The Tamworth Bike User Group (Tambug) has presented Tamworth Regional Council with a proposal for a “family-friendly CBD loop”, as well as identified the seven most-used road cycle loops it would like to see prioritised for edge maintenance.
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Tambug chair Greg Johnstone presented councillors with the maps, which he said 80 to 90 per cent of road cyclists used, and said that maintaining the edge of these roads, and more signage, “would clearly improve safety for all road users”.
“Cyclists hunt out decent routes that they feel the safest on – prioritising maintenance would be money well spent for a section of the community,” he said.
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“The two proposals were very well-received and there seems to be a positive pro-bike attitude; however, the reality is that it comes down to funding.”
Those seven loops include using major roads in and around the CBD, Nemingha, Hallsville and Moore Creek, Kootingal, Dungowan and Tintinhull.
However, the family-friendly CBD loop mostly stays off roads and uses a lot of current infrastructure.
The 8km loop would start and finish on the levee bank walkway above the regional playground and follow the path on Scotts Road to Locks Lane, with riders then using the footpath on Goonoo Goonoo road down past the Gipps Street fields.
Users could then either shorten the loop by using the pedestrian and cycle bridge back to Bicentennial Park, or continue down past the Riverside Fields over the Jewry Street bridge.
The proposal then asks for TRC to install some bollards and carry out “some small maintenance works” for riders to use the footpath until it links back up to the levee bank path.
“The CBD loop could be so valuable to the city, and adds the potential for future promotion as a cycle-friendly town and tourism destination,” Mr Johnstone said.
“It would take about an hour, runs as two routes, only has 125m of elevation and connects key recreational areas and sporting fields in the CBD – it can also be achieved with minimal financial investment.”
Two councillors have already expressed interest in the proposal, and have pointed Mr Johnstone towards applying for a community grant of up to $25,000.
“There is definitely some positive feeling with what I am raising with council, and Kevin Anderson told me I am a very squeaky wheel and that is the best way to get funding, so hopefully it can come together,” he said.
TRC and Tambug are also looking to prioritise “key linkages” from the CBD to sites such as the Sports Dome and Centre for Sporting Excellence, the MTB Park and other recreational areas.
“The key linkages have been adopted in council’s strategic plan with an off-road cycle path to the MTB Park on Forest Hills Road in this year’s current funding, with an off-road path from the Calala and Goonoo Goonoo Road corner to the Sports Dome the next priority,” Mr Johnstone said.
He is also in the process of lobbying to have a Tasmanian road and cycle safety sign adopted as the Australian standard, after an accident with a truck that almost claimed his mother Judy’s life last year on the Oxley Highway near Westdale.
