WHITTLESEA cyclists have spoken out against state government bike budget cuts, saying the money lost could have helped plug a 450-metre gap in the bike network – giving riders from the northern suburbs a dedicated path into the city.
Bicycle Network Victoria has been campaigning for the state government to reverse a decision to cut the $15 million VicRoads Bicycle Program, which helps fund new bike infrastructure.
Whittlesea Bicycle Users Group vice-president Glenn Eckardt said the budget cuts meant there was no money for a path to fix a 450-metre hole in the network to connect an existing trail, ending near Dalton Road in Thomastown, to the Cheddar Road-St Georges Road path.
Mr Eckardt said the nearby section of Dalton Road was hazardous to cyclists, after a rider was killed in an accident there in 2008.
“This is an essential link for riders wanting to safely commute [into the city] from the northern suburbs,” he said.
BNV head of campaigns Jason den Hollander said the Dalton Road trail would be a small, cost-effective project.
“You could then safely ride all the way to Docklands, the zoo and Federation Square,” Mr den Hollander said.
He said it would also ease traffic congestion on surrounding roads and allow Whittlesea riders to cycle into Zone 1.
“The decision to cut the bike funding was a policy mistake and I don’t think the Baillieu government realised how many people they would be disappointing and upsetting,” he said.
