AIDA surveys views on sharing roads

THE AIREYS Inlet and District Association (AIDA) is asking for community views on how roads are used as part of its continuing campaign to maintain the area’s low-key character.

Earlier this month, the association – which covers the area between Eastern View and Urquhart Bluff as well as the neighbouring hinterland – launched the Sharing Our Roads Safely survey, which is open to AIDA members and non-members alike.

In its survey, AIDA states the “low-key and non-urban nature” of the district is reflected in the sharing of residential roads by cars, walkers, runners, cyclists, horses, and others.

AIDA states this characteristic of the area is supported by more than 90 per cent of respondents in AIDA’s 2015 and 2020 Community Opinion Surveys.

A similar number do not want the Surf Coast Shire to build formal footpaths in Aireys Inlet.

There has been resistance for many years against sealing roads in Aireys Inlet, and AIDA has argued that unsealed roads are valued by residents and important to the character of the area.

The Sharing Our Roads Safely survey asks how well the sharing of roads operates in practice, key challenges, and what could be done to improve conditions.

AIDA has also been advocating for lower local speed limits on the Great Ocean Road and residential streets.

Aireys Inlet is the only residential community along the Great Ocean Road with 60kmh as the speed limit, rather than 50kmh.

Apart from the new 40kmh area around the lighthouse precinct, speed limits on residential streets are unmarked or either 50kmh or 60kmh.

The latest survey’s questions include:

• Where the biggest conflicts with speed are in Aireys Inlet and what kind of conflicts they are
• Suggestions to change infrastructure or priority routes that could support safer bicycle movement around town for recreation or as alternative to car usage, and
• Whether coastal and forest walks around the Great Ocean Road be shared by cyclists.

To fill out the survey, head to AIDA’s Facebook page.