Bicycle owner hit on Mandurang street the place elite rider Jason Lowndes died requires decrease pace restrict

A bike owner recovering from main accidents is asking for street security modifications, after being hit on the identical stretch of street that claimed the lifetime of a rising elite bike owner in 2017. 

Three months in the past, California Gully’s Gavin Hicks was using alongside Sedgwick Highway in Mandurang, about 8 kilometres outdoors of Bendigo, when he was hit by a automobile.

His neck and again had been damaged within the collision and he now has steel plates in his neck, left collarbone and proper fibula.

Mr Hicks is calling for the Metropolis of Larger Bendigo to decrease the 80kph pace restrict on the stretch of street, which additionally claimed the lifetime of elite bike owner Jason Lowndes in 2017 throughout a coaching journey.

“As a driver, it is 80kph … which I believe is simply too quick,” he mentioned.

“There’s lots of shade there so it is exhausting to have visibility, and there is lots of turns as nicely … and as a bike owner, it’s extremely slender

“I do not really feel so secure driving alongside that stretch of street, significantly realizing there are cyclists alongside there, as a result of I believe it is too quick. And as a bike owner, clearly, they [don’t] really feel secure both.”

Restoration nonetheless a approach off

Mr Hicks had headed out on the afternoon of June 1, between shifts as a incapacity help employee.

He had been coaching for the half ironman occasion on the Ironman World Championships in New Zealand — which includes a 1.9km swim, 90km bike journey and 21km run.

After spending 9 days in intensive care on the Royal Melbourne Hospital and three weeks in Bendigo’s St John of God hospital, Mr Hicks is now working his approach by rehabilitation.

In two and half months’ time, he’ll have the steel plates eliminated.

“I am nonetheless not working — till my again is 100 per cent I do not wish to do any extra injury,” he mentioned.

“Clearly, the neck is therapeutic as a result of I can stroll, which is okay.

“There’s nonetheless a method to go together with the again and I am nonetheless carrying a again brace on and off. The collarbone continues to be a bit sore and the leg is therapeutic nicely.”

Police have charged an 82-year-old Bendigo man over the incident.

‘Blind hills and corners’

On the time of his loss of life, Jason Lowndes had been competing internationally since 2015 and had a promising yr forward, after signing with UK-based group JLT Condor for 2018. 

He completed tenth in 2017’s Beneath 23 race on the Highway Nationwide Championships and sixth within the Beneath 23 World Championship street race. 

This week, his father Graeme Lowndes mentioned on the very least, the street wanted to be widened and bike lanes added.

“Initially when Jason was hit, the street was 100kph, and other people on Fb known as for the street to be lowered to 80kph,” he mentioned,

“[There are] blind hills and corners. Automobiles cannot see once they rise up behind cyclists — they nonetheless cross on double strains on the hills.”

In a coincidence, Mr Hicks was using alongside the street the identical day Lowndes was hit and remembers seeing the air ambulance land at Manurang Recreation Reserve.

“I might truly been actually cautious and solely simply began doing it,” he mentioned.

“After that point, I used to be actually spooked using on that street.”

The street is managed by the Metropolis of Larger Bendigo, which has been contacted for remark.

Velocity, distractions nonetheless a serious concern

In June this yr, the household of Gisborne bike owner Lindsay Smyrk, who was killed after being hit by a automobile in Woodend in October final yr, urged individuals to speak to younger motorists about driving safely and staying conscious when behind the wheel.

The 75-year-old died after being hit by a automobile being pushed by Amelie Vergez, who was 19 on the time, alongside Black Forest Drive.

Ms Vergez pleaded responsible to harmful driving inflicting loss of life and was sentenced to a group corrections, order after the courtroom made an exemption for necessary imprisonment.

Billie Rodda was additionally handed a corrections order after pleading responsible to harmful driving inflicting loss of life in 2019 — two years after hitting Jason Lowndes on Sedgwick Highway.

She was 22 on the time of sentencing.

Bendigo Freeway Patrol senior sergeant Ian Brooks mentioned the first situation was individuals not out in search of cyclists on roads — and particularly on nation roads.

“In some circumstances, the cyclists are making themselves as seen as they are often when they’re using out and in of shadows.”

Senior Sergeant Brooks mentioned widening street shoulders would assist, however motorists wanted to keep alert.

“We’re not visitors engineers so street building and design aren’t a forte, however [we can] make suggestions.”