Quick action needed to make Murradoc Road safer for Cyclists

The Bellarine Times has reported today (January 18, 2011, page 11) in an article entitled: "Campaign call for action" that

"Bike Safe continues to lobby VicRoads for improved traffic conditions for cyclists in the wake of the recent death on Murradoc Road. In a letter sent to VicRoads, Bike Safe's Barton van Laar pointed out that Murradoc Road was one of the first roads identified as needing urgent attention. ... We have raised this particular road directly with local politicians. "We were heartened by the detailed scoping report VicRoads completed in December, but disheartened that it was not put up for funding for various reasons. "If we ask the question: Would a wider road with bicycle lanes have made a difference? After a group of us rode there again on Friday, we believe yes..." More of this article is available from the Bellarine Times.

Below is a letter I wrote to the editor of the Geelong Advertiser - it was published on Saturday 8 January.

THE death of a cyclist outside our home on January 2 was needless and unnecessary.

This death was an accident waiting to happen.

Murradoc Rd is a death trap for cyclists.

The road is a main thoroughfare leading to the Drysdale tip, as well as the towns of St Leonards, Portarlington, Indented Heads, Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale.

Heavy trucks including garbage trucks, cement mixers, stock transport, prime movers, cars towing boats and caravans use this road continuously every day -  and so do cyclists.

On Sunday morning, I witnessed the death of this cyclist. I saw him riding along our road and then watched him knocked into the air by a passing motorist.  It happened very quickly. 

When my husband and I ran to his aid, he barely had a pulse.

An emergency nurse was passing and quickly tried to give him CPR.
The images have  haunted me every night  when I try to sleep.

This death could have been prevented.

Murradoc Rd is a narrow bitumen road maintained by VicRoads.  It has no sealed shoulders.  The accident happened on a rise, with double lines in an 80km/h speed zone.
Cyclists regularly use this road. School children ride to school down this road. It is the fourth most dangerous road, according to Bike Safe, in the Geelong region. It is a death trap.  

The State Government needs to act.  This road needs purpose-built lanes for bicycle riders which will be attractive to them to use.

Simply throwing a bit of bitumen on the shoulders won't do - they need to be built correctly from the start and have ongoing regular maintenance.

Keeping gravel shoulders on Murradoc Rd can no longer be acceptable.  Cyclists will only ride on the bitumen.

VicRoads can do the right thing and fix this problem now, or can have front row seats at the next cyclist's funeral.

All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing (Edmund Burke) - Transport Minister Terry Mulder must act.

I have also written a separate letter to Minister Terry Mulder and have yet to receive a response from the Minister.