PUBLIC BACKS NEW BIKE ROUTES

Strong support in survey

THE majority of the community supports the development of two major bike connections linking the CBD to the suburbs, a survey on the Building Better Bike Connections project has found.

More than 70 per cent of respondents supported or strongly supported the southern link project, which will connect the CBD with Belmont and Waurn Ponds, the City of Greater Geelong survey shows.

However, 22.5 per cent strongly oppose the project, and 3.9 per cent somewhat oppose it.

Business owners have previously voiced serious concerns the project could affect trading on High St, Belmont, fearing it could be bad for parking and consequently business.

Council said the design for certain locations, in particular the High St section of the route, between Mount Pleas- ant Rd and Roslyn Rd, had not been determined and was being developed in consultation with the community, traders and key stakeholders.

The western link project was more popular, with more than 80 per cent of respondents saying they supported the project, which will connect Central Geelong, Geelong West and Herne Hill.

More than 11 per cent strongly opposed it.

Geelong mayor Bruce Harwood thanked everyone who participated in the survey.

“We will consider all feedback as we progress our planning for these two major bike connections,” he said.

City Hall has received a $4.7 million grant from the TAC’s Safer Pedestrian and Cyclist Fund to create the two cycling connections.

The survey was completed by 565 people. Residents from 60 suburbs across the wider region were represented, with the highest numbers from Belmont (18.7 per cent), followed by Geelong West (11.8 per cent).