What we've heard

Consultation with the community included online surveys, on-site signage, a letter drop to over 700 residents adjacent to the proposed shared path, email of information and survey to local schools, clubs, and organisations, Bicycle Network distributing information to their membership base, Council promotions and three ‘drop in’ sessions.

More than 300 people had their say during this public consultation period with 280 people completing the online survey and around 60 people participating in Council’s ‘drop in’ sessions. The results of the survey demonstrated overwhelming support for option one (back of kerb) with the following results:

• Option 1: 81.6%
• Option 2: 18.4%.

Common themes raised by the community during the consultation period included:

• retain gravel path to provide some separation between pedestrians and cyclists
• get on with completing the project
• offset any lost vegetation
• promote personal safety by keeping the path visible from the street.

The Bay Trail alignment options were also presented to Council’s Public Space and Environment Committee with committee support for the back of kerb alignment and retention of gravel paths for walkers and joggers.

Feedback from Bike Victoria was that a back of kerb alignment is safest for cyclists, with good natural surveillance and less windy paths that can lead to accidents.