Photo by GS Aerial Imaging.

Construction of the highly anticipated Learn to Ride facility is officially complete yet fences will remain in place for the time being to allow grass seed sown in the park to establish.

It will officially open to the public on Saturday, December 4 but may open sooner if the grass establishes in time.

Yass Valley Council’s Director for Infrastructure and Assets James Dugdell said the official opening will be an opportunity for the community to take a spin on the facility for the first time and receive important bike safety information from Pedal Power ACT.

 

YCWG members. Back – Karen Visser and Natalie Bishop. Front – Ania Wardle and son Olek and Sophie Scroope. Other members who contributed to the project included Zoe Constance, Ali Beresford and Karin Laird.

 

There will also be a special visit from the Highway Patrol and Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman, as well as a coffee van and sausage sizzle.

“The Learn to Ride facility will have the look and feel of a real road environment,” James said. “Complete with road signs, a roundabout, pedestrian crossing and footpaths to provide a safe space for young cyclists to learn valuable riding skills.”

“Council hopes the facility will make cycling safer and open the door for additional cycle routes in Yass Valley.”

The project began in April 2018 and took two months to design and just one month to build.

It initially began when a group of local women formed the Yass Community Grants Working Group to help get community projects off the ground.

They found the Learn to Ride facility listed as a future opportunity under the Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan (PAMP).

Members lobbied councillors, wrote grant applications and assisted Yass Valley Council with letters of support to secure funds.

The project was awarded $114,000 under round three of the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund in November 2020.

By Brianna O’Rourke