BY ISABEL EVERETT
Cyclists have been banned from riding on the 350 meter mixed running section of the Newcastle light rail track on Scott Street, following a safety review released by Transport New South Wales.
The review has raised the risk-rating of cyclists tyres getting caught in the tracks to "intolerable", an upgrade from the findings of initial safety audits which deemed the risk as "medium or high".
The report recommends eight actions to be completed within the next twelve months to improve safety including,"installing appropriate signage to warn cyclists of the risk" and for "Transport NSW to work with the City of Newcastle to provide alternate routes."
Transport NSW has said they will additionally investigate emerging technologies which could be trialed to increase safety.
Following the death of cyclist, Danny Egan in July this year, calls have been made to rapidly improve safety for cyclists in Newcastle's CBD.
Newcastle MP Tim Crackanthorp is calling on the Liberal Government to prioritize the funding and building of a safe east-west route for cyclists.
"In the immediate sense getting people off that cycle way is legitimate, however they need to put the resources and the time into working with council to get a solution as soon as possible for the East-West cycle way," Mr Crakanthorp said.
"It simply not good enough to take them off then not provide money and fund the East-West cycle way."
Mr Crakanthorp says the State Government failed to consider cyclists in their revitalization of the CBD.
"They made a public image of lots of cycle ways, but they didn't put any money into any. We don't have any effectively, and tragically people are getting injured and we've even had someone die," Mr Crakanthorp said.
"People were breaking their bones and people were falling of bikes, according to the report they weren't registered however it was certainly in the public sphere and the Government have acted too little too late."
Image Source: Lakes Mail
