ACCORDING to Wikipedia, a footpath is described as “a type of thoroughfare that is intended for use only by pedestrians and not other forms of traffic such as motorised vehicles, bicycles and horses”.
At lunchtime during the recent long weekend, I dined at the Royal Hotel Bistro on Victoria Street in Kerang.
During the course of about 90 minutes, I witnessed a woman riding an adult tricycle exercising her dog on a long leash, two young men propelling themselves along on scooters, three youths riding bicycles and two elderly men (flying by with speed with no apparent regard for safety) on mobility scooters for the aged.
All of the above were using the footpath within close proximity to the shop front and travelling at a “rate of knots” that would have prevented them from stopping at short notice.
Should those with a hearing, vision or mobility impairment; a child or an unsuspecting adult exit the bistro onto Victoria Street, they would have been at risk of injury if a collision occurred.
My question: Do the perpetrators have the preparedness, or the capacity, to compensate for causing injury to a pedestrian on the footpath? Probably not.
I have no clue under whose jurisdiction the use of a footpath is decided – Gannawarra Shire? Victoria Police? Who?
I would like to see the issue clarified in this media (not locked away in the fine print of a website or on Facebook) for all to see.
The responsible entity then needs to enforce some rules to ensure the safety of pedestrians on footpaths.
Name supplied
