Share The Road
The current advertising campaign by the NSW RTA (Roads & Traffic Authority) is "Share The Road" and yet they are the primary reason why two of Sydney's road races have recently been cancelled - The northern Beaches Pub to Pub run and the Sydney CBD to Blacktown Cities Marathon.
The Pub to Pub, in particular, has received a lot of coverage in the Manly Daily newspaper, many as a result of its high profile as a charity fund-raising event, and possibly as the event has received some attention by leading opposition politician John Brogden.
In 2003, the event was cancelled at the last minute, due to issues with Police and the RTA, a common reason. Some enterprising runners in the Sydney Region circulated a petition to be put forward to the NSW State Government for "The Return of Commonsense in the Approval of Footraces". It was taken to the appropriate government offices in person. In addition an on-the-fly "peaceful protest" was carried out by approx 100 runners running the route of the pub to Pub run on the day and time as the originally planned race, but staying to footpaths and abiding by all other road rules.
The race director was obviously encouraged by the show of support by grass roots runners that he worked with the RTA and Police on a traffic & runner friendly route and is re-launching the run on this new route in 2004.
Tues 7 Oct 2003
One of the runners who wrote to the NSW State Premier, Bob Carr, received this email from his office : AA03/11450 – CABSECDear xxxx,
The Premier has received a copy of your email concerning the Road and Traffic Authority’s approval for the annual Dee Why to Newport Pub to Pub walk and fun run. The delay in responding to you is regretted.
As the matter you have raised primarily concerns the administration of the Minister for Roads, and Minister for Housing, the Hon PC Scully, MP, it is appropriate that you have already acquainted the Minister with your concerns.
In the circumstances, Mr Carr has taken the opportunity to request his colleague to carefully consider your letter.
Yours sincerely
Nini Vascotto
Assistant Private Secretary
Comment on this letter are here
Tues 26 Aug 2003
Photo of protest run from Manly Daily 26-Aug-2003Click picture to enlarge
Fri 22 Aug 2003
The Manly Daily newspaper had a front page article on the protest run that some CoolRunners were planning.Click picture to enlarge
Sun 24 Aug 2003
Photos of protest runClick picture to enlarge
 Starters |
 The first 400m |
 The pack |
 Kind person handing out water |
Fri 22 Aug 2003
The Manly Daily newspaper had a front page article on the protest run that some CoolRunners were planning.Click picture to enlarge
Mon 4 Aug 2003
As part of a letter-writing campaign to various government departments, one of the CoolRunning readers has received this response from the Prime Minister's office - Read it hereWeds 23 Jul 2003
Greetings to all of you to whom I have either responded to your petition request or other offer of assistance regarding the campaign to turn the state government's policy around toward supporting fun runs rather than literally putting barriers in the way. 272 signatures on the petition were handed to MP Jillian Skinner of the North Shore to bring to the appropriate parties. The parliamentary office contacted recommended all petitions to ministers, RTA, etc. be submitted via your resident MP. If you have a set of signatures you'd like to submit, you can find your MP on www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/phweb.nsf/frames/membersFri 27 Jun 2003
Cycling events in firing line too - Read it hereA Serious threat to Triathlon - Read it here
Add your comments in support of cyclists here
Thurs 26 Jun 2003
The Daily Telegraph has a one-third page article on the crisis: Read it hereMon 23 Jun 2003
The current advertising campaign by the NSW RTA (Roads & Traffic Authority) is "Share The Road" and yet they are the primary reason why two of Sydney's road races have been cancelled within the past week alone - The northern Beaches Pub to Pub run and the Sydney CBD to Blacktown Cities Marathon.
The Pub to Pub, in particular, has received a lot of coverage in the Manly Daily newspaper, many as a result of its high profile as a charity fund-raising event, and possibly as the event has received some attention by leading opposition politician John Brogden.
Some enterprising runners in the Sydney Region have started circulating a petition to be put forward to the NSW State Government for "The Return of Commonsense in the Approval of Footraces". The plan is to take this petition to the appropriate government offices in person later this week or early next week.
They want to share this form which describes our position as runners and lists the recent race cancellations. Anybody with the desire to do some further signature collection among other runners, but wants a petition already created, please reply. It's in Excel format, ready for printing. You are encouraged to modify or personalize the petition form before circulating, so they all don't look as if they came from the same source. If you don't want to modify the original then there is a PDF file for quick printing.
The upcoming Cutler Run and the Striders 10K would be good venues to circlate such a petition. It might be effective to submit several "waves" of petitions, and letter mailings.
PDF Format here
EXCEL Format here
Comments on Pub To Pub Cancellation here
Comments on Cities Marathon Cancellation here
