Bayside Council approves clearway on Beach Road – Wednesday, 1 September 2010

Bayside City Council has approved the extension of the clearway zone of Beach Rd on weekends.
Bayside Council approves clearway on Beach Road

In a historical vote Bayside City Council has approved the extension of the clearway zone of Beach road throughout the Bayside area on weekends. It is now believed that this is a world first – to have a clearway for such an extended distance in a large urban environment.

CycleSport Victoria is confident that the clearway will make Beach Rd safer for cyclists and reduce the stress for motorists with the certainty of specific cycle and motor vehicle lanes during the clearway times.

The current clearway will deepen the attraction of Beach Rd as a training and recreation ride venue for Melbourne and visiting cyclists. It will make a wonderful resource and cyclist experience better.

CycleSport Victoria President Glen Pearsall stated “CycleSport Victoria welcomes the news that the Beach Rd Clearway now includes Bayside City Council. The clearway has been a long time coming – with CSV being actively involved in promoting the need for the clearway since the start of the campaign in 2003.”

The Beach Road Cyclist group submitted a report to the Bayside City Council in 2002 that recommended a clearway, 50 k/hr speed limit and no trucks on weekend. Bayside City Council formed the “Bicycle Reference Group” to assess the report implications and included the following stakeholders; Port Phillip and Kingston city councils, Victoria Police, VicRoads, CSV and TriVic.

Pearsall continued “Port Phillip City Council implemented the clearway in 2005 and Kingston City Council in 2009. With last night’s council pro-clearway trial decision Bayside City Council will now ensure that the clearway operates from St Kilda through to Mordialloc.”

CSV would like to acknowledge the major role played by Tim Pallas, Minister for Roads and Ports in achieving this great outcome along with Michael Forbes, Alistair Murray from Bayside Bandidos cycling club, Dr James Taylor from Sandringham Hospital, Marcel Lima from Beach Road Cyclist group, Brian Hinton from TriVic as well as the dedicated individuals who presented the cyclist case at the various Bayside City Council.

For the past eight years Beach Road Cyclist (BRC) has been a prominent voice for the safety concerns of on-road cyclists, particularly those relating to Beach Road in bay side Melbourne.

As all road riders know, safety is a major issue confronting cyclists in Australia and around the world.

One of our shared long term goals is the self-initiated and soon to be achieved morning-only weekend clearways along Beach Road.

Given the massive growth of road cycling along Beach Road in recent years, first and foremost for BRC has been the need for safer conditions and increased awareness for all road users.

BRC also acknowledges the hard work of fellow cycling advocate Michael Forbes for his excellent awareness raising of local issues and the recent “No Stopping Zone ” petition to the Bayside Council. [Read more →]