EVEN though there are still negotiations taking place, it appears as though the Bandanna Day bike ride is doomed.
All this week, meetings have been held in Sydney between various ministers and the Roads and Traffic Authority, to try and find a solution to perceived problems.
A government spokes-person told Bega District News at the time of going to press that “a final decision is yet to be made, but there is still work being done and we are hopeful of a positive outcome”.
But, despite the good intentions, organiser of the ride, Andy Willis, is not confident of it going ahead.
“If 100 of my mates and myself want to ride to Merimbula and back by ourselves along the Princes Highway we can, it’s ridiculous,” Mr Willis said.
But, he added, the safety measures that are adhered to if the ride was to go ahead as the popular community event, would not be in place - as they have been over the last eight years.
The assistance and support of local police and SES personnel, escort vehicles, warning signage and other volunteers always ensured a safe, incident-free journey and successful ride.
However, the RTA, by deeming this year’s event as a Class 2 special event, has made it almost impossible for the Bandanna Day Bike Ride to go ahead as planned.
The event is a non-competitive 65-kilometre bike ride that enjoys great community support and usually attracts about 80 to 100 riders of various ages and abilities each year.
It has been held annually on National Bandanna Day since October 2000 and raised in excess of $120,000 for the CanTeen organisation.
CanTeen is a national peer support organisation that supports, develops and empowers young people (12-24) living with cancer.
In a letter to Member for Bega Andrew Constance informing him of the situation Mr Willis states “It is a real shame for so many that the Bandanna Day Bike Ride will be no more; the CanTeen organisation, the young people living with cancer, school students of the Bega Valley and the Bega community in general will all be at a loss”.
“It now seems this event is destined to join the many other community events that have become extinct as a result of the inability to comply with the extreme requirements of the governance of the State of NSW.”
The application process for this year’s bike ride began in July and on August 20 a letter was received from the Bega Valley Shire Council’s Local Traffic Committee with a recommendation to change the route to Bega-Merimbula-Bega via the Princes Highway as this road is wider and safer.
Mr Willis agreed to the change of route and on September 17 he was informed in another letter from Bega Valley Shire Council’s Local Traffic Committee that the ride be classified as a Class 2 special event, which has to be conducted under an approved Traffic Control Plan achieving the RTA Traffic Control Manual. The traffic control plan must be prepared by a person authorised by the RTA and bear the name, signature and authorisation number of that person. All persons who carry out traffic control or set out traffic control devices, including signage, must hold approved RTA certification. All signage and devices must achieve RTA requirements.
In addition, due to the involvement of the Princes Highway, it be managed by the RTA in conjunction with police and council.
On September 19 Mr Willis sought the services of Caddey, Searl and Jarman, at his own expense, to draw up the required Traffic Control Plan.
Following some preliminary work by the firm’s consultant Mr Willis was advised that to comply with the RTA Traffic Control Manual would be a massive process and would mean taking measures and using resources that are not available to Mr Willis.
“It would mean signage at every cross street on the highway, traffic control people at many of these, reduced speed signage and qualified traffic people in certain areas, with all signage per RTA guidelines,” Mr Willis said.
“None of the expense at running this event has ever come out of the funds raised. All expenses associated with the event are either paid for by myself personally or sponsored within the community.
“This is a charity community event, not a race, but now because we say it’s an event we need to follow all these requirements.
“It’s a case of ‘we don’t want you on our road’ so ride on a local road - they (RTA) don’t want any blame if there is an incident. In the past we used Sapphire Coast Drive, but it is a very narrow stretch of road, has less visibility and no shoulders to ride on, making it too dangerous.
“Yet, the RTA is saying safety is their priority. If we ride on the Princes Highway then riders could be on a shoulder nearly all the way.”
Mr Willis hopes the ride may still go ahead as discussions between State Government authorities continue on the issue.
“Every year it gets harder and harder to run this event. It is a huge logistical task and with the new guidelines is even more so.
“Whilst I agree there is a need to have a process in place for safety I do not understand what is different now to past years.
“I am really disappointed that this event may not go ahead and there will be a lot of community anger as well as it has a real community feel about it each year,” Mr Willis said.
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