New Rail Trail now completed!

Goulburn River High Country Rail Trail has been opened

  Excitement growsas this exciting new rail trail attracts its first wave of two wheeled visitors.

 
The BikePaths & RailTrail Guide is presently mapping and testing this new 134 km trail that runs from Tallarook to Mansfield though magnificent rich farmk lands, along the mighty Goulburhn River and its scenic valleys. Watch this space for the latest news later in 2012!

If you build bike paths, the people will ride

according to Clay Lucas of The Age
• 67 per cent adults surveyed would not ride a bike as transport because roads are not safe
• VicRoads says, 'Every time a new bike lane or path is installed instantly more people are seen riding it

A new Riding a Bike for Transport survey appears to show it's the infrastructure that get people out on two wheels.

Released by the Cycling Promotion Fund and the Heart Foundation, the survey found that 67 per cent of 1000 adults surveyed said they would not ride a bike as a form of transport because the roads were not safe.

Another 52 per cent said the speed of traffic was enough to discourage them from ever considering riding a bike.

The Riding a Bike for Transport survey also found that paved cycle paths physically separated from motor traffic would encourage more people to ride.

Bicycle Victoria spokesman Garry Brennan said fear was a real barrier to people taking up riding.
'Although statistically it is quite safe to ride, people often feel intimidated by the speed and aggression of other traffic, especially when they are starting the riding habit,'' he said.

VicRoads estimates the number of people choosing to cycle has increased by 10 per cent a year for the past five years. Mr Brennan said VicRoads, along with councils, needed to do more to install bike lanes and paths.
'Every time there is a new bike lane or path installed we instantly see more people riding,'' he said.