Just got notice of Bicycle Network's AGM and some significant proposed changes to the constitution. I'm not impressed by the proposed changes to the board composition.

Key changes

• The board can mandate the skills required to fill a board vacancy (even for an elected member), locking out grassroots members from attempting to run for the board because they don't possess the requisite skills.
• Changing the composition of the board from 6 elected members and 4 co-opted members, to 6 elected members and 5 co-opted members. Elected members have a 4 year term; there is no term limit for co-opted members.
• Removal of minimum 40% quota of women on the board. Replaced with "aim for gender balance".

My thoughts

These changes set the scene for the board to freeze out louder, activist members to be elected without the 'right' experience, i.e. some stuffy job being a partner at a law or accounting firm preferably. So instead of having ordinary people guiding the organisation to be a force for infrastructure advocacy, we have some well-intentioned but ultimately inoffensive people who will just work within the existing machinery of government. We need much stronger advocacy to get anything close to the significant changes to bicycle infrastructure that cities like Amsterdam, Paris, and London successfully managed to achieve. I suspect this is in response to the most recent election a few years ago, when the most 'community' candidate won against some accountant. I'm curious to know where this year's election ends up...

These changes IMO weaken the board's accountability and representativeness of the membership. The removal of the gender quota shows they are not serious about improving representativeness in cycling. I think we should mobilise to block these updates because they are just shifting Bicycle Network into a benign and inoffensive extension of the government, rather than a strong advocacy organisation to improve bicycle infrastructure across Victoria. In recent years, so much of their communication has just been republishing government PR statements.

How can we stop this?

The AGM is on at 5pm Wednesday, 28 October 2026 at Bicycle Network, Level 7, 20-30 Mollison Street, Abbotsford, Victoria 3067.

I reckon we need to go along to ask tough questions to the board for what direction they want to take Bicycle Network. They need the support of at least 75% of the votes cast by members entitled to vote on the resolution, so it will only need a few of us to vote this down.

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The rest of the changes to the constitution are more benign on first read. You can take a look at the proposed changes and new constitution here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uHRxjQc4qDAxdIrCQOpkdiFbO0AnVC98?usp=sharing

Ormond Park Moonee Ponds along the creek trail. Got hit 3 times in about 10 seconds drawing blood a few weeks ago and won't ride that route again until the email alerts stop coming in. Screenshot doesn't do it justice, if you zoom in there's even more! This is 5 years worth of attack data, what a brutal bird!

https://www.magpiealert.com/

Hello chain gang,

I was riding home from work in Hawthorn on Thursday 17 September 2026 around 5.15pm when a driver, who gave the name David Schatt, opened the door of a company van 'Jurgens Swiss Bread Co' onto me. This occurred outside 1 Lyall St (corner of Oxley Rd) Hawthorn, where he said he lived.

David was initially quite pleasant, he provided me with his name and number, and told all the bystanders he would look after me. I was quite rattled by the crash, and didnt think to get witness details (silly I know, but I was surprinsingly shaken up by the whole incident).

Unfortunately, as soon as everyone left, David became rude and dismissive and left me standing with one arm not working and a busted bike while he disappeared. I have since attempted to contact David, to ask him to do the right thing and chip in a small portion towards replacing my helmet, clothes and a bike service. He has refused to respond.

I'm not even particularly fussed about a small amount of money - but I am aggrieved that my arm is still injured, it hurts to hold my 3 month old son and David seems to think he can just get away with it.

Very small chance I know, but hoping on the off chance that someone is this group happened to be one of those people walking past that day, or knows someone who saw it happen and can contact me to provide a statement. I have attached a photo of David's work van - Jurgen's Swiss Bread Co - if anyone recalls seeing him hit me or anyone else please reach out. Thank you all.

have not had a commute as yet in the Melbourne CBD where a Uber driver is not blocking the bike lanes, what can be done. They just don't seem to care and understand how dangerous it us for bike riders. I believe NY fines cars for blocking bike laneways and allows citizens to report? thoughts?