A group of southern beaches residents has got together to lobby council and state government to get better connections for people wanting to ride and walk in the area.
Frustration at the lack of recreational or transport paths for cycling prompted local resident and keen rider Lee Belbin to get the Southern Beaches Mobility Group up and running.
The group has set itself up on Facebook and has agreed on a vision statement to guide its activities.
Lee has already met with Sorell Council staff to outline the desire for a safe connection between Dodges Ferry and Carlton through Lewisham and on to Sorell.
“This doesn’t have to be via the current roads, we’d like the council to investigate alternative routes using public land and talking to private land owners,” Lee said.
One of the first steps towards this goal is the creation of quiet routes to the local Dodges Ferry Primary School and encouragement of families to support their children riding to school.
“I spoke recently to John Chapman, who runs the Okines Bike Shed, and he’s also frustrated that few of the children who are getting his revamped bikes are riding them to school,” Lee said.
“We want to work with the school to encourage parents to support students riding to school safely.
“The current crossings over Carlton Beach and Old Forcett roads have poor sightlines and the refuges in the middle of the road are not wide enough to safely hold a bicycle.
“We’d like to see improved crossings and signs showing the children the best way to get to school."
Bicycle Network has offered to take its Ride2School program to Dodges Ferry to provide riding skills workshops for students and work with the community to develop an active map which shows the preferred routes to school.
The Ride2School program is free to primary schools across the state thanks to a grant from the Road Safety Advisory Council.
The Mobility Group wants the Sorell Council to establish an advisory committee of residents and elected members to develop a bicycle plan to help guide its decision making.
It has also developed a vision statement for the kind of transport future it wants, which includes creating shared paths, zero road crashes, public transport that works with bicycles and scooters, and connected paths across the region that become a tourism attractor.
To get involved, apply to join the group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/southernbeachesmobility
Main image: Gary Houston