A PUSH is on to lift the profile of a cycling rail trail through the heart of Wodonga.
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Parks Albury-Wodonga hopes to win support for the trail at a meeting this month.
Wodonga Council has almost completed its integrated transport strategy and will discuss it for adoption on March 16.
It has considered a submission from keen Wodonga cyclist Dave Bonnor, who was struck by a car near the Bandiana McDonald’s restaurant on Victoria Cross Parade but escaped injury.
The incident prompted him to volunteer for working bees with Parks Albury-Wodonga on the trail between Bandiana and the city centre.
Mr Bonnor was hit when riding home from work.
The section he wants in the strategy runs parallel with Anzac Parade, along Thomas Mitchell Drive, crosses at Brockley Street near the racetrack and then crosses Lawrence Street on the way to Osborne Street.
“I am looking for a safer way of riding to and from work,” he said.
Mr Bonnor put his concerns about the dangers of the Victoria Cross Parade-Thomas Mitchell Drive intersection to the council and he was told about community consultations on the council’s strategy, which led to his submission.
“The strategy didn’t include the trail as part of the off-road option being considered,” he said.
“My submission said it should be considered because it had a lot of benefits.”
Mr Bonnor said the council’s response to his submission did not provide much detail, although it promised to consider “feedback on the rail trail, off-road biking facilities and other matters”.
“This is not to have the trail funded or anything like that, but to have it recognised so it can be a part of planning,” he said.”
Mr Bonnor said the trail was important because it would provide a safe off-road option for cyclists.
“We live near Willow Park and, on the weekend, we went for a ride down to the House Creek parklands, which is an excellent ride,” he said.
“I’ve got a young family with three school-aged kids.
“I’d rather be able to put them on a safe bike path and they can ride to school rather than having to drop them off all the time.”
Mr Bonnor urged people interested in supporting the rail trail to attend the meeting at Quest Wodonga on Thursday night at 7pm.
