The “It’s a two-way street” campaign will educate people behind the wheel and handlebars to share the road safely through a series of 16 drive and ride rules.

Mayor Michael Britten said cycling crosses many barriers in respect to age, ability and distance, and as the number of bike users increases locally it is important to focus on safety for all road users.

“Riding a bike has many benefits, and whether you are a regular cyclist or a driver who shares the road with cyclists, safety should be your number one priority.

“We are fortunate to have some world class mountain bike trails in the shire, and our growing network of bike paths in Bega, Bermagui, Merimbula and Pambula mean that an increasing number of people are coming to enjoy our local scenery from the comfort of a bike saddle.

“With this in mind it is essential that we implement an educational campaign to make it safe for cyclists and motorists to share space on our roads.” 

Cr Britten said the overarching message of the campaign is to show mutual respect. 

“With a strong educational component, including a series of eight drive and eight ride rules based on important road rules, behaviours and actions, this campaign has the real potential to save lives,” he said.

 “We want to reach every road user in the shire, and with your help we can spread the word through posters, bumper stickers and social media.”

The campaign was launched at the recent Bega River Day and will also be brought to the fore at this weekend’s Tathra Enduro.

The “It’s a two-way street” campaign is being run in partnership with the Amy Gillett Foundation.