If Geelong prepares for the Commonwealth Games at the same pace as it builds bike infrastructure it will be hosting the region's selected events sometime after the Brisbane Olympic Games in 2032.
The roll-out of the southern strategic cycling corridor through Belmont has stalled again.
A meeting of the council that was supposed to approve a contract for the next stage of the project, which had already been approved, planned, designed, funded, public consulted, approved again and tendered twice, was stopped to allow for, yes, a "strategic review".
If it takes more than five years to build a bike lane, how can Geelong get the Commonwealth Games done?
A handful of traders in High Street Belmont, oblivious to the fact that they are surrounded by scads of rarely used car parking within easy walking distance, fear the marginal loss of some car parking will cost them business.
The evidence from around Australia and across the world is that traders vastly over-estimate the number of customers that arrive by parking their car outside the shop, and that bike lanes overall increase trade in a street.
Now the council opposition has switched tack and is raising the safety bogeyman.
In a statement issued by the council Kardinia Ward Councillor Ron Nelson said: I want to make sure that when we build bike lanes, they’re safe for riders, they’re safe for drivers, and they’re safe for pedestrians.
"This is our chance to pause the project, re-set a strategic direction, and get the right bike lanes for our town."
Deputy Mayor Anthony Aitken said: "It’s a real challenge trying to retrofit roads for bike lanes so it’s appropriate that we have a fresh look at the principal bike network.
"We want to deliver a network that doesn't create division in our community, allows cyclists to safely ride to destinations like shopping areas and key employment precincts while minimising impacts on local traffic.”
You know Geelong is in trouble when its leaders talk about minimising the impact of bikes on traffic when in actuality bikes are traffic, and a much more efficient mode of travel than cars.
In its statement Geelong City said it would seek assistance from key stakeholders on conducting the review, including the Department of Transport, and the Transport Accident Commission, along with seeking feedback from across the community.
The statement admitted that the decision not to award the tender was based on community feedback and trader concerns about the suitability of High Street as part of the route.
"Councillors said they continued to support the principle of increasing bicycle lanes in Greater Geelong to increase activity transport and reduce the City’s reliance on cars.
"Work has previously been completed on the western link between Geelong, Geelong West and Herne Hill and the southern link from central Geelong to the river along Gheringhap, Carr and Moorabool streets."
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