Leader readers back Tim Read’s survey showing cyclists feel unsafe on Sydney Rd

Open car doors, moving cars and trams are among the many hazards that have cyclists scared to use Sydney Rd. But with a nearby bike path not up to scratch, riders are showing no plans of leaving the dangerous strip.

Cyclists on Sydney Rd are feeling unsafe. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Cyclists say they are scared to ride down Sydney Rd as a campaign for cyclist-only lanes continues.

A survey of 812 riders on the Brunswick road, undertaken by Brunswick state Greens MP Tim Read, found that 85 per cent felt either unsafe or very unsafe.

Of those surveyed, 152 said they had witnessed a car hitting a cyclist.

Readers backed the findings, with 405 (84 per cent) of 482 respondents on a Moreland Leader Facebook poll saying they don’t feel safe riding on the road.

Users of the road voiced fears about being hit by opening doors and dealing with traffic.

Tim Read has called for protected bike lanes on Sydney Rd

Despite the fears on the road, only 22 per cent of respondents in Mr Read’s survey said they would choose to never use Sydney Rd.

Dr Read said this showed cyclists weren’t willing to ride on the nearby Upfield Shared Path and that the shopping strip needed to be upgraded.

“For over a decade people have been calling for Sydney Rd to be redesigned to better accommodate pedestrians and people on bikes, and it’s time we got on with it,” he said.

“The path is at capacity, dangerously narrow and diverted around a building site, pushing many riders onto Sydney Rd despite the risks.”

Rider Jenica Brooke said that the path was congested and served a different purpose to Sydney Rd.

HAVE YOUR SAY: A survey from Brunswick MP Tim Read found that more than 80% of cyclists riding on Sydney Rd feel unsafe...

Posted by Moreland Leader on Tuesday, 6 August 2019

“It’s well past time for safe bike lanes on Sydney Rd,” she said.

“It will benefit all road users, as many delays at the moment are actually caused by people parking which holds up the traffic behind them.”

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Eugene Mott said the space between parked cars and cyclists concerned him most and he feared he would be hit by people opening car doors.

“I’m not worried about the moving traffic, it’s (the) people who don’t head check before opening their doors,” he said.

VicRoads last month held a survey on options to revamp the road, which included dedicated cycle lanes.

That option was preferred by Dr Read, but Sydney Road Brunswick Association manager Claire Perry said traders preferred cycle only lanes that alternated sides during peak hours.