Surf Coast Times
Tuesday 21 September 2010
VOL 8. No 38
www.surfcoasttimes.com.au
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Men’s Shed hits town MEN throughout Torquay will now have a central place to do, well... men’s things. An announcement from State Member for South Barwon, Michael Crutchfield, yesterday confirmed a $50,000 application for funding to bring the Men’s Shed to town had been successful. Spring Creek Community House applied for the grant and Crutchfield yesterday said he was delighted to announce the bid was successful. “The Torquay Men’s Shed will provide men with the opportunity to develop new and useful skills by taking part in a wide range of activities,” he said. “This funding will assist in the redevelopment of the Torquay Community Precinct which includes Spring Creek Community House and Torquay Senior Citizens. See full story Page 3. Torquay Men’s Shed’s Ray Busby and Member for South Barwon, Michael Crutchfield, get down to business. Photo: ELEANOR WOODS
ROAD BLITZ Police to target cyclists as well as drivers in two-week crackdown
BY NATHAN HALE
ROAD users throughout the Surf Coast Shire will be the subject of a police blitz over the next fortnight. With thousands of visitors expected to flock to the region for the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Cycling Championships next week, all road users have been warned to obey the law. Anglesea police sargeant, Kevin Warbuton, said road users will be targeted – starting this week – and unlike most police blitzes, this one is specifically targeting cyclists, as well as all motorised vehicles. “There is going to be a huge influx of both cyclists and motorists for the World Cycling Championships and we want to ensure the roads are as safe as
possible,” he said. “There will be general patrols in areas where there are a high number of cyclists, as well as areas where police consider could be dangerous to all road users. “We will be patrolling hot spots and checking cyclists and vehicles.” Warburton said both inland and coastal routes would be the subject of scrutiny from the police. “From Torquay, in to Winchelsea and then down to Anglesea and Lorne, we will be looking for people not obeying the road rules,” he said. “For cyclists, that means we will be looking for those rising three abreast, or for larger groups of cyclists who may be impeding other road users.” The crackdown is part of a share the road strategy
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“It is about both parties (cyclists and drivers) improving the respect and behaviour for one another. “The big messages we want to get across to drivers are to give at least one metre space at minimum, when passing. “And if you see a cyclist ahead and a car coming the other way – just wait those few seconds – don’t put the cyclist, oncoming car, or yourself, in danger. “And that goes right down line, trucks give respect to cars, cars to cyclists – and cyclists return that respect.” With the championships starting next Tuesday and running through until October 3, it has been estimated that as many as an additional 5,000 recreational cyclists could be on the road.
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from the Bike Safe group – which was formed earlier this year to help all road users learn to be more accepting of one another. Bike Safe’s Barton van Laar said the group was fully supportive of the police crackdown and stressed the importance of all road users sharing the road in harmony. “Under road laws, bikes are classified as a vehicle, and, as a vehicle you have as much responsibility as a motor cyclist or a car driver,” he said. “Cyclists have to obey the road rules; stop at a stop sign and give away. “Conversely, cars also have to treat bikes with respect and adhere to the road rules such as giving way.
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