Bike paths and a growing Ballarat

By Letters to the Editor
Updated February 16 2018 - 10:26am, first published 8:20am

Bike paths and a growing Ballarat

I ride my bicycle to Sturt St to do my shopping and have for many years. I live 10 blocks away and can get into town in under 15 minutes. For the thousands of other residents who live in the surrounding suburbs, Sturt St is their local shopping centre. However, riding a bicycle in the centre of Ballarat is currently difficult. There is no bicycle infrastructure in our CBD, and there is no easy way in or through the centre of Ballarat on a bicycle in the absence of good, separated lanes. In cities around the world, and closer in Melbourne, it's been shown that improving amenity for people using active transport brings people and life to shopping precincts. It's essential to revitalisation strategies.The beautiful, safe, shady boulevard that runs along the islands from Pleasant St is currently almost inaccessible. A path through here would make these islands accessible to many more Ballarat residents and also be a tourist attraction in its own right. Once the islands begin to be more populated, the path diverges to either side of Sturt St to become Copenhagen lanes. These would be convenient, separated from car traffic, provide easy access to shops and businesses, and bring customers to the heart of town. To be able to travel easily and conveniently around Ballarat by bicycle will enable all to appreciate our beautiful, historic streets and provide benefits to our economy that many other cities and towns experience on making their streets people-friendly.

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