Around 30 members attended the dinner meeting on Tuesday, May 16th, at the Belmont Hotel.

The guest speaker was Luke Sherwell, Active Transport Officer with City of Greater Geelong.  Luke talked about the types of issues that are faced in providing safe cycling infrastructure, and showed examples of international and local solutions.  He also fielded questions about issues faced by our members.

Luke Sherwell talked about cycling infrastructure for Geelong

Around 30 people attended the dinner meeting

Dave has cycled the Bellarine Rail Trail that day, and brought along a large number of photos of problems with the unsealed section from Drysdale to Queenscliff.

Soft edges and puddles

Sandy loose surface

Washaway

Loose surface – impassable for most bikes

Washaway

Deep pothole/ washaway

Washaway

Water over path

Water pooling over path

Pot holes

Potholes

Other issues included the poor shoulders on Bacchus Marsh Road, the unsealed section of the Barwon River circuit at Fyansford, closure of southern end of the Ted Wilson Trail and dangerous railings at head height on the new bridges over Waurn Ponds Creek.

Vicki Perrett talked about the pilot program of Cycling Without Age which will be starting soon.  Cycling Without Age involves the provision of electric rickshaws to be based in aged care facilities.  Volunteer cyclists take residents on bike rides – to shops, sight-seeing, for appointments etc.  The program began in Denmark and is now all over the world, including in two places in Melbourne.  Multi-Cultural Aged Care in North Geelong are purchasing one bicycle, and there are plans to fund raise for a second.

It is hoped that a number of Cycling Geelong members will be among the volunteer bike pilots for this program.

Cycling without age – Sandringham

Group excursion

Stopping for a tea break

Thanks to guest speaker Luke Sherwell, and to Stephanie and Geoff our social secretaries for organising this most successful evening.