By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
KEEN cyclist Travis Hill believes warning signs could have prevented the death of a Wantirna man who was found in water along the Dandenong Creek Trail.
Police believe they uncovered the body of a missing Wantirna man aged in his forties near a bridge on the Dandenong Creek Trail on Monday 18 January, about 9.30am.
A missing man who had left his home to go for a bike ride was reported to police on Sunday 17 January.
A passer-by alerted authorities to the body and bicycle in the creek and the man’s safety helmet could be seen from the trail.
Upon investigating the scene, police believe the man was riding downhill when he attempted to brake and collided with bollards before entering the water.
Mr Hill, 35, from Noble Park said he has stopped cycling along the path where the man was found dead because it was “unsafe”.
“The last time I rode along that path would have been two months ago,” he told Star News.
“And I demounted from my bike and walked across that bridge.
“It has no lighting and I haven’t noticed signs warning cyclists to slow down before approaching the hill near the bridge.
“The section where he was found is dangerous and it’s not a really busy track and you are riding behind a lot of vacant blocks,” he said.
Mr Hill cycles up to four times a week and said he would like to see more safety measures added to the bridge to prevent another tragic accident.
The bridge currently has flexi-bollards that run along the edge.
“I’d like to see some kind of protection for riders and a lot more signage to say slow down leading up to the waterways,” he said.
A section of the creek where the man’s body was located runs parallel with the bike path and police are currently preparing a report for the Coroner.
