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 Lema 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.