Gerald Lynch
A Footscray cyclist who was hit by a car while riding, is part of a growing chorus of people claiming they are being made to use an ‘unsafe’ detour while their normal route is indefinitely closed.
Riders usually use the Footscray Road bike path, with a spokesperson from community group BikeWest saying the path had been the main and safest way for them to get into the city since the 1930s.
The path was closed in September for works as part of the Westgate Tunnel Project, before reopening in October.
It was then closed again on November 3, due to the Maritime Union’s industrial action against DP World.
The delays caused by the action meant that trucks were waiting on the bike lane for an extended period of time, hence the path was deemed unsafe by the Department of Transport and Planning.
While BikeWest could understand the rationale behind the decision, the spokesperson said they felt hard done by as the closure turned out to be larger than first expected.
“Originally it was meant to be a few weeks only, before being extended several times, and then made indefinite,” they said.
The concern with the closure is that the detour path into the city on Dynon Road is unsafe for riders, with one local being struck by a car on January 9.
Footscray resident Henry Jiang was riding on the two-lane bike lane on Hopkins Street and was hit by a vehicle turning left from Joseph Road.
Luckily, he walked away unscathed, but he said the incident should be a wake-up call that the detour is unsafe.
“My bike was toasted,” he said.
“When drivers turn left to merge into Hopkins Street, they normally check if their right is clear, but neglect the bike passing from the left hand side.
“I am extremely frustrated to get into this trouble because accidents like this could be avoided or reduced if the authorities concerned thought more for the cyclists.
“I know multiple accidents have happened at the same spot since the Footscray Road closure and the authorities concerned need to take effective actions before a more serious accident happens.”
A spokesperson from the Department of Transport and Planning said they have looked to improve the safety of the detour.
“Due to increased truck queuing along a section of Footscray Road and concerns around the safety of bike riders, we’ve closed a section of the Footscray Road walking and cycling path and a detour is in place along Dynon Road and the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail,” they said.
“A number of improvements on Dynon Road have been made following the previous detour in September last year.
“These include refreshed line markings, coloured surface treatments and new signage to improve visibility for bike riders and motorists and we’ll continue to monitor the detour to ensure that it’s safe for all road users.”
