Illawarra Bicycle Users Group (IBUG) has been shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Wollongong man Ray Payne who was riding his bicycle in Dapto on Monday afternoon and we extend our sincere condolences to his devastated family and friends.
A fundraiser has been set up to assist Ray’s bereaved family at this time and donations can be made at this site: Fundraiser by Dallas McConnell : Ray (Ray Ray) Payne
While the details of the incident remain unclear to IBUG committee members at this time this incident serves as yet another reminder that our current road infrastructure is inadequate to protect vulnerable road users. The cycling route through Dapto is convoluted and indirect and requires people on bicycles to cross the Princes Highway at a busy intersection to stay on the designated cycling route.
The Illawarra’s cycling network remains inadequate, with insufficient separated cycling infrastructure requiring vulnerable people on bicycles to share space with cars, trucks and buses in conditions that are often unsafe.
Every cyclists death on roads that do not accommodate the active transport needs of the community represents a preventable tragedy that devastates families and our community. These are NOT isolated incidents but symptoms of systematic long term underinvestment in safe cycling infrastructure.
IBUG continues to call on our local and state transport authorities to:
- Prioritise the urgent development of separated cycling lanes throughout the Illawarra.
- Accelerate planned active transport infrastructure projects.
- Conduct safety audits of high-risk cycling routes.
- Allocate sufficient funding to create a connected network of protected cycling paths.
Safe cycling infrastructure saves lives. Cycling is increasingly popular and will continue to be so with a range of factors seeing cycling growing in popularity in our beautiful region. Our community deserves roads where people can cycle on direct separated routes, without risking serious injury or death.
We must act now with a renewed sense of urgency to work together to prevent further tragedies.