Family advocates for safe bike path after son’s traumatic accident

A TORQUAY family is calling for urgent safety measures on a dangerous stretch of road after their 14-year-old son was severely injured in a bike accident.

Aaron Tremul was riding to the Anglesea bike trails in October 2022 when he collided with a car on Jarosite Road between the Bells Beach car park and Southside car park.

Aaron’s mother Leann said the narrow, winding 800m section, with an 80kmh speed limit, forced her son onto the road, leading to multiple serious injuries.

“Aaron was airlifted to the Royal Children’s Hospital with a collapsed lung, seven fractured ribs, a liver laceration, scapula and acromion fractures, six transverse process fractures in his thoracic and lumbar spine, bilateral pulmonary contusions and a right lower lobe laceration, extensive abrasions and lacerations to his chest, face and arms.

“He spent over a week in hospital, bedridden for seven days, and faced a lengthy recovery at home. We are incredibly grateful he survived, but this accident should never have happened.

The Surf Coast Shire and VicRoads reduced the speed limit from 80kmh to 60kmh after the accident, but the family believes this measure is insufficient.

A petition for a safe bike path has been launched, highlighting the urgency of addressing the dangerous conditions that forced Aaron onto the road.

“There has been too much talk for far too long about installing a cycling path on this treacherous stretch of road. There needs to be immediate consultation and action to make this a high priority for the Department of Transport,” Ms Tremul said.

Many local cyclists have reached out to the family, sharing concerns about the perilous section.

Surfcoast Mountain Bike Club has also been advocating for a safer route.

Ms Tremul said the shire’s Safer Cycling Strategy mentions improving bike path along this stretch before the end of 2022, but no progress has been made.

“We need a wider road with proper bike lanes, a roadside dirt track, or ideally, a separate track through the bush away from cars,” Ms Tremul said.