Building Better Bike Connections

We received a $6.69 million grant from the TACs Safer Pedestrian and Cyclist Fund to create two cycling connections:

The southern link connecting central Geelong with Waurn Ponds via Belmont.
The western link connecting central Geelong with Herne Hill via Geelong West.

Adopting best practice from around the world, the cycling routes will include a combination of protected bike lanes (where bikes are separated from cars) and a shared use system (where cars and bikes share the road).

Both routes are designed to make it easier for people to ride to work, shops, services and other places.

Updates

Stage One Southern Link completed

Work on the first stage of the southern corridor is complete.

This section runs from central Geelong to the river along Gheringhap, Carr and Moorabool streets.

It will form a critical link in Geelong’s cycling network, giving cyclists improved connections between key destinations such as South Geelong Station, the Barwon River Trail, the Bellarine Rail Trail and the CBD.

Detailed design works on the second stage - which continues from the Barwon River to Waurn Ponds via Belmont - have been prepared.

Council resolved in March 2022 to carry out a select tender process for the construction of the second stage.

Western Link completed

The western link is complete and connects central Geelong, Geelong West and Herne Hill, using Villamanta Street, Gertrude Street and Sydenham Avenue.

Speed humps, slow points, raised intersections and line-marking has been applied to the road to slow car traffic and provide a safer environment for all road users.

There are new and modified signalised crossings at Latrobe Terrace, Pakington Street and Shannon Avenue.

Principal Bicycle Network

Routes for the two links are included in Greater Geelong's Principal Bicycle Network.

The PBN aims to provide cyclists with safe, connected and accessible cycling routes within the municipality.

It was established after extensive work and consultation by VicRoads with Bike Safe, cyclists, the community, a range of agencies, and councils.

Common Questions

The routes were developed as part of a state-wide process, led by VicRoads, to identify principal bicycle networks across regional Victoria.

A fast, reliable, and connected transport network is part of the City’s 30-year community-led vision for a clever and creative city.

To reach the Greater Geelong: A Clever and Creative Future goal of half of all journeys to work made by public transport, walking or cycling, there needs to be better bike connections around Geelong.

We looked at alternative routes and assessed them against key criteria including safety, consistency with transport planning, directness, connection to destinations and impacts on the area.

We did not identify an alternative route that is viable and will enhance safety.

For High Street, Belmont, our traffic team looked at Francis Street/Roslyn Road, Thomson Street/Church Street and Belmont Street/Waterloo Street as alternative routes, but each were found to be unsuitable largely due to serious safety concerns at major intersections.

For Moorabool Street, our traffic team assessed Yarra Street and Kardinia Park/Hopkins Street/Latrobe Boulevard, but these were deemed unsuitable due to reasons including safety concerns, lack of consistency with transport planning and impacts on the area.

Perceptions of safety is the biggest reason why people who would like to ride a bike choose not to.

The Victorian Cycling Strategy 2018-28 found that 60 per cent of Victorians are interested in cycling but are deterred by safety concerns.

According to the City of Melbourne, installing separated bike lanes on Albert Street in Melbourne led to a 64 per cent increase in city-bound cycling traffic in the morning peak (7-10am).

It’s clear we need better bike connections to make it safer and easier for people to ride to and from shops, services and workplaces in central Geelong and other suburbs.

We recommend taking advantage of off-street parking in the Civic Centre (487 spaces) or Busport (194 spaces) car parks.

View other options for parking in central Geelong.

Gheringhap St is a highly important connection to key sites in the western half of the city.

It has been listed as a ‘Strategic Cycling Corridor’ in the Principal Bicycle Network, which will provide cyclists with safe, accessible, and connected cycling routes within Geelong.

Cyclists can access the Little Malop St cultural and entertainment precinct; the numerous high-rise commercial towers surrounding Johnstone Park; Deakin University; Gordon TAFE or Geelong Train Station.

They can also continue to Malop Street, which through the creation of the Green Spine is becoming a pedestrian and bike-friendly strip.