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In September, Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, The Hon. Melinda Pavey MP, was able to answer some questions put to her, but others were supplementary or taken on notice.

Question 1

In response to Cate Faehrmann MP’s questions on Minimum Passing Distance, Pavey referred her to the evaluation of the trial period on the Centre for Road Safety’s website.  

This reported only 61 fines being issued in 2 years, and that more than 75% of drivers were unaware of the rule.

In supplementary questions, Faehrmann asked what had been spent on driver education on MPD, Pavey answered on notice that $600,318 was spent since March 2016, on informing drivers about the minimum passing distance rule and the Go Together campaign.

Our Verdict: Keep Pedalling – a lot more needs to be done on education and enforcement.

Question 2

Faehrmann asked how much the government planned to spend on separated cycling infrastructure and active transport over the next four years and Pavey referred this to Minister for Transport and Infrastructure The Hon. Andrew Constance MP.

Sadly he missed an opportunity to give specific detail.

Faehrmann asked what proportion of the $600 million allocated for road safety improvements and enhanced police enforcement would go towards cycling.

Pavey responded that of the $1.9 billion to be invested in road safety over the next five years, $180 million would be “…to increase liveability and safety in urban communities through infrastructure upgrades including traffic calming measures, pedestrian refuges and crossings to keep cyclists and walkers safe.”

Our Verdict: Good news for safer streets and communities.

Question 3

Faehrmann asked for specifics on the costings to deliver the priority routes identified in the Governments 2013 plan for Sydney’s Cycling Future, for the total amount built to date, the amount currently under construction and the due date for completion.

Pavey explained that 13 cycleway projects were currently under construction and an additional 19 projects were completed in the 2017/18 financial year.  

Furthermore that RMS had been working with stakeholders, including local councils, to develop cycleway designs and construct cycling infrastructure. No network completion date or costings details were provided.

Our Verdict: Government is missing opportunities to talk about the good work delivered for communities or infrastructure deliver that matters to riders.

 

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