Tara Murray
Residents across the west are hesitant to ride their bikes due to safety concerns, a new report has found.
The report, ‘The potential for bike riding across entire cities: Quantifying spatial variation in interest in bike riding’ found that significant number of residents in the west are interested in cycling but were concerned to.
The report found that bike ownership in Melbourne’s inner-west was 67 per cent, the highest across Melbourne.
But at the same time the report found that between 85 and 90 per cent of Maribyrnong residents who completed the survey were interested in cycling but were concerned about it.
In Brimbank and Wyndham it was between 80 and 84 per cent, while it was 65 to 69 per cent in Hobsons Bay.
Bike West president John Symons said he expected the percentage to be high in the west, but it was higher than he expected.
“Local authorities normally talk to people who are already cycling and ask what do they like,” he said.
“They are already riding and tolerating the risks. They never speak to the people who don’t ride and a lower tolerance to cycling.
“I know there’s lot of people who want to ride, but it’s not safe.”
Mr Symons said while there has been some infrastructure and riding paths created, many don’t fully cater for people.
He said gaps in a trail or path even if only a couple of 100 metres deterred some people from riding.
“A gap of 200 metres is not safe for many people. Most people won’t ride if there’s even a small gap.
“In French Street in Footscray, they’ve separated out the paths, but they still have integrated intersections that are just as dangerous as they were.
“And many paths mean people have to go 10 times out of their way. It has to be direct.”
Mr Symons, who is an academic in this area, said the key was to make cycling safe for everyone starting from children.
He said then it’s safe for children, then most people would feel comfortable riding.
