This is an old post from when I ran for Council in 2020. I have left it up because it is just as relevant today
Isolation has highlighted an issue that has concerned me for a long time. Adjacent to where I live the path running alongside the creek and continuing up to the Western border of Maroondah is, like all of the paths in Maroondah, a shared path. Now, during isolation, it is heavily used for exercise by walkers young and old, families with young children, and cyclists. Because it is a good quality path linking up several long-distance rides it is frequented by lycra-clad cyclists who often speed between the pedestrians carefully trying to distance themselves physically. It is only a matter of time before a small child or older person is injured.
“Victoria Walks has released new research recommending more separated walking and cycling paths. Some key points include:
- Cycling speed on shared paths varies considerably between cyclists and paths but typically averages between 20 and 30 km/h.
- Shared paths with high volumes of cyclists (more than 50 per hour in the commuter peak) should be identified for separation/segregation.
- Public education and signage should establish a culture of sharing paths by users, emphasising that shared paths should be low-speed and that cyclists should give way to walkers.
- Position statement: Shared paths – finding solutions.
Research paper: Shared paths – the issues “
I didn’t get elected to Council or I would have campaigned to have main trunk bicycle paths separated from pedestrian paths (we need BOTH side by side, not one or the other).