Cycling in Geelong, Victoria is common for recreation and competition, but less so for utility and commuting.
Geelong has a discontinuous network of off-road trails and on-road bicycle lanes.
Geelong's major shared riding and walking trails are the Bellarine Rail Trail, Barwon river, Bay, Ted Wilson and Waurn Ponds creek trails.
A series of rider fatalities and the safety of bike riding in and around the Geelong has received media and political attention.
A 2016 announcement of plans for a two-way separated bike lane in central Geelonghttp://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/city-hall/city-hall-reveals-green-spine-plan-for-geelongs-innercity-forest/news-story/5328cd16e1138d84fb8e70861be129bb City Hall reveals `Green Spine’ plan for Geelong's inner-city forest was welcomed by bike groups.https://cyclinggeelong.com.au/2016/05/06/green-spine-to-deliver-safe-transit-through-geelong-cbd-have-your-say/ Green Spine to deliver safe transit through Geelong CBD – have your sayhttps://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/policy-and-campaigns/4181/ Geelong reveals its Green Spine - Malop Streethttp://www.bicycleusersgeelong.org.au/bike-lane-for-malop-street/ Separated bike lane for Malop Street
History
The Geelong Cycling Club (formerly the Geelong West Cycling Club) started in 1911.http://geelongcycling.com/about/ About Geelong Cycling Club
In 1977 efforts were made to improve cycling in Geelong with Australia's first bike planhttp://www.geelongtouringcyclists.com/History.htm History of the Geelong Touring Cyclists launched by Hubert Opperman. The plan's credo was that "every street is a cycling street". The plan was also widely recognised at the time as a model for bicycle planning. As a result of the plan, a recreational cycling group called the Geelong Bicycle Riders' Association was formed in 1979 and is now known as the Geelong Touring Cyclists.http://www.geelongtouringcyclists.com/ History of the Geelong Touring Cyclists
Later, the 1996 Barwon Bicycle Planhttp://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8605219?selectedversion=NBD13985595 Barwon region strategic bicycle plan 1996 set out targets of achieving 8% of all journeys in the region by bicycle in the year 2000 and 15% by the year 2005, but this along with the Geelong Cycling Strategy 2008–2013http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/parks/plans/article/item/8cfbd3898d2e581.aspx Greater Geelong Cycle Strategy 2008 have failed to stop the reduction in ridership in a vehicle dominated era.http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/the-number-of-people-riding-bikes-to-work-is-lowest-in-30-years/news-story/50bc52e8e2ced4bded8a695324cb489f The number of people riding bikes to work is lowest in 30 years (Geelong)
Bicycle Users Geelong was formed in 1995 by the Barwon Regional Bicycle Council.http://www.bicycleusersgeelong.org.au/history/ History of Bicycle Users Geelong
A Geelong Critical Mass (cycling) ride was started in 2010 and is no longer active.https://www.facebook.com/groups/criticalmassgeelong/ Critical Mass Geelong public facebook group
In 2014, a Priority Bicycle Network (PBN) was adopted by the Geelong Council. Its aims being to "elevate the importance of routes within the overall bicycle network and to prioritise works to be undertaken to improve conditions for cyclists".
Competitive cycling The annual Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is held in Geelong. The 2010 UCI Road World Championships race was held in Geelong.
Russell Mockridge and Leigh Howard are some of Geelong's best known racing cyclists. Tour De France winner Cadel Evans has lived in Barwon Heads, Victoria – a township on the outskirts of the City of Greater Geelong municipality.
Bicycle organisations and groups Bikesafe (Geelong and Surfcoast) Cycling Geelong Geelong Cycling Club Geelong Touring Cyclists
See also Bicycle Network Cycling in Australia Cycling in Victoria Cycling in Melbourne
References
Government sites Bike riding information at City of Greater Geelong