Toogood Road crash: Motorcycle smash at Erang Street in Woree
A crashed motorcyclist sprawled across the bitumen could spell the end for a fiery push from residents to increase the speed limit on this suburban Cairns road.
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A CRASHED motorcyclist sprawled across the bitumen could spell the end for a fiery push from residents to increase the speed limit on this suburban Cairns road.
Paramedics were called to the corner of Toogood Rd and Erang St in Woree at 9.56am on Sunday after a motorcyclist crashed and came off his bike.
The man, in his 30s, sustained head injuries and was taken to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition.
Woree residents have been campaigning for Cairns Regional Council to overturn a recent decision to reduce the Toogood Rd speed limit from 60km/h to 50km/h.
The limit was slashed due to complaints from a few residents and the a statistic of five recent crashes – now six with this most recent incident.
Residents have come out in opposition to the shift, with petitions and multiple phone calls to Division 3 councillor Cathy Zeiger and council officers.
Lead petitioner Anne Kerr argued Toogood Rd was mostly a straight, wide road with wide shoulders and wide footpaths and warranted its former limit.
“It has good, easy visibility for both residents exiting their premises and for vehicles travelling on the road,” she wrote.
“Therefore the speed limit should be reinstated to the original 60km/h.”
Their campaign had been on the right track, with Cr Zeiger telling a recent council meeting another change was needed.
“Instead of making the whole thing 50, there’s an area that has a high crash zone and a higher speed issue, and that is around the corner,” she said.
“I’m more than happy, as are most of the residents of Bayview, to have that declared 50.
“But coming down, you’ve got to hit your brakes to do 50.
“It’s so wide, it’s very very difficult, I’m still getting phone calls.”
Sunday’s crash happened just before the corner Cr Zeiger referred to.
The rest of the road is mostly wide and straight.
The Cairns Traffic Advisory Committee’s recent meeting minutes showed the community’s opposition to the change had been heeded.
They referred to “negative feedback received in relation to the speed reduction on Toogood Rd” but also noted police had started enforcing the new limits.
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Originally published as Toogood Road crash: Motorcycle smash at Erang Street in Woree
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