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A Victoria biking membership that misplaced one in all its personal in a crash final 12 months is anxious it’s not being heard, as authorities work to finalise designs for security enhancements on the lethal stretch of highway.
Key factors:
- Cyclists are involved they are not being heard with their issues about deliberate security enhancements for Black Forest Drive, between Woodend and Macedon
- Street authorities have recorded 5 fatalities on the stretch of highway since 2001, together with Gisborne man Lindsay Smyrk, a bicycle owner who was struck by a automobile in October 2022
- The Division of Transport and Planning is working to finalise designs for the works, which it says will enhance security for all highway customers
The Macedon Ranges Biking Membership says current plans for Black Forest Drive, between Woodend and Macedon, do “little” to enhance the security of cyclists, and a earlier design, which might have decreased the highway to at least one by way of lane in every path, would have been higher.
The membership final 12 months urged the state authorities to return to the drafting board, dedicating a 13-page submission to Gisborne man Lindsay Smyrk, a member who died after being struck by a automobile whereas using residence on October 9.
Regional Roads Victoria is working to finalise the plans, that are anticipated to be launched mid-year.
Membership secretary John Hartigan mentioned its 90-plus members had been avoiding Black Forest Drive, the place attainable, due to security issues.
“There is no doubt in my thoughts that if critical modifications usually are not made to Black Forest Drive, there shall be extra cyclists killed,” Mr Hartigan mentioned.
Designs will ‘enhance security for all’
The Division of Transport and Planning has recorded 5 fatalities, and 35 critical harm crashes on Black Forest Drive, between Woodend and Macedon, since 2001.
Two of the 5 recorded fatalities have concerned cyclists.
“Following 5 years of intensive group session and the examination of many alternative design choices, the ultimate designs will enhance security for all highway customers who use Black Forest Drive,” mentioned a spokesperson for the division.
Street authorities have mentioned security enchancment plans on Black Forest Drive since 2010, with in-depth group consultations in 2018, 2021 and 2022.
Mr Hartigan mentioned cyclists had been calling for security enhancements for the reason that highway was downgraded from the Calder Freeway when the Woodend Bypass opened.
“This has bought an extended historical past, and we’re no higher off than what we had been in 2001,” Mr Hartigan mentioned.
Cyclists elevate issues
Mr Hartigan says circumstances for cyclists will “turn out to be worse” underneath the plans proposed in 2022 “as a result of it creates extra battle factors.”
“The bundle of security enhancements at present proposed by Regional Roads Victoria … doesn’t meet the obligations imposed by Victorian regulation with respect to making sure security of all highway customers,” the membership acknowledged in its submitted response to the plans.
Mr Hartigan mentioned Regional Roads Victoria and the Roads Minister had mentioned they had been making additional design modifications.
“However except they tackle the basic problem of offering both a separated bike path on either side of the highway, or on the very least, in accordance with the Austroads tips, a large steady sealed shoulder for cyclists to make use of … it is exhausting to see how Black Forest Drive turns into a beautiful route for cyclists,” Mr Hartigan mentioned.
He mentioned Black Forest Drive was the one route highway cyclists may use between Woodend and cities to the south, like Gisborne.
“There is not an alternate except you are ready to journey over the mountain,” Mr Hartigan mentioned.
‘Fixed’ close to misses
In Parliament earlier this 12 months, animal Justice Occasion Member for Northern Victoria Georgie Purcell sought assurance from the Minister for Roads and Street Security Melissa Horne.
Ms Purcell sought to verify measures to be put in place on Black Forest Drive in Woodend would considerably enhance security for cyclists in a fashion in step with Austroads tips.
She has advised the ABC she nonetheless holds the issues she raised in Parliament.
“We consistently see close to misses when it comes to accidents and incidents with automobiles, cyclists, and wildlife and the group for a while has been asking for options,” Ms Purcell mentioned.
She advised Parliament that Regional Roads Victoria officers had made it clear that bike lanes alongside the complete size of Black Forest Drive had been a “essential security measure” and that “they might be going forward, they usually had been additionally budgeted for”.
“This was reverted to a brand new proposal for the retention of two automobile lanes in each instructions, with solely quick and discontinuous provision of motorcycle lanes,” Ms Purcell mentioned in her speech.
In her response, Ms Horne mentioned security was the federal government’s highest precedence on Victorian roads, which was why it dedicated $6 million to the undertaking.
“The ultimate security enchancment designs will purpose to steadiness the wants of motorists and cyclists now and into the longer term,” the response mentioned.
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