Mordialloc Chelsea Leader: Beach Rd parking ban gets green light
Parking will be banned along Beach Rd from 6-10am weekends after Kingston Council’s decision approved a plan to clear the way for cyclists. The 12-month trial, likely to begin within a month, will see motorists stopped from parking between 6-10am on Saturdays and Sundays.
The zones will apply on the inland side of Beach Rd between Mundy St, Mentone and Nepean Highway, Mordialloc and on the coast side between Rennison St and the highway.
The council approved the trial in a 6-3 vote last night.
Cr Lewis Dundas told the meeting most Beach Rd houses had garages and driveways, and there was also ample parking in side streets.
“It is not a huge encumbrance,” Cr Dundas said.
“If it does not create hardship for the residents, why not give it a go?”
But Cr Ron Brownlees said a mailed survey found 61 per cent of residents opposed a weekend parking ban and there was no evidence a ban would improve road safety.
Cr Brownlees said bad cyclist behaviour and bunch riding was a bigger issue and once Beach Rd was cleared for cyclists there was no turning back.
“I do not believe there will just be a trial,” he said.
“Once it happens it happens.”
A council report states about 10 per cent of car spaces along Beach Rd are occupied from 6-10am on weekends.
The report says no-stopping zone signs could be covered during lifesaving events in a bid to prevent problems for clubs at Mordialloc and Mentone.
More than 9000 cyclists use the route between Port Melbourne and Mordialloc early on weekends.
Port Phillip Council has a 6.30-10am weekend clearway on Ormond Esplanade while Bayside Council is due to consider no-stopping zones at an upcoming council meeting.
The effectiveness of restrictions will be reviewed.
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Its good to see a common sense approach.
Education in courtesy would be the way to go.Beach Rd. fills up with people from all over Melb. in summer WAY before 1000hrs .Beach Road belongs to all Victorians not just cyclists.
in regard to the bayside council area of beach road;
“Bayside Council revealed in December it had also been approached to allow skydivers to land at Middle Brighton and Hampton beaches and at Elsternwick Park. Bayside Mayor Clifford Hayes said the council would.. approve any request.. “There would have to be a net gain for the Bayside.. councillors.. Skydiving business Melbourne Skydive Centre will.. pay the council $5000..”-Bayside Leader February 23, 2010 pg11 ‘Getting jump on our beaches’.
Sadly for ‘Pedalling debate’ on page 9 of the same edition, they didnt pay the councillors $5000 to support the trial of banning parking of cars on Beach Road.
Interesting how a ‘carbon burning’ Skydive Centre launching “Each week up to 100 skydivers” to “parachute into the Moran Reserve” “from planes which take off from Moorabbin airport” “got a green light to start landing in Elwood”, yet carbon friendly Cyclists are being labelled as a “swarm of bees”, “bullies”, “disruptive and dangerous”, “platoons of abuse”, “hordes”, with “no respect for any other road user”.
-All quotes taken from the Bayside Leader February 23, 2010
Bayside CC meet on 13/04/10 to discuss the No Stopping again (rejecting the request from the Minister) and are now throwing the red herring of changing the speed limit from 60 to 50kph on Beach road and linking it to the No Stopping and safety of cyclists.
Whilst I like the idea of a reduced speed limit, I reckon we will be seen by the media / car drivers as the instigators and the “problem”. Wait for the outcry and backlash.