Smart Cycling Project

We are currently in the design phase to improve safe crossings for pedestrians and cyclists and to upgrade cycle lanes to a more consistent width along The Esplanade, Torquay.

For cyclists who regularly ride along The Esplanade, please make sure your lights are on and recording. And register any issues you have on this route on the See Sense app. 

Works are not expected to start until early to mid 2027. 

A funding proposal is currently being prepared to seal the road shoulders along Forest Road, Bellbrae.

If your regularly ride this route, please make sure your lights are on and register any issues on the See Sense app. This data will be used as part of the funding proposal.  

We are exploring long term ways to make Camp Road, Anglesea, safer and easier for people riding and walking. 

Two long term options are being looked at and we want to hear from the community.

Complete the survey here.

Survey closes Monday 27 April. 

Upgrade works along Fischer Street, Torquay, are now close to completion with final Stage 3 works expected to start in April/May.

These works will increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists by installing raised pedestrian crossings and safe cycling lanes along Fischer Street.

Follow the works here. 

If you regularly ride along Fischer Street please make sure your lights are on and data is being updated via the See Sense app. Data received from previous participants has helped to shape the recent upgrades.  

In 2025 we asked the community about changing speed limits on local road in Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Fairhaven and Moggs Creek to support the safety of cyclists and pedestrians sharing the road with cars. 

Read the final report here.

The speed change implementation will commence in April and be completed by July 2026.

If you regularly ride on these roads please make sure your light is on and data is downloaded to the See Sense app. The data collected will help us to understand the cycling experience before and after these speed changes are made. 

We have been working with City of Greater Geelong to develop a safe cycling route between Torquay and Geelong.

We held a workshop and conducted a survey in 2024 that helped to develop concept plans to deliver a fully separated off road shared cycling path along Horseshoe Bend Road. 

Both councils are now seeking funding to construct this important cycling connection. 

Stay up to date with the project here.

If you ride between Torquay and Geelong please make sure you light is on and data is being downloaded to the See Sense app. Make sure you record any issues and concerns you have when riding as well. All this data will be used for future funding applications.  

We have received funding from TAC to begin reviewing the active transport options and road crossings in the Lorne town centre. 

This project will provide an analysis of the existing infrastructure in Lorne town centre and development of options to improve active transport.

If you regularly ride through Lorne please make sure your lights are turned on and you capture any issues or concerns in the See Sense app. This data will be used as part of this project.

We have received funding from TAC to install new raised pedestrian crossings in Gosney Street, Wincheslea, in the school area. 

We expect that design work will commence in the middle of 2026. There is no timeline for construction at the moment. 

We have received the draft report developed with the data from the lights. 

The first phase of the project looked at current cycling safety projects such as the upgrades on Fischer Street.

The second phase of the project starts with this report.

Read the draft Smart Bicycle Light Data Review for seven priority routes in Torquay here. (PDF, 5MB)

The report looks at seven high use, local cycling routes in Torquay township as identified through participants riding patterns. The routes selected are routes which have not been considered on the first phase of the project, such as South Beach Road, The Esplanade and Coombes Road.

The report includes detailed recommendations for practical, short to medium term treatments that Council could implement on each route in response to the data. This is different to the current Safer Cycling Strategy which looks at medium to long term strategic connections. The report responds to current information that you, as a rider, have provided on the network within Torquay township area to help make your day to day riding experience safer and more enjoyable.

How data is being used

Surf Coast Shire Council has combined the data from the trial with other engineering data in developing the following projects:

• Surf Coast Shire Council are working with City of Greater Geelong to develop concept plans for a safe cycling connection between Geelong and Torquay. 
• Surf Coast Shire Council are also working with Department of Transport and Planning to address risks to cyclists identified through the data along the Great Ocean Road.
• Surf Coast Shire Council have submitted a proposal to TAC to develop a targeted countermeasures program on high use cycling routes in Torquay.  

Funding for safer cycling treatments along The Esplanade and Bells Street, Torquay, and Vickerys Road and Forest Road, Bellbrae, is being submitted to Federal Government as part of the annual blackspot program, to make these routes safer for cyclists and all road users.

Current projects using data

Recent road safety works along Fischer Street, Torquay, are making this key cycling route safer for cyclists. The changes include:

• Extensions to the roundabout centre islands to slow traffic down.
• 'Sharrows' painted on the ground at roundabouts to indicate shared cyclist and car zone.
• Raised pedestrian crossings at roundabouts and key crossing points.

Comparison of cycle route data before and after the works will be used to evaluate the success of these road safety changes.   

Further works are planned along Fischer Street using the data from the trial to improve separation for cyclists at key conflict points.

Make sure your light is turned on

Of the 50 lights that were given out as part of the trial, only 37 have been turned on. If you haven't turned your light on, please do so now.

If you are having issues turning your light on or connecting to the trial, try troubleshooting with these frequently asked questions

TAC talent call out - TAC are looking for cyclists to appear in a campaign to showcase the recently completed infrastructure improvements along Fischer Street, Torquay, designed to enhance cyclist safety.

TAC061_-Fischer-Street-Talent-Callout.pdf(PDF, 868KB)

Upcoming and current projects which utilise LiT Light data

1. Funding applications have been finalised and submitted to the Federal Government for cycling safety improvements at
   • The Esplanade and Bell Street, Torquay
   • Forest Road, Bellbrae
2. On road asphalt art project under development for the Torquay town centre area, supporting safer shared use of roadways.
3. Upcoming works in Anglesea to support safer road crossings to connect existing shared pathways. Works are expected to commence in April 2025.
4. Officers are currently developing options for safer cycling connections along Bristol Road, Torquay. 

As the projects are developed more information will be shared with the community. 

The Light Insights Trial (LIT) will invite 50 Surf Coast Shire cyclists to participate in the trial for 12 months. Each participant will receive one See.Sense ICON3 smart bike light, which is daylight visible so can be used for all rides, both day and night. 

When participating cyclists are riding locally, the light will enable them to share anonymised data that will provide valuable insights to a research team.

Data that will be collected includes:

• Route popularity
• Braking patterns
• Crash incidents
• Swerving patterns
• Road surface roughness
• Journey speeds and averages
• Dwell time
• Cyclist feedback on trips (eg close passes)
• Infrastructure reports

The data is aggregated, which means See.Sense looks at combined data and not individual ride data, to protect privacy. Participants can also set privacy zones, eg around their home, so that no data is recorded there. 

The technology is a smart bike light developed by See.Sense

This light is a world-leading technology for cyclists that has been trialled in multiple cities including Melbourne, Geelong, Dublin, Birmingham, Manchester, Oxford and Antwerp.

As well as capturing ride data, the lights provide an added layer of safety by reacting to its environment, flashing brighter and faster at riskier moments such as roundabouts, road junctions, filtering through traffic or approaching car headlights.

We have a number of cyclist-related projects coming up on our road network which will consider the data collected through this trial:

• Central to north Torquay Safe Cycling Connection Options Analysis
• Blackspot project on Fischer Street including installation of cyclist friendly upgrade to roundabout at Inshore Drive
• Safety Review of cyclist connection Anglesea to Torquay in collaboration with Department of Transport and Planning
• Cyclist safety improvements along The Esplanade at Taylor Park

Data will also be retained to help inform future cyclist safety projects.