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STATE GOVT ANNOUNCES HUGE BOOST FOR CYCLING IN GEELONG

Bike Safe is very pleased that some key links in the PBN will be funded to the tune of $4.7m. This is a huge win for the community! Bike Safe first proposed the idea of a Barwon to Bay Cycleway as per our illustration below in 2014. After much work, by many people, the State Government, TAC and City of Greater Geelong will make it a reality. Below is the official press release.


Christine Couzens MP Member for Geelong  December 20, 2017 
MAKING IT SAFER AND EASIER TO GET AROUND GEELONG
The Andrews Labor Government is building new cycling routes and upgrading the Geelong CBD to make it easier and safer to get around the city.

Member for Geelong Christine Couzens joined the City of Greater Geelong, Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and VicRoads today to announce the $7 million package of works, which will help to boost tourism and reduce congestion on local roads.

Two new cycling routes will be constructed from central Geelong to Herne Hill and Waurn Ponds, connecting with current paths in the network.

The routes will be built in line with international best practice and will include a combination of protected bike lanes – where bikes are separated from cars.

This will improve safety for cyclists, who are 34 times more likely than people in cars to be seriously injured on the road and 4.5 times more likely to die in a crash.

As part of the Towards Zero 2016-2020 Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan, the Victorian Government is investing $100 million through the TAC to create safer roads for cyclists and pedestrians. Over the past five years, 30 per cent of the 156 crashes across central Geelong involved people walking and riding their bikes.
In January, the City of Greater Geelong will roll out a public consultation program to share the proposed plans for the cycling routes, understand the community’s ideas and collect feedback.

Project plans and surveys will be available at Council customer service centres in early January.



2017 ANNUAL REPORT NOW AVAILABLE

The BIKE SAFE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING for 2016/2017 was held at 5.30 pm on Wednesday 13th December 2017 at the Geelong Regional Library, Lit. Malop Street, Geelong

The Annual Report was presented and accepted. It can now be downloaded here > Bike Safe Annual Report 2017

Item 4.   The Election of Office Bearers for Bike Safe 2018
     
President: Garry Laver
Vice President: Bob Jordan 
Secretary: Allan O’Donoghue
Treasurer: Bob Jordan
Committee Member: Barton Van Laar
Committee Member: Coralie Jenkin
Committee Member: Murray Mitchelhill
                                    

QUEENSCLIFF PORTARLINGTON RD/MURRADOC RD SAFETY UPGRADE


URGENT SAFETY APPEAL - BELLARINE PENINSULA CYCLING HAZARD




Bike Safe has launched an appeal to upgrade the Queenscliff Portarlington Road on the Bellarine Peninsula. This road has been a nominated hazard road by Bike Safe for the past 7 years, with as yet no plans to address this issue by VicRoads, nor the State Government. 

THIS HAS BEEN AN IDENTIFIED PROBLEM BY BIKESAFE SINCE 2010. 
Weekly incidents occur between vehicles and cyclists.
Safe touring, by both cyclists and motorists, around the Bellarine Peninsula is impeded by poor infrastructure, specifically on the Queenscliff Portarlington Road (C126) and Murradoc Road (C125). Resurfacing works have been poor band-aid measures, only maintaining road designs dated back 30 years. Even limited shoulder works near the Bellarine Highway are not to AustRoads Standards and basically unusable by cyclists.

The dangers have been contributed to by increased development, heavy vehicle use and population growth. The restricted road width, deteriorating surfaces, very poor or non-existent road edges, as well as excessive speeds, all are key hazard contributors. There is no alternative off road leisure path, such as the Bellarine Rail Trail, from Portarlington, St Leonards and Indented Heads to and from Queenscliff, Point Lonsdale and Ocean Grove. Bike Safe is advocating for the entire Bellarine Rail Trail to be sealed, to at least enable some alternatives from Drysdale to Queenscliff.


PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
Bike Safe is asking for urgent action to redress these issues by:
1.     Reducing the speed limit from 100km/h to 80km/h.
2.     Widen the roads to incorporate shoulders to AustRoads Standards relevant to the new speed i.e 2 metres where possible, minimum 1.8 metres width both sides.
  • Queenscliff Portarlington Rd (C126) at least the 7kms from Knights Rd to Murradoc Rd.
  • Murradoc Road (C125) at least the 3kms from Queenscliff Portarlington Rd to Bluff Rd.

Are you insured?


As a cyclist on our roads it is important you have personal accident insurance. This is also available through joining Bike Safe. We are affiliated with Cycling Australia. Through them we offer:
  • 24/7 Public Liability Insurance worldwide
  • 24/7 Personal Accident Insurance
  • Access to Bike Insurance made easy
  • Concessions & Discounts for Juniors and Seniors
If you have an accident while riding, the policy covers a range of benefits including death, disablement and various general assistance benefits. The most common expenses claimed are in respect of non-Medicare medical items which include any medical related expenses you incur which are not eligible for a Medicare benefit and which are not otherwise claimable through private health insurance or a similar scheme (eg workers compensation). A typical example is physio expenses incurred as part of your rehabilitation.

More details here > Bike Safe Membership with Insurance

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