By Cr Simon Crawford
Cycling is not only a healthy alternative form of transport, it’s also good for the environment.
That’s why, towards the end of last year, we asked our community what else we could do to encourage more people to ‘get on their bikes’.
We heard from more than 1000 residents – including commuters, recreational riders, learner riders still with their L plates on – and those who currently don’t ride at all.
Respondents told us the number one barrier that stopped them riding more was a perception cycling in our municipality was not as safe as it could be.
We also heard many would be likely to cycle more if the network was better connected to key locations such as schools and shopping centres, like Highpoint, or the Maribyrnong River.
While council has installed 40 kilometres of bike paths across our city, we know they are not safe enough to encourage most people to ride.
Most paths are not protected from motor vehicles and they can often end abruptly, particularly at intersections, making riding to set destinations challenging.
We’re working on this with almost seven million dollars allocated towards developing and upgrading both pedestrian and bike paths in this year’s budget with an emphasis on building protected facilities.
Of our online responses, more than 90 per cent also supported council in undertaking more measures to support an uptake in cycling.
Many, like myself, currently use our existing cycling infrastructure and see first-hand the benefits of switching from our cars to our bikes when possible.
I know riding my bike – even just for the short distances to my local shops, to the library or train station – creates a ripple effect that benefits our whole community, helping ease traffic congestion, reduce carbon emissions and increase patronage to local businesses.
It’s also good for my health and wellbeing, not to mention that it can be lots of fun.
As our city, like many around the world, faces mounting pressure from a changing climate and growing population, it is important we continue to roll out the Maribyrnong Bicycle Strategy to create those cycling networks you are asking for, and explore every opportunity to encourage a life- long engagement with cycling within more and more members of our community.
Whether this means cycling as a mode of transport, for recreation, or just every now and then, the more of us who are able to swap four wheels for two, the better.
