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BIKE Bendigo has called on members of the community to put pen to paper to show their support for improved road safety and infrastructure for all users.
Group president Jac Torres-Gomez’s comments come after a National Cycling Participation Survey found a decline in cycling participation in regional Victoria since the survey started six years ago.
Almost 17 per cent of Victorians – about 1 million people - ride a bicycle each week.
Most people who cycled in Victoria the past month did so for recreation, while 36 per cent did so for transportation.
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“Whilst we believe deeply in the work we do at Bike Bendigo, getting more people on bikes is not something a single organisation can achieve on their own,” Ms Torres-Gomez said.
“Support from local, state and federal governments that commit to, and invests in, safe and efficient bike infrastructure, supports positive policy, programming and laws; are all critically important.”
“These include measures such as separated bike lanes and safe distance passing laws which strongly support our work to get more people on bikes in a proactive, smart and sustainable way.”
She cited international research, which showed only 7 per cent of the population was willing to ride on the road mixing with cars, trucks and buses.
A further 60 per cent of the population would be willing to ride for everyday transport if there were separated bike lanes and paths that were protected from traffic by a physical divider of some form, Ms Torres-Gomez said.
“We clearly need to build infrastructure that caters for almost 70 per cent of the population rather than the current situation where at best there is a painted line on the road thus catering for only 7 per cent,” she said.
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While she said there were important projects underway, involving VicRoads, Transport for Victoria and La Trobe University Bendigo, Ms Torres-Gomez said there was more to be done.
“For a start: advocating for safe and comfortable urban connections such as through middle of Bendigo and the critical university to city centre route,” she said.
“Additionally in outer Bendigo there are communities that are missing out - for example in the suburb of Junortoun on the eastern extent of Bendigo there is a gap in community access to bike paths that encourage their community to be able to proactively engage in active transport safely.”
The Junortoun Community Action Group intends to raise road safety concerns with VicRoads during a community engagement program coming to the region next month.
Possible improvements to routes such as Junortoun Road are also being raised with the City of Greater Bendigo.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said cycling was growing across Victoria.
“In particular in popular regional centres like Bendigo,” he said.
"Road safety is our top priority. That's why when we upgrade roads we take the opportunity to create safer bike lanes, such as the Napier Street upgrade."