Mornington Community Safelink
Media Release – Limited Safe Riding During Stage 4 Lock Down
6 August 2020
The Mornington Peninsula Shire is now under the Stage 4 Lock Down rules as declared by the State Government. These tighter restrictions on our leisure activities remain for six weeks. Riding a bike within 5klm of your home for less than one hour is one of the allowed exercises.
For residents of the Shire living in Mt Eliza, Mornington and Mt Martha the safe riding options are severely limited:
- None of the few existing trails are interconnected, meaning access to the trail from your home may present you with road safety risks.
- There is really only one good trail - The Harrap Creek Trail which is relatively short. (it runs from the rear of the Bowls Club in Civic Reserve to Craigie Rd)
- For most people the Peninsula Link trail is outside the 5k rule which will also cripple utilisation of other Mornington Peninsula trails.
What does this mean for you:
- Mt Eliza residents – you may have access to only part of the Peninsula Link Trail. Just getting to the trail you will lose a proportion of your 5k exercise limit.
- Mornington residents – can only access the Harrap Creek Trail. It has no interconnection with any other trail or pathway and is relatively short. Getting to the trail you may encounter road safety issues.
- Mt Martha residents - may also have access to the Harrap Creek Trail and possibly the northern end of the Bay Trail at Safety Beach. Access to the Bay Trail for most Mt Martha residents will be unrealistic.
- IF you do not live within the existing infrastructure at Red Hill or Westernport Bay - there are NO SAFE connections even if it is within your 5km radius.
The Mornington Peninsula Shire has recognised the existing pathways across the whole Peninsula are not interconnected and safe bike riding options are severely limited.
Many other Melbourne municipalities have wonderful trails and pathways – but not here on the Mornington Peninsula.
We need better bike trails and pathways which interconnect across the Peninsula – what can you do about this:
Follow the Mornington Community Safelink Group on Facebook
Sign & Share our Petition
Have Your Say on the Mornington Peninsula Shire website by commenting on the Draft Ride Safe Strategy
Contact the Councillor in your Ward
Contact your local politician.