By Alesha Capone
A man whose dog was hit by a motorcyclist riding near a path along Skeleton Creek in Hoppers Crossing is calling for improved safety measures and law enforcement to stop illegal motorcycle access to the creek area.
Daniel (who asked for only his first name to be used), has started a petition on Change.org. It has so far been signed by more than 1050 people.
The petition states that Daniel believes there needs to be stricter penalties for people caught accessing the creek on motorbikes, increased patrols of the area by police on motorcycles and that Wyndham council needs to do more to prevent motorbikes from accessing the creek.
Daniel said that he was overseas at the time his dog, Dennis, was hit.
The collision occurred during the school holidays, when his partner, Rachael, was walking their eight-month-old daughter in a pram with Dennis accompanying them.
Rachael said that as a group of motorcyclists approached, she yelled at them to slow down but they gestured rudely at her before one of the riders hit Dennis. She said the rider, who fell off his bike, said “sorry” before riding away.
Rachael said Dennis ran away, and she and some friends spent several hours looking for him.
They found Dennis near the creek around midnight, with bruises and grazing on his body.
Friends of Skeleton Creek publicity officer John Dawes said motorcyclists and mini-bike riders accessed the creek’s shared walking and cycling path, and nearby parkland, in both Wyndham and Hobsons Bay.
“These kids have come through near where we are planting and nearly skittled some of our volunteers,” Mr Dawes said.
“They shouldn’t be menacing the public, which is what happened with Daniel’s partner – it’s just a matter of time before someone is going to be injured or killed.”
Wyndham city operations director Stephen Thorpe said: “While Victoria Police is the authority for investigating and apprehending people committing offences involving motorbikes, road bikes, dirt bikes and monkey bikes, council supports Victoria Police in their efforts.”
Mr Thorpe said the council recently purchased two trail bikes for police to allow for more patrols of public reserves.
For details of the petition, see: www.change.org/p/werribee-police-stop-motorbikes-from-accessing-public-walking-areas-around-skeleton-creek
