By Luke Voogt
A Geelong Cycling Club committee member has slammed a cyclist-dominated survey promoted as “community support” for council’s planned bicycle network.
“It certainly doesn’t represent a snapshot of Belmont residents,” said Belmont baker Sean Clark, also the cycling club’s track director.
“Only 18 per cent of (survey participants) were from the Belmont area.”
City Hall’s survey found that 70.7 per cent of 556 respondents supported the network’s southern route along High Street, Belmont, to Waurn Ponds.
But 75.6 per cent of respondents described themselves as cyclists and 24.4 per cent as as “non-cyclists”.
Mr Clark described the survey sample as skewed given the high number of cyclists.
Out of the 75.6 per cent, 23.3 per cent described themselves as cyclists that commuted to work or education.
A council statement earlier this year quoted Census statistics that “just two per cent” of people travelled to central Geelong by bike, Mr Clark pointed out.
The remainder of the 75.6 per cent either cycled recreationally or to shop.
Mr Clark compared the results to a High Street traders’ petition, which he expected South Barwon MP Andrew Katos to soon table in state parliament.
“We’ve had a petition going since January and I reckon at my store alone I’ve had close to 200 signatures against (the bike paths),” he said.
“People are just thinking why would you use High Street when it’s been the main thoroughfare since day dot.”
Mr Clark suggested nearby Francis Street as a better route due to its proximity to existing bike paths.
“No one’s really against the idea of a bike lane but why wasn’t one of the (survey) questions where would you like to see the route go.”
Almost two thirds of survey respondents said the plans would encourage them to ride more.
About 81.1 per cent supported the western link to Herne Hill, passing through residential Geelong West streets.
Respondents aged 35 to 49 were the largest age group, 39.1 per cent.
Residents from 60 suburbs answered the survey, with 18.7 per cent from Belmont, 11.8 from Geelong West and 10.2 from Highton.
Council would continue consulting the community on the design of sections of the route, particularly in High Street, a spokesperson said.
City Hall received a $4.7 million grant from the TAC’s Safer Pedestrian and Cyclist Fund to create the two cycling connections.
Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood thanked the survey participants.
“We will consider all feedback as we progress our planning for these two major bike connections,” he said.
