The Ascent

[michael_w]

I went to the community marshal briefing last night. Current figures are 684.

There will be 10 in course moto marshals as well as hundreds of other support volunteers and staff on the route.

Most closures are in the 2-3 hour range. Some roads are only half closed with traffic controllers controlling contra-flow.

ALL residents and business should have received two letters by now telling them what to expect and how overcome most issues. If you really must get thru a closed road they have given these people a number to call. They can then organise for a moto marshal to come and escort them thru.

BN(V) have done a shed load of planning and (I would think) have gone into the red on this to create the event with the hope of building on it in years to come.

If residents can't work around a possible 2-3 hours disruption with that much notice and support, it speaks volumes about them and not the event and the participants.

[djw47]

I went to the community marshal briefing last night. Current figures are 684.

There will be 10 in course moto marshals as well as hundreds of other support volunteers and staff on the route.

Most closures are in the 2-3 hour range. Some roads are only half closed with traffic controllers controlling contra-flow.

ALL residents and business should have received two letters by now telling them what to expect and how overcome most issues. If you really must get thru a closed road they have given these people a number to call. They can then organise for a moto marshal to come and escort them thru.

BN(V) have done a shed load of planning and (I would think) have gone into the red on this to create the event with the hope of building on it in years to come.

If residents can't work around a possible 2-3 hours disruption with that much notice and support, it speaks volumes about them and not the event and the participants.

I'm resident in Monbulk and haven't had any correspondence advising how to get in or out of the town on Sunday morning. It's only because I'm a cyclist that I heard about this initially and subsequently it's only been through the negative publicity (in the press and on social media) that I've heard anything about it. The road signs only appeared a week ago advising of the road closures.

I seriously doubt BNV will run this one again, for a supposed cycling advocacy organisation, they've managed to stir up a lot of negativity for cycling in an area that has always been relatively accommodating of cyclists. I only hope that long term this doesn't create tension that was never there before.

[michael_w]

djw, if your street is directly impacted you should have received such correspondence.

If you don't believe they'll run it again you're naïve. This is BN(V) we're talking about!

[BjL73]

I seriously doubt BNV will run this one again, for a supposed cycling advocacy organisation, they've managed to stir up a lot of negativity for cycling in an area that has always been relatively accommodating of cyclists. I only hope that long term this doesn't create tension that was never there before.

I live in the area as well and I've got no idea where you got this impression from. The Yarra Ranges in general would have to be one of the least accommodating areas for cycling anywhere. Cycling in the area is grudgingly tolerated by locals at best. This event has only brought out what many have been thinking all along.

[NightFallTech]

Exactly, plenty of 'ocker' country folk up there who aren't knowing for being great supporters of the 'rich white collar folks cycling' ...

[Mike.Ayling]

djw, if your street is directly impacted you should have received such correspondence.

If you don't believe they'll run it again you're naïve. This is BN(V) we're talking about!

Depends if it goes into the red and by how much.

BV hasn't been back to Western Australia after incurring a thumping loss when they went there last time.

Mike

[djw47]

djw, if your street is directly impacted you should have received such correspondence.

If you don't believe they'll run it again you're naïve. This is BN(V) we're talking about!

I don't know mate, I would have thought 680 riders would be way less than they would have expected for an event that requires such huge logistical organisation. Be interesting to see whether they break even on the event.

[djw47]

I seriously doubt BNV will run this one again, for a supposed cycling advocacy organisation, they've managed to stir up a lot of negativity for cycling in an area that has always been relatively accommodating of cyclists. I only hope that long term this doesn't create tension that was never there before.

I live in the area as well and I've got no idea where you got this impression from. The Yarra Ranges in general would have to be one of the least accommodating areas for cycling anywhere. Cycling in the area is grudgingly tolerated by locals at best. This event has only brought out what many have been thinking all along.

Have you not noticed the hundreds of cyclists that ride through the Dandenongs every weekend? I'm a resident there and ride all the time and have rarely if ever had any issues with anybody on the roads.

[michael_w]

djw, if your street is directly impacted you should have received such correspondence.

If you don't believe they'll run it again you're naïve. This is BN(V) we're talking about!

I don't know mate, I would have thought 680 riders would be way less than they would have expected for an event that requires such huge logistical organisation. Be interesting to see whether they break even on the event.

Listening to the BN(V) bods last night this won't be the last Ascent. Unless this event is absolutely panned by the majority of participants, they'll be back.

Around the Bay attracted only 2,000 in the first running and the traffic management and logistics on that are far more testing than the Ascent.

[BjL73]

Have you not noticed the hundreds of cyclists that ride through the Dandenongs every weekend? I'm a resident there and ride all the time and have rarely if ever had any issues with anybody on the roads.

Just because hundreds of cyclists ride in The Dandenongs every weekend does not mean the locals are accommodating. Cyclists are tolerated. That's all. I could probably ride over half of Europe and cop less abuse on the roads than I would riding across Yarra Ranges. And I consider myself a polite cyclist, waving cars through whenever I can and riding on the shoulder where possible. At least the cop car I waved through on the 1 and 20 and few weeks ago was appreciative. Then there's the moron motorist who stuck his head out of the window to call me an idiot whilst I was riding through the Black Spur a while ago. Mind you it was 7:30am on a weekend morning, very quiet with less than a handful of cars having passed me and this twit was driving in the opposite direction. I was doing nothing but minding my own business. Can't count the number of motorists using their horns, yell abuse or close shave me in the Yarra Ranges.

You don't seriously think that the current negativity towards cycling in The Dandenongs happened overnight do you?

Back to the event. I think the road closures are a step too far but good luck to all those who participate. Don't let any protests spoil your day.

[NightFallTech]

Worst I've had was a tap/push to the shoulder from a passenger in a 'boy racer' commodore between Mornington and safety beach... that was scary.

[djw47]

Have you not noticed the hundreds of cyclists that ride through the Dandenongs every weekend? I'm a resident there and ride all the time and have rarely if ever had any issues with anybody on the roads.

Just because hundreds of cyclists ride in The Dandenongs every weekend does not mean the locals are accommodating. Cyclists are tolerated. That's all. I could probably ride over half of Europe and cop less abuse on the roads than I would riding across Yarra Ranges. And I consider myself a polite cyclist, waving cars through whenever I can and riding on the shoulder where possible. At least the cop car I waved through on the 1 and 20 and few weeks ago was appreciative. Then there's the moron motorist who stuck his head out of the window to call me an idiot whilst I was riding through the Black Spur a while ago. Mind you it was 7:30am on a weekend morning, very quiet with less than a handful of cars having passed me and this twit was driving in the opposite direction. I was doing nothing but minding my own business. Can't count the number of motorists using their horns, yell abuse or close shave me in the Yarra Ranges.

You don't seriously think that the current negativity towards cycling in The Dandenongs happened overnight do you?

Back to the event. I think the road closures are a step too far but good luck to all those who participate. Don't let any protests spoil your day.

I didn't insinuate that cyclists were in any way celebrated, I'd agree we are tolerated which is as good as you'll get in most places where cyclists share the road with cars - I'd rather be tolerated than hated. I only speak from experience, I've done thousands of km in the Dandenongs and never had any issues with motorists.

My point is that if we're tolerated and then suddenly BNV decide to throw an event in the area and disrupt people's lives, that tolerance will quickly erode and we all potentially suffer, rather than advocating cycling for all, they're creating a potential headache for us in the area in the future. Another poster on this thread pointed out that there are other less populated rural areas that do not have the traffic issues that the Dandies have that are similar distances from suburban Melbourne, why did they not put the ride there where the impact would have been much less for both locals and cyclists?

[djw47]

djw, if your street is directly impacted you should have received such correspondence.

If you don't believe they'll run it again you're naïve. This is BN(V) we're talking about!

I don't know mate, I would have thought 680 riders would be way less than they would have expected for an event that requires such huge logistical organisation. Be interesting to see whether they break even on the event.

Listening to the BN(V) bods last night this won't be the last Ascent. Unless this event is absolutely panned by the majority of participants, they'll be back.

Around the Bay attracted only 2,000 in the first running and the traffic management and logistics on that are far more testing than the Ascent.

I'm not sure I agree that the logistics for ATB are more testing, iirc the only full road closures for ATB are at the start/finish area, and one lane of the west gate. The rest of the route is shared with traffic and the traffic management by BNV in some places was terrible (Mordialloc roundabout was an accident waiting to happen). The Ascent will only happen again if VicRoads, Yarra Ranges council and the police allow it to and if BNV make money from it - BNV couldn't care less about encouraging female cyclists to ride, they only care about their bank balance these days.

[michael_w]

BN(V) are going into the red for this, make no mistake. Yarra Ranges Council are on board and have been quick to shut down NIMBY's in the local press as well as get on the front foot with their support.

I'm in no way saying that all of BN(V)'s intentions are noble, but I don't believe this is the last you've seen of the Ascent.

[Dalai]

I've done thousands of km in the Dandenongs and never had any issues with motorists.

They must know you are local...

I've ridden in the hills around 30 years. I nearly always ride out there solo and have the usual range of actions from revving, close passes, playing chicken, to verbal abuse and throwing items such as coke bottles out the window. And like BjL73, I ride close to the shoulder when possible and wave cars through.