Footpath safety plea

A Wimmera hospitality leader has called on parents and guardians to support the education and safe travel of teenagers.

Horsham Sports and Community Club manager Glenn Carroll is concerned patrons to his venue, or passers-by, could become injured as teenagers ‘fly’ along the footpath aboard bicycles, skateboards and scooters – sometimes with a mobile phone in-hand.

He acknowledged his venue, located on a section of Baillie Street off Dimboola Road, was one of many venues impacted across the regional city. In his case, a one-way section of road at the front of the venue includes parking on both sides, speed humps, and a wombat crossing to May Park.

“We’re well aware that kids under the age of 12 can ride on paths. The problem we have is kids traversing to school in either direction, morning and night and at other times, who are well and truly over the age of 12 –and they’re flying down the path,” Mr Carroll said.

“They could be doing 30kmh quite easily.”

Mr Carroll said businesses were leg- islated to allow a 1.4-metre clearance from the front of buildings so people with sight impairments or travelling with mobility aids, for example, could navigate the footpath easily.

He has installed signs inside the venue and mirrors outside the front door to raise patrons’ awareness and attempt to eliminate blind spots.

He called on parents and guardians to ensure children were also taking responsibility for their own safety.

“If you were a young person, or anyone really, and you collected someone, you wouldn’t feel real good about it,” he said.

“You might come off second best yourself. We have some fixed structures at the front of the club that if someone came off, it could cause a lot of damage.”

Horsham police Senior Sergeant Matt Haughton said children aged 13 or older were not permitted to ride a bicycle on a footpath.

There were some exceptions, for example, those 18 and older can ride on a footpath if accompanying a child under 12-years-old for training and support purposes.

“If a person is seen riding on a foot- path, police can obtain their name and address and deal with the matter in a number of ways including a warning, an official caution, an infringement notice or have the person appear at court,” Senior Sergeant Haughton said.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN: Horsham Sports and Community Club manager Glenn Carroll is concerned about teenagers riding bikes, skateboards and scooters on footpaths in Horsham.

“Police monitor this through regular patrols and-or specific tasking if complaints are received from the public.”

Horsham Rural City Council direc-