Coffs Harbour City Council, New South Wales, will begin work this month on a project that will provide a try before you buy on-road, separated bike lane with physical protection from parking or traffic lanes.
The bike lane will be installed between the existing pedestrian pathway and on-street parking spaces on the northern side of the roads.
The pilot project is temporary in nature and local community evaluation of its success will determine whether the arrangements are made permanent, or removed later this year.
Council’s Director Sustainable Infrastructure, Mick Raby, said, “A bike path network that offers a pleasurable, easy and safe route for people to enjoy the seaside village atmosphere of Woolgoolga and simply to get to the beach, shops or work, is a major feature of the Woolgoolga Town Centre Masterplan.
“Not only will it offer an alternative way of moving around, but it will help improve overall road safety in the town centre by encouraging safer speeds along Beach Street, another need identified in the Masterplan.
“This pilot project forms part of a key cycling link between West Woolgoolga and the town centre and will help us see how well this type of bike lane can help both children and adults cycle to school, to work, to the beach and town centre.”
Council’s Group Leader Sustainable Places, Ian Fitzgibbon, said, “We know our community values time outdoors in nature and their health and wellbeing, and everyone on the Coffs Coast should have access to more walking and cycling paths.”
The Woolgoolga Bike Lane was funded through the Streets as Shared Spaces program, which aims to deliver temporary, demonstration and pilot projects to test ideas for more permanent improvements to local streets, paths and public spaces.
