Beach Road’s speed limit could be slashed to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. Daniel McCulloch reports.
Copy:
The Bayside City Council wants VicRoads to improve cyclists’ safety by lowering the Beach Road speed limit.
VicRoads studies show cyclists were involved in nearly half of all serious crashes along Beach Road between 2005 and 2009.
The Council want the current 60 kilometre per hour limit reduced to 50 kilometres per hour.
They have not yet approached VicRoads with the proposal.
Copy & Grab:
Bayside residents support slashing the Beach Road speed limit to better protect cyclists. A council survey shows 62 per cent of residents favour the speed limit reduction.
Beach Road is incredibly popular with cyclists, with over seven thousand cyclists converging on Beach Road over the weekend. Weekend cyclists outnumber motorists roughly three to one.
Sandringham Hospital’s Emergency Department Director, Dr James Taylor says his emergency ward treats at least one cyclist a day – which is double the Victorian average.
Package:
The Bayside City Council wants the Port Phillip and Kingston councils to support lowering the Beach Road speed limit.
VicRoads studies show motorists’ travel times would only be minimally affected by dropping the speed limit to 50 kilometres per hour, and road crashes would be greatly reduced.
The Port Phillip and Kingston Councils are yet to respond to the Bayside City Council’s request.
