Bike riders be counted

IF YOU ride a bicycle then make sure you get on your bike and make it count next Tuesday.

The biggest snapshot bicycle count in Australia aims to help flag areas where riding facilities could be best placed on the Coffs Coast.

Called Super Tuesday, the day is designed to record rider numbers and movements at key intersections and important commuter routes during the Tuesday peak from 7am to 9am and is the first of its kind in Coffs Harbour.

The annual count is co-ordinated by the Bicycle Network on behalf of participating councils, and a total of 22 sites have been chosen for the count in the Coffs Harbour area.

The council’s transport and road safety officer, Anne Shearer, said the statistics would help map where bike paths would be useful on the Coffs Coast.

“The statistics that we receive from the Bicycle Network volunteers who will be doing the actual count, will then help us tailor the location of future bike paths or where we might need to carry out further investigations into the best way of accommodating traffic flows and cyclists,” Ms Shearer said.

“The Super Tuesday count will also help us by providing a reliable annual benchmark of riders within the Coffs Harbour local government area.”

Volunteers count the bikes between the hours of 7am and 9am and are paid $50, which is donated to a nominated bike group or other community organisation or charity.

There are three sites that still need volunteers. They are:

• Mullaway – Mullaway Drive towards beach, Mullaway Drive and Arrawarra Road;
• Safety Beach – walkway to golf course, Baroona Street and Panorama Parade, plus walkway west of Panorama Parade;
• Woolgoolga High School – Centenary Drive at Woolgoolga High School car park.

If you are interested in taking part go to http://www.bv.com.au/general/bike-futures/30600/