Work has started on creating a shared path on the Moorabool Street bridge. This will be achieved by widening the footbath on the Western side of the bridge. It is hoped that this will provide a useful link between the shared trails on both sides of the Barwon River.
The City of Greater Geelong has proposed the use of on street bike lanes instead of Copenhagen style lanes on the Swanston Street development. The on street lanes will be between the parallel parked cars and the regular traffic lane, with a painted divider similar to that shown in the picture.
The construction of the stage 1 of Geelongs Home of Cycling, the criterium circuit, has been delayed. The criterium circuit is to be built on Belmont Common near the Barwon Valley Activity Centre, but construction has been delayed from starting due to a number of hold ups regarding environmental and planning impacts.
Work is expected to start on the track before June, and the City of Greater Geelong aims to have track completed before the UCI World Championships in September/October.
Sections of the Bellarine Rail Trail will be closed over the coming months for sewer works being conducted by the Barwon Water Alliance.
Trail sections are expected to be closed to users for the following periods:
- Coppards Road to Wilsons Road – late April to mid June, 2010.
- Wilsons Road to Boundary Road – mid May to mid June, 2010.
- Coppards Road to Bellarine Highway / Earls Road – late June to mid July, 2010.
The Victorian Department of Transport are looking to improve the carriage of bicycles on regional public transport. They have commissioned the Institute for Sensible Transport to carry out a technical evaluation of the current situation and suggestions for improvement.
The deadline for survey responses is April 24th.
The survey can be accessed at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GVLQPV2.
In response to growing concern for the safety of road cyclists in the region, a new group has been formed to lobby for safety improvements for road training and touring cyclists.
The group is called Bike Safe and has recently got coverage in the local press.
Related links:
Bicycle Users Geelong are concerned that resident opposition may cause the council to decide to not implement the plan or to implement a new version that is less safe or of less benefit to cyclists.
A petition of 300 signatures from residents and users of Swanston St and surrounds that are against the current plan is to be presented to the City of Greater Geelong at the next council meeting. Resident opposition mostly relates to the possibility of greater motor vehicle congestion through the narrowing of lanes and minimal loss of parking spaces.
If the council considers there to be too much opposition to the plan they may change the plan so it is all shared or divided paths, decide to only complete part of the plan, or cancel the development.
Petition in favour of bike plan
Bicycle Users Geelong has started a petition in favour of the City of Greater Geelongs current plans for the Swanston St. bike link.
You can sign the petition here, but if you really want to help out the best thing you can do is send your thoughts to the City of Greater Geelong.
Update: The petition has now been presented to the COGG council.
The City of Greater Geelong is conducting a survey about shared trails in the Geelong region.
You can access the survey on the COGG website. (Update: the survey is no longer available)
Survey responses can be entered up until March 26th.
The Super Tuesday bike count for 2010 was undertaken on Tuesday March 2nd. A number of count points were included within the Geelong region.
Related links:
The City of Greater Geelong has now posted a page for the Swanston Street Bike Route on the Have Your Say section of the COGG website.
The maps made available at the public consultation meetings in December can be downloaded from this page.
You can also submit your feedback and suggestions or ask a question about the development in the form at the bottom of the page.
Update: The original Swanston St Have Your Say page is no longer available.