BREAZE

Goldfields Track

I opened the Courier today to read "From Bad To Worse, morning commute at Mt Clear getting messier", which didn't surprise me.  However it's such an easily solved problem, there are some really pretty bike tracks following Main Rd and Geelong Rd.  Taking some of those cars off the road and getting people riding on their bikes would be the quickest, cheapest way to unclog that road.

Bike Path With Sign

I used to ride my bike five days a week from central Ballarat out to Ballarat Uni.  The route I took wasn't the obvious one you might take in a car, such as Albert St, Whitehorse Rd then Geelong Rd.  The route I rode on my bike is scenic, relaxing and also a good work-out.

So - here's my suggestion for a bike route to take from central Ballarat to the Uni:

Hill Street

Starting at Sebastopol St, ride to Hill St, crossing Skipton St.  If you cross on the road, sit in the middle of the lane at the intersection, otherwise cars turning left will cut you off.  Or if you're less confident, cross like a pedestrian and use the traffic island in the middle.

Fawkner St

You can put on a lot of speed going down Hill St, I brake a bit as I get towards the bottom and check for cars behind me, just in case any cars come out of Fawkner St and fail to give way.

Cobden St

Cobden St is the biggest challenge.  Most roads over to Ballarat East are going to involve a hill.  Whitehorse Rd, Elsworth St and Cobden St are all steep in parts.  An alternative would be to go along Grant St, then down the Canadian Creek trail.  But really, hills aren't too bad.  Use your granny gears, or if you're new to bike riding, just get off and walk.

Triple CrankTinworth Ave

The hill continues a bit along Brittain St and Tinworth Ave.  I definitely use my granny gears here.  I drop into a really low gear and go slowly, pedaling fairly fast.  I've noticed some beginners stay in too high a gear and crunch along, but that will just tire you out.

When I get to Whitehorse Rd I ride along it for a bit, it's got a wide, well paved shoulder.  Then I use suburban side streets such as Regency Drive to avoid the shocking roundabout on Whitehorse Rd and Main Rd.  This is where the advantages of a bike in traffic come to the fore.  A car can't use this route because they get stuck having to do an impossible right hand turn into Geelong Rd.  But on a bike you don't have to do this.

Bike Path Start

Once you emerge from the side streets there's a bit of one way road until you reach the bike path, you'll have to be a pedestrian for a few metres.  Then, you're on the path to the Uni.

Tree Lined St

From here on in it's a pleasant ride down tree lined paths and a quiet side street.  Enjoy it, and get to the Uni feeling relaxed and invigorated.

Uni

And on your way home that evening, you can wave to your friends in their cars in the traffic jam as you ride past them on your bike.

Traffic Banking Up

The TravelSmart Map is available for free and has bike paths and routes marked on it.  Copies are available at BREAZE, Ballarat City Council and the Smart Living Centre.  BalBUG have a link to it on the Council website here: BalBUG TravelSmart Map page