From Engineers Australia:
This Public Forum will call on experts from both industry and academia to examine how a futuristic Perth could achieve having no cars from the Parliamentary Precinct to St Mary’s Cathedral and from the Waterfront to Wellington Street.
When: Wednesday, 04 August 2010 06:00 pm – 08:30 pm
Venue: Curtin University Technology Tim Winton Lecture Theatre, Perth, WA View Map
Cost: Free
Contact: Western Australia Division – Engineers Australia
T: 08 9231 3340
E: wa@engineersaustralia.org.au – Register Link
I returned to cycling over 4 years ago, when I decided to start commuting by bike to work. I'm now cycling around 15,000km's annually, and love it.
In 1980 I arrived in Perth, not driving until I was 30. Then married, with
one, then two children I drove when needed, but always kept a bike as
an essential part of the family.
1989 I ruptured a disc between L4 and L5 vertebrae. This put pressure on the nerves of both legs, causing chronic pain in one or the other, or both legs at any given time.
I could ride my upright bike for 20, maybe 30 minutes before the pain returned.
This did not allow me to go for any longer, more interesting rides for the next 15 years!
2005 was a Bike to Work breakfast in Supreme Court Gardens. About 15 recumbant bikes rode through the gathered mass, some riders missing limbs, some with limbs not working.
As I looked, I thought that maybe I could manage such a bike, and go for a longer interesting ride, without it causing pain.
One of those recumbant bikes ( a tadpole by LOGO) was for sale. $2,500.00 The price seemed massive to me at the time. After getting the length adjusted for my height, I took a few short local rides getting used to the trike. At the end of the first week I cycled gently, slowly from East Perth to Middle Swan – thinking all the while that I would seize up. But no, I got to Middle Swan, and then managed to cycle all the way back with no pain.
The next week, I did NOTHING at all that might aggravate my back, ever expecting the Delayed Pain that often arrived two or three days after any physical activity.
There was no pain for that week.
That following Sunday evening – I thought I would love to visit my daughter in Fremantle, but I didnt want her to be concerned at my getting stuck or getting there terribly late.
I didnt let her know I was comming, in case I didnt get all the way there.. As it happened, I got all the way there and back to East Perth that same evening.
That was in 2005. I have had NO BACK PAIN Since..
I have since had a man with a Stroke ride my trike. We clipped his feet into the peddals
and his good leg did the pushing. He went to the end of the road and back, and said, with a tear in his eye ” My DEAD LEG was conTributing!”
I believe that the opportunity for weightless circulation allows the body to repair itself.
Recumbant Bikes, and Swimming are situations where such natural recovery is possible.
INCOMPLETE STREETS, that prevent relaxed cycling, helps instead to boost hospital ques
INCOMPLETE RAIL STATIONS that discourage Cycling as an extention of the Rail Station Network extend medical waiting lists.
INCOMPLETE River Crossings create detours that ensure all Cyclists essential transport is by car, often also including driving the Bike to somewhere safe to cycle..
LEAD THE WAY
Showcase River Crossing Bridges, – could show Motorists that Cyclists can get places that
cars can only dream of.. Bridges at Bassendean, Maylands, Victoria Park, Point Fraser might allow our grandchildren to enjoy cycling
– if WE motivate the recycling of existing recently removed pedestrian bridges
– or dare think of suggesting that the state and councils contribute to sustainbility of
our generation – that we might last longer more happily, more healthily..