Council approves design of western bike link

THE City of Greater Geelong has approved the design of the Better Bike Connections western link.

At the community focus council meeting in Geelong West last week, councillors voted to proceed to tender and construction on that section of the project.

The western link connects Central Geelong, Geelong West and Herne Hill, using Villamanta Street, Gertrude Street and Sydenham Avenue.

Bikes and cars will share the road, with treatments applied to slow car traffic and provide a safer environment for all road users.

Treatments will include speed humps, slow points, raised intersections and line-marking.

The design also includes new and modified signalised crossings at Latrobe Terrace, Pakington Street and Shannon Avenue.

A six-week consultation period at the start of the year included a community survey on the Building Better Bike Connections project. Almost 300 people responded to the western link section of the survey, with 81 per cent strongly or somewhat supporting it.

The vast majority of feedback from residents was positive. Some residents raised concerns about treatments impacting parking outside of residential properties, prompting changes in the design to address those concerns.

“The positive response during consultation on the western link has shown that there is strong community support for bike connections across the city,” Geelong mayor Bruce Harwood said.

“The designs for this section of the project have taken local residents’ feedback into account, and will create a safer environment for all road users. I’m glad we’re now proceeding to tender, and look forward to construction getting under way.”

The city received a $4.7 million grant from the TAC’s Safer Pedestrian and Cyclist Fund to create the two cycling connections (the western link and southern link), to make it safer and easier for people to ride to work, shops, services and other places.

The southern link project will go to the council at a later date. Community consultation is under way for the design of the route along High Street in Belmont.

Anyone can have their say on the four potential design options via the community survey, which is open until September 7.

The survey can be completed online at geelongaustralia.com.au/betterbikeconnections, or people can pick up a copy from any City of Greater Geelong customer service centre.