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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
A petition for a safe bike path has been launched, highlighting the urgency of addressing the dangerous conditions that forced Aaron onto the road.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Many local cyclists have reached out to the family, sharing concerns about the perilous section.<\/p>\n
Surfcoast Mountain Bike Club has also been advocating for a safer route.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n