City’s ‘stingy’ on bike safety

Kim Waters
A NEW report reveals how Geelong is short-changing cyclists on infrastructure, according to a bicycle safety body.
Bike Safe Geelong president Barton Van Laar said the Bicycle Victoria report on municipal funding “reflects poorly” on the city.
The report’s analysis of 50 municipalities’ infrastructure expenditure found that 42 spent more per capita than Geelong, Mr Van Laar said.
The report recommended that councils spend $5 per resident on bike-related infrastructure.
“A number of councils are spending over $10 per capita but City of Greater Geelong spent $1.98,” Mr Van Laar said
“The report states the Greater Geelong city council has considerable room for improvement before its investment in bike infrastructure can approach the recommended levels.”
Mr Van Laar told the Independent earlier this month that Geelong’s cycling infrastructure was “sadly neglected”.
He issued his funding call following a series of cyclist deaths in collisions with vehicles on Geelong roads during the past few years.
Councillor Andy Richards, who holds council’s transport and infrastructure portfolio, said he wanted to be “up-front” about the funding shortfall.
“Council’s cycling infrastructure does need to improve,” he said.
“That’s why we are working with Barton Van Laar’s group to improve things.”
Cr Richards said “many reasons” were behind the apparent shortfall in Geelong’s spending on cycling infrastructure compared to other councils.
“Some councils have quite a small area and it’s easy to put in a few things to improve cycling safety quite quickly but the City of Greater Geelong covers a vast area.
“The cost for making my own council ward cycle safe would probably be greater than for some inner-city councils to do their whole council area.”