Local riders to share concerns though cycling survey

BIKE Safe Geelong is calling on locals to take part in a survey it believes will bring more focus on the Bellarine in creating a safer environment for cycling and driving.

The “Bellarine Cycling User Survey” aims to gain a clear representation of what the cycling community identifies as the region’s key issues, and then the findings, along with further proposals, will be put to governments, councils and other interested groups.

Bike Safe Geelong president Garry Laver said the real issue was accelerated development and population growth on the Bellarine, resulting in greatly increased vehicle traffic.

“While localised improvements have been made, safe cycling linkages between townships and new development areas have not been created at all,” Mr Laver said.

“For example, there is no safe route to Portarlington with its ferry connection, or from Ocean Grove to the Blackrock cycle path at the end of 13th Beach.”

Mr Laver said there was a need for interconnected safe routes with priorities set in consultation with the community to guide funding priorities of government and councils. “There has been extensive planning work with the development of the Principal Bicycle Network for Geelong, the Surf Coast, and the Bellarine; but it now needs to be progressed on the Bellarine,” he said.

“The Bellarine Rail Trail exists as an east-west cycling connection from Geelong to Queenscliff, but safe connections to and from the Rail Trail, north-south connections between townships, in particular designated growth areas simply don’t exist.”

Mr Laver said where some safer road shoulders did exist, they were poorly maintained and lacked any continuity, so cyclists ended up at high risk having to move back into vehicle lanes and drivers were understandably frustrated by this.

“We are contacting cycling groups all around Geelong and the Bellarine as well as individuals through our Facebook site which has a very strong following.

“We intend that the findings will be a clear representation of what the cycling community identifies as the key issues, with recommendations as to how they can be most effectively addressed.

“We already work actively with VicRoads and the City of Greater Geelong and we believe the outcomes of the survey will bring more focus to the Bellarine in creating a safer environment for cycling and driving on the Bellarine.”

To take part in the survey, visit surveymonkey.com/r/QQR2ZCB – it closes this Saturday March 3.