Karen Hovenga talks about keeping Yarra's streets safe

YarraBUG

On this weeks program Chris catches up with Karen Hovenga to talk about local Yarra issues, including what the new council maybe planning for narrowing protected bikes lanes in Elizabeth Street, whatever the future holds for intersection treatments at Coppin Street in Richmond and direct quote from petition linked below: "continue to implement Yarra’s Transport Action Plan 2024-2034 including the New Deal for Schools, New Deal for Cycling, New Deal for Walking and other specified programs to meet the ambitious targets in Yarra's Transport Strategy 2022-32" Local news includes call-outs for assistance from Bite Sized Rides and Bike Rave Melbourne.Karen talks about how several generations of her family easily use the Elizabeth Street protected lanes, their connection to City of Melbourne's Albert Street protected lanes that creates a vital east-west route, being able to ride plenty of short trips to local destinations but decision-makers being unable to vote on equitable transport solutions for anything other than cars. We comment upon how successive generations build upon road safety improvements, in reference to Janet McCalman’s award-winning classic ‘Struggletown, Public and Private Life in Richmond 1900-1965’ which included horrifying road fatalities statistics of the post war era, where thirty people died on Richmond roads in April 1949.Coming up at the end of the month is Critical Mass Yarra: Friday 31 January 2025, meet 5.30pm, Friday 31 January 2025, State Library, Swanston Street, naarm, Melbourne. Ride, scoot and skate through our traditional home grounds of Fitzroy, Collingwood & Richmond. Many thanks to Sam Wallman for adapting his Freedom Machine design. Like it? Buy it!Critical Mass Yarra: download & print poster | Obligatory facebook eventAdd your name to our petition: Don’t risk our safety in 2025 – tell Yarra Council not to remove safe cycling lanes!Read more: Yarra for safe streetsProgram musicKing Stingray, Camp DogTycho, DevicesShonen Knife, Cycling is fun