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RECENT collisions involving cyclists and motorists have highlighted a need for improved infrastructure.
Police said a St Albans man was “in the fight of his life to try and survive” after a vehicle collided with a group of cyclists in Macedon on Monday, also injuring two other cyclists.
Later that evening, a cyclist was transported to Bendigo Health with arm injuries following a collision in Jackass Flat.
Bike Bendigo president Jac Torres-Gomez said all those who knew the joy of riding a bike felt the pain and anguish associated with road incidents involving cyclists.
“Drivers in cars do not intentionally go out to hurt bikers and cyclists sharing the road with them,” she said.
“This is an issue of building better infrastructure so all road users feel safe and supported.”
Ms Torres-Gomez said infrastructure such as protected bike lanes encouraged more people to ride bikes, while also reducing the danger of collisions with cars and heavy vehicles.
A survey conducted by the group last month found that 89 per cent of the 140 respondents would like to ride a bike more often.
“When tragedy strikes, people are deeply affected and are less likely to move on from wanting to ride more often to actually getting on a bike,” Ms Torres-Gomez said.
“Governments and planners need to invest more in making riding safer - for all road users.”
City of Greater Bendigo engineering and public space manager Brett Martini said Howard Street, where the Jackass Flat collision occurred, was a high priority to be addressed in the council’s budget for 2018-19.
“It’s a strong candidate that we’ll look to do work on between now and October,” he said.
Several on-road bicycle lanes were prioritised in the draft budget for the upcoming financial year, including Averys Road, from Howard Street to Bright Street; and Symonds Street, from Aspinall Street to Mackenzie Street West.
Bicycle lanes are also planned for Upper California Gully Road / Jackson Street.
The city is contemplating options for the Bendigo CBD, including protected bike lanes.
“Cyclists and pedestrians are the two most vulnerable road users,” Mr Martini said.
“We need to look at what particular treatments we can do to improve their safety.”
Improving the uptake of cycling was one of the aims of the council’s Connecting Greater Bendigo: Integrated Transport and Land Use Strategy, which was adopted in August 2015.
Road safety worries resonate
POLICE concerns for the safety of a Jackass Flat road have been echoed within the community.
Huntly man Philip Pilven was driving his car towards Eaglehawk along Howard Street about a week before Monday night’s collision, which involved a pushbike and a vehicle.
He had two rims damaged after driving his Ford ute over the fog line to avoid an oversized vehicle in the right lane.
There is no shoulder on Howard Street – something police pointed out following Monday night’s crash.
The road features on Victoria’s Over Dimensional Vehicles network map.
Mr Pilven said it would be difficult for motorists and cyclists to share the stretch of road – which has a speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour – safely.
“There’s absolutely nowhere to go,” he said.
The pothole responsible for the damage has since been mended, but Mr Pilven said he would have to pay $1375 to lodge a claim with the City of Greater Bendigo to replace the rims.
The cost is determined by the Road Management Act.