Council passes plan for cyclist safety

SURF Coast Shire Council has adopted a five-year plan to improve cycling safety across the region.

The Surf Coast Safer Cycling Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2027, which was adopted at its August meeting, will aim to make bicycle transport and recreational use safer and easier between towns.

Surf Coast Shire Councillor Mike Bodsworth welcomed the new plan, saying it will provide realistic options to use high priority cycling corridors, resulting in residents and visitors alike to choose pedal power over their cars.

“Council is deeply committed to creating a more environmentally sustainable future and we are doing everything we can to help reduce car reliance, while encouraging people to safely get on their bikes,” Cr Bodsworth said.

“This strategy paves the way for a more cycle friendly region that not only reduces transport costs, gets us fit and helps connect us but also showcases our cycle ways to visitors keen to appreciate our cleaner, greener lifestyle.”

Council announced three main targets to gauge the effectiveness of its Safer Cycling Strategy.

In addition to getting more residents on bikes in the next several years, council hopes to reduce fatal and serious injury cyclist crashes by 30 per cent before 2030.

The strategy, funded by the Transport Accident Commission and prepared in consultation with the community, external stakeholders and Council’s partners over the past 12 months, aims to address ongoing and emerging cycling safety.

Secretary of the Geelong-Surf Coast Cycling Club (GSCC) and Torquay resident Gordon Spargo said his biggest observation over the past two decades on the Surf Coast has been the major growth in population.

“There’s a lot more traffic than ever before with the population density as high as it has ever been,” Mr Spargo said.

“It’s great that we’ve seen growth in road shoulders for cyclists in the region, they are nearly two metres wide on major roads such as Horseshoe Bend up to Blackgate Road.

“Things like that have enhanced rider safety in recent years, specifically to avoid roads like the Surf Coast Highway, but it needs to continue across the region.

“Coombes Road comes to mind, it’s half done, riding down to Anglesea Road is fine, but once you get to Ghazeepore Road, it’s terrible.

“It’s important we continue to develop that infrastructure.”

From Mr Spargo’s perspective, he believes the GSCC has a unique opportunity to address one of council’s key themes in educating bike safety among children and students.

“As a local bike club, we could probably do more,” Mr Spargo said.

“Half our members are retired meaning this is something we could assist with. We all ride every day; we have extensive knowledge of our local roads and we love cycling.

“Objectively I think it’s safe to say we could impart more knowledge on student cyclists than teachers do.”

The final strategy will be presented to council later this month or in October.