City of Melbourne to consider Draft Bicycle Plan 2016-20
The City of Melbourne has developed a plan to extend Melbourne’s bicycle network by creating new local routes and key connections to encourage more people to opt for two wheel transport, with the draft plan to be considered at a council meeting tonight.
The City of Melbourne’s Draft Bicycle Plan 2016-20 aims to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injury crashes by 10 per cent (relative to the number of people riding), increase bike use to one in four vehicles entering the city in the morning peak and for seven per cent of all trips to, within and from the municipality to be on a bike.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said that over the last three years, the City of Melbourne has invested more than $10 million to increase connectivity and safety across the bike network in Melbourne.
“We now have more than 136 kilometres of bike lanes and the number of cyclists coming into the city centre in the morning peak has almost doubled, from 9 per cent in 2008 to 17 per cent today.
“This plan articulates that cycling will be prioritised on William Street and Swanston Street, La Trobe Street and the Yarra Corridor. It also highlights non-preferred routes for cyclists in the Hoddle Grid including Lonsdale Street, Flinders Street and King Street which don’t provide safe conditions for cyclists.”
According to the council, the Draft Bicycle Plan 2016-20 lays out practical measures to further connect the city’s bicycle network including:
- Creating local neighbourhood routes in Kensington, North Melbourne, Carlton and Southbank, connecting to schools, shops and community facilities;
- Improving connections into and through the city centre along the State Government’s four strategic cycling corridors;
- Increasing bicycle parking by 800 in key public locations; and
- Installing bicycle maintenance stations and counters at entrances to the city.
Councillor Cathy Oke, Portfolio Chair for Transport, said the draft plan had been informed by feedback received during community consultation earlier this year.
“In April, we received over 7000 contributions from the community about our current bike network. This has helped inform our new draft plan, ensuring we are addressing any gaps in the network, and reflecting the priorities of the cycling and broader community,” Cr Oke said.
“I encourage anyone with an interest in Melbourne’s bike network to provide feedback on our new draft plan which will inform how we strengthen the network over the next four years.”
Future Melbourne Committee will vote on Tuesday 13 October to release the Draft Bicycle Plan 2016-20 for community consultation until November 20.
Source: News Release, Urbanalyst, 13 October, 2015