Almost 900 people have responded to a poll on the Bendigo Advertiser website, 80 per cent of whom do not support a proposal to reduce the speed limit along cycling routes to 80 kilometres an hour.

(DATA: Bendigo Advertiser poll results)

Responses were still filtering through when the Bendigo Advertiser went to print.

The poll was born of a conversation with a prominent Bendigo cyclist at the weekend, following the Ride of Silence.

The ride was intended to draw attention to the safety of all road users.

Hundreds of cyclists supported this year’s event, which received a police escort from Epsom to the Alexandra Fountain. 

Asked how much more work could be done to make the roads safer for all users, ride organiser Edward Barkla called for riders and cyclists alike to be mindful of the road conditions.

He also said the speed limit ought to be appropriate for shared use.

“There are designated [cycling] routes in Bendigo that we use frequently that we would like to see reduced to 80 kilometres an hour,” Mr Barkla said.

(Facebook post: The original story containing the suggestion).

Bendigo resident Colin Kellett was among the Bendigo Advertiser readers to share his views about the suggestion via social media.

He was concerned reducing the speed limit would increase the likelihood of road rage, without any significant benefit to cyclists.

“If a cyclist gets hit by a car doing 80 kilometres an hour they will still suffer at least serious injuries,” Mr Kellett said.

While he didn’t support the idea of slowing down, he said there were still measures that could be implemented to improve road safety in the community.

One such suggestion was for road planners to design routes with generous bike lanes so there was plenty of room for all road users.

“People on bikes doing the right thing is actually good for all, improving their health and easing congestion and parking issues in our cities,” Mr Kellett said.