Jennifer Pittorino
The controversial decision to include a trial bike path as part of the reconstruction of Summerhill Road has been rescinded.
The decision to include cycling infrastructure made at Maribyrnong council’s September meeting divided both councillors and the community, with mayor Sarah Carter submitting a rescission motion the following day.
At its meeting on Tuesday, October 17, councillors voted 4-3 to rescind the motion put forth by Cr Bernadette Thomas to include pop-up style infrastructure for cycling.
Mayor Sarah Carter argued the motion should be rescinded on the basis of no community consultation, public transparency, strategic planning, sound financial management and service performance.
“These have not been adequately considered in the decision making, which is quite frankly reckless, bordering on negligent from a due process, financial and safety perspective,” she said.
Cr Carter said she was speaking up on behalf those in the community who did not want pop-up bike lanes along Summerhill Road.
“I stand by saying this is worst decision I have seen made in 15 years of local government, on account of the contempt with which our community has been treated.
“…For me to take the extraordinary measure to go out and need to letterbox residents after 15 years of local government, I think is testament to that, because at the very foundation residents deserve to have their voices heard, and they have not.”
Cr Carter said that in addition to the lack of community consultation, council had not budgeted for bike lanes nor factored in which utilities would be impacted.
Councillor Simon Crawford voted against the rescission motion with councillors Thomas and Jorge Jorquera, saying he does not want to be responsible for more deaths on Maribyrnong roads.
“There have already been three people killed on bikes that I’m aware of during my council term, that is three people too many,” he said.
“People have already been injured riding down this road, and I can guarantee there will be more injuries unless we do something.
“Do we really want to be responsible for this, how would you feel if the next death of a cyclists is on this road?
“I for one do not want to be responsible for any more deaths on our roads.”
Following the rescission, Cr Carter tabled a new motion to proceed with the reconstruction of Summerhill Road and resurfacing of Rosamond Road.
The new motion will explore opportunities for a north – south cycling corridor from Footscray to Maribyrnong in line with an integrated transport planning approach, through a community engagement process.
Cr Carter said the motion was a commitment to a north south cycling solution.
“I think it’s a priority strategy, but it would need to be consulted on thoroughly, the urgency is on getting Rosamond Road reconstructed.”
Cr Thomas said council had made it clear bike riders are second class citizens on the road.
“In regards to the the individual parts of the motion, proceeding with the reconstruction simply take us to a more unsafe road,” she said.
“We have people driving over the speed limit most of the time, now we’re going to reconstruct a road that allows people to speed even more.”
Cr Crawford added “This is a massive wasted opportunity, it not a utopian idea to ride on this road. I just hope no one gets killed before we actually get around to one day doing something to make it safe for people to ride on this road”.
