New Cairns bike track pedals road safety message

A recently opened bike safety track complete with miniature versions of common street signs is proving popular with young riders in Cairns.

Cairns Regional Councils’ Learn to Ride Road Safety Training Track at the Moody Creek Detention Basin is the first open-to-the-public track of its kind in the city.

It complements the neighbouring pump track by providing a safe environment to enable informal learning for children and those new to cycling, as well as formal training by cycle training organisations.

Cairns Region Councillor Terry James said he had approached Council officers about the prospect of constructing the track after watching younger children struggling to share the existing track with older, more experienced users, commenting “I was watching children at the pump track and noticed that the younger users were a little apprehensive about sharing the facility with the older riders cruising around.

“I talked to Council officers about the possibility of doing something for the younger children and the result is the safety track, which is already very popular with families.

“The track has been designed help young riders become aware of people and things around them and expose them to road markings, signs, and pedestrian crossings in the safety of a miniature streetscape.

“It is the perfect place for getting used to riding with anything with wheels - trikes, bikes, skateboards, scooters and balance bikes - in a safe environment.”

Adding that he hopes the track would promote greater participation in outdoor activities, particularly bike riding, Councillor James added “unfortunately, in recent years there has been a drop in children under 10 riding a bicycle in a typical week, falling from 51.5% in 2017 to 26.9% in 2019

“Hopefully, providing children with a safe environment to get comfortable riding their bike will encourage them to continue riding and exploring the many off road pathways we have across the city.”

Cairns Regional Council is currently asking for community feedback on the city’s favourite off road pathways through the Let's Roll Cairns project, which aims to promote safe and family-friendly pathways.

Images: The new Learn to Ride Road Safety Training Track at Cairns' Moody Creek Detention Basin (top) and Cairns Region Councillor Terry James at the track (below). Credit: Cairns Regional Council.