -

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** Street & Health Smarts - Knowledge is Safety, for making cycling more fun ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you think riding a bike is too hard or too dangerous, then you are doing it wrong.

___________________________________________________________________________[1] Biketivism (Push-bike Activism) promotes:-
Clean air not toxic exhaust fumes- Carbon free not climate changing chaos-
Peace not wars for oil/consumerism or animal Road Kill-
Sustainability not peak oil depressions-
Safe First Class Road Users bypassing speeding car culture carnage-
Effective communities not Urban car sprawl-
Cheap transport not multinational greed-
Health & fitness not sedentary obesity-
Safety in Numbers, Party on wheels- Push-Bike FUN not evil road rage-
Preservation of environment not more highways, roads, land clearing, dams, mines-
Human power empowerment (etc….)-
We don't block traffic, WE ARE TRAFFIC!

Other Newcastle Biketivism thingos :Newcastle Cycleways Movementhttp://worldnakedbikeride.org/australia/