After more than a year of advocating and organising, local cycling community group the Bellarine Bicycle Users Group (BBUG) is launching the Bellarine active travel map.
The map, which outlines important information for those wishing to ride around the region and is now available online, will be officially launched at the Indented Head Community Hall at noon on Thursday, November 23.
Member for Corangamite Libby Coker, Bellarine Ward councillors Jim Mason and Elise Wilkinson and Queenscliffe mayor Isabelle Tolhurst will attend the event, as well as project supporters and members of other local community groups.
While the launch officially starts at noon, BBUG invited members of the public to come along at 11am to try out e-bikes supplied by Bella E-bike and Good Cycles Geelong.
Following the launch and provided luncheon, members of recreational women’s cycling group Bellarine Belles will be on hand to lead a one-hour recreational ride or walk around the area.
BBUG member Annie Proctor said prior to the active travel map, anyone trying to plan a bike ride around the Bellarine had to rely on decades-old documents and maps.
“What we wanted was an easy-to-use map where people can see how safe (a route) is, what level of cycling they need, which would encourage them to go around the Bellarine and investigate it,” Ms Proctor said.
“The last map was from 2005, so it doesn’t even have the ring road or any of that. So the City of Greater Geelong encouraged us to apply for a community grant, which we were able to get when Bellarine Catchment Network agreed to auspice BBUG.”
Ms Proctor said it was a “great relief” to finally have the active travel map up and running.
“One side is the map, the other side is the supporting information,” she said.
“We’ve graded all the various roads, from cleared trails to local tracks to sealed roads, what’s suitable for experienced cyclists or less confident cyclists.”
For more information email bellarinebug2@gmail.com or contact Vicki on 0425 802 116 or Jeremy on 0412 683 547.
