Council adopts Walk, Cycle Strategy

The City of Greater Bendigo’s Walk, Cycle Greater Bendigo Strategy that sets out a range of initiatives and projects to make it easier for people of all ages and abilities to walk and cycle more often has been adopted at last night’s Council meeting.

City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr. Margaret O’Rourke said the strategy was developed with significant community input following an initial eight week engagement process.

“There was also further opportunity for the community to comment on the draft strategy,” Cr O’Rourke said.

“This is an important strategy for Greater Bendigo because we want to undertake projects and initiatives that will make it safer and easier for our residents to walk and cycle for everyday travel and recreation.

“The great response we had to the community consultation and the survey demonstrates how passionate our residents are about walking and cycling in Greater Bendigo.  The feedback they provided helped us to better understand the issues, challenges, needs, aspirations and priorities of residents for walking and cycling across the municipality.”  

“Residents stated that they want quality walking circuits and more support for organised walking groups and they are more comfortable riding a bicycle when they are separated from cars. They want Bendigo’s trail network to be connected and activated and they want more maps and directional information on our walking and cycling networks.

 “This feedback has been incorporated into the strategy and its actions.  We look forward to delivering a walking and cycling network that works for everyone in the future.”

 Key actions of the strategy include:-

Establishing an ongoing Walking and Cycling Community Reference Group. Implementing a new walking and cycling infrastructure hierarchy and decision-making framework. Developing a standard walking and cycling infrastructure design manual linked to the hierarchy and decision-making framework. Developing walking and cycling activation and communications plans Developing walking and cycling plans for small townships. Developing sustainable plans for significant regional trails. Seeking support and funding from the State Government to implement key projects.  The strategy identifies a range of key infrastructure projects for progression and/or further investigation including: Implementing the university to city centre walking and cycling route. Linking towns to Bendigo (Huntly, Eaglehawk, Maiden Gully). Developing walking circuits Developing a Regional City Trail – linking seven existing urban trails to complete a continuous 22km trail loop around Bendigo’s middle suburbs, comparable to Melbourne’s Capital City Trail. Developing the Bendigo Creek Low-line trail. Developing a protected cycleway minimum grid for the city centre. Developing the Ewing Park Walking and Cycling Activation Hub. Improving trail crossings and priority road crossings.