City Hall will consult traders on the “look and feel” of controversial bike lanes to run through one of Geelong’s busiest suburban shopping strips, according to Mayor Bruce Harwood.
The Indy revealed last month that traders on Belmont’s High St traders were up in arms over the likely loss of car parks to make way for City Hall’s “Principle Bicycle Network”.
Authorities never consulted traders on the plans, veteran High St retailer Vince Albanese said last month.
Shoppers and motorists have backed the traders’ concern on social media, raising concerns about likely loss of jobs, reduced access for car-dependent people, and the limited numbers of cyclers using existing bike lanes in central Geelong.
Cr Harwood indicated in a statement to the Indy this week that the lanes would go ahead regardless, although further consultations could lead to design changes.
“Community and trader consultation will continue on the look and feel of these bike connections, since TAC’s announcement of funding for the southern and western links,” he said.
“The end result will be better connectivity between Geelong’s suburbs and its CBD and waterfront, with alternate transport options, safer riding, quicker journeys, less congestion and cleaner air for the community.”
Cr Harwood’s statement was in response to Liberal MP Simon Ramsay calling for an urgent meeting of “affected parties”.
Mr Ramsay said he understood traders’ concerns, given that the network would affect his electoral office when Geelong’s Gheringhap St became one-way to allow for bike lanes.
The only notice of the network to his office was an 8 January letter referring him to a website with more information, he said.
“I share the concerns of retailers, particularly on High St, of the impact to their businesses and the safety of their customers of this proposed cycling route. I questioned why a safer route has not been offered?”
Mr Ramsay said authorities had conducted “little community engagement” on the network.
“It is not good enough for the City of Greater Geelong to just seek feedback through a website. It should face the community in a public meeting.”
Mr Ramsay also doubted the level of demand for the network running through Belmont.
“It is highly unlikely the needs test has been met given very few cyclists would use the High St option.”
Mr Ramsay also suggested that blame for “the lack of consultation” lay with Geelong’s previous council administrators, saying they had “dumped” the project on the new council.
But Cr Harwood indicated that VicRoads was responsible for initial consultations in 2014, when he was a member of the council sacked in 2016.
“Extensive work and consultation was undertaken back in 2014 to establish the Principle Bicycle Network routes by VicRoads with Bike Safe, cyclists, the community, a range of agencies, and all G21 councils. The network was developed to provide cyclists with safe, accessible and connected cycling routes within Geelong,” Cr Harwood said.
