By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
A WOMEN’S cycling event in the Dandenong Ranges has caused outrage among community members over road closures.
The RACV Ascent bicycle ride will take place on Sunday 17 April with over 600 women of all ages and abilities taking part to increase the participation of women in bike riding.
The event will see many local roads closed to traffic while the event is taking place and local community members have spoken against the plan.
An online petition has attracted over 350 signatures urging the RACV and event organisers Bicycle Network to move the event to another location.
“This event will require significant road closures throughout the area and has been organised without consultation with the local community,” the petition organiser has written.
“This event will have a negative impact on both residents and businesses.
“Given that there is limited access both on and off the mountain; in the event of an emergency these road closures would have a serious impact for first responder vehicles.”
A community consultation meeting was held on 23 February where residents of the Dandenongs could voice their concerns about the event.
Spokesperson for Bicycle Network, Anthea Hargreaves said they have met with local emergency services to confirm they would have access to the roads during the event if needed.
“Following feedback received at the meeting and as part of our event communications plan, we met with local CFA representatives to reaffirm on-event access to the region for CFA volunteers, allowing them to plan accordingly,” she said.
Another concern raised my local residents was the impact on local businesses and service providers.
Ms Hargreaves said Bicycle Network is committed to involving the local community as much as possible in the event organisation.
“As with all of our events, we go to great lengths to encourage the local community to get involved in the ride,” she said.
“For example, food, entertainment, amenities and volunteers for The RACV Ascent ride have been sourced from the local community.”
“Bicycle Network is committed to working with the community and local authorities to ensure that the lifestyles of residents are not unfairly impacted,” Ms Hargreaves said.
Despite the community consultation meeting, residents are still unsatisfied with the impact the event will have on them.
Bruce Johnson of Monbulk said the community has not been adequately listened to by the event organisers.
“What I’m saying is the basic flaw is they are trying to run a major event on dangerous mountain roads.
“The Hills is not the right place to have cycle events,” Mr Johnson said.
Mr Johnson said the disruption caused to residents is not worth the excitement of the event.
“My message to the organisers from my experience is don’t do it in the city, this is crazy.”
Mark Thiele from Kalorama also expressed his disappointment with the lack of community consultation in regards to the event.
“The meeting that bicycle network called wasn’t publicised,” he said.
“I found out about it online and publicised it myself.”
Mr Thiele said nothing was really resolved at the meeting a feels like the community still haven’t been heard properly by Bicycle Network.
“Recreational cycling has become so big and so much of an issue that locals feel scared to use the roads on the weekend and avoid leaving home, this event was what broke the camel’s back.”
Mr Thiele raised road closures as the biggest issue with the event, saying closing any roads on the mountain could lead to disaster.
“The issue is there are three main roads to get off the mountain and once you start blocking any of them, there are major issues.
“The roads blocked by event are through roads that serve a major area like York Road through to the Yarra Valley and Silvan and Wandin.
“Lots of those road closures will cause major disturbances and we don’t have the infrastructure to absorb it.”
Mr Thiele said that several local businesses will be closing for the day because they cannot afford to have staff on when roads were blocked.
“The locals are often forgotten people in a tourist area,” he said.
