Bicycle Network: Metro Routes

Election opportunity for candidates to show support

22 August 2012 Bicycle Network Victoria has identified this project as a local council priority for the 2012 Local Government election. Candidates should be ready to support the development and full or partial funding of this project in conjunction with State Government and can tell riders in their Council area their position by posting their candidates' statement at VoteBike.

Second stage left to rot

20 June 2011 The planned second stage of Cecil Street bike route has been shelved. The designs have been completed, Council has cleared the way but alas the Baillieu State Government has put a halt to the project as part of their 'Zero Bike Budget'.

To Market to Market

11 January 2011. The first stage of Cecil Street’s bike path from Whiteman Street across City Road and Market Street to York Street has now been completed by VicRoads and the City of Port Phillip, improving access to the renowned South Melbourne Market.

Stage one is a Copenhagen style separated bike path with the new lanes providing significant upgrades to this commuter route, which will eventually be a first class connection from Albert Park to the City.

This will result in a complete route to the city from St. Kilda.

The new bike lanes feed into a roundabout at York Street, which has been upgraded to slow traffic down with raised pedestrian crossings on each leg, similar to the works at the Coventry and Cecil Street intersection.

At City Road, detector loops and bicycle lanterns been installed.

Stage two of the bike path is between York and Park Street. The concept design for this stage went to public consultation in Nov/Dec 2010.

The concept design can be viewed on the City of Port Phillip website http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/cecil_street_bikepath.htm.

The Council is looking to finalise the detailed design and begin construction of the upgraded on-road bike path in 2011. Stage three will not be designed until a review of Stage one and two is complete.

Fitzroy St. The riders have voted

06 July 2010 With the Fitzroy St bike path project now completed and some design tweaks implemented to address some initial issues (refer October 09 below) rider numbers have increased, according to Super Tuesday Counts. Whilst starting from a low base, the trend is encouraging and vindication of Council and VicRoads' stance, albeit with riders also voting down the poor design at the Jacka Boulevard/Cleve gardens section. Riders are actively bypassing this section due to no viable access, crossing or legible route through an urban-designed disaster for riders.

The counts (right) tell the story.

At the western end (Jacka Boulevard) the numbers have gradually dropped from pre-construction (2008) to 2010 numbers post construction. The connection from the Bay Trail and Jacka Boulevard would appear to be the cause in this drop in numbers. Where previously there was a path there now is none on the bay side. The Cleve Gardens section is also a confusion of trees, drinking fountains, no line marking and a kerb drop off. It would appear all these elements have convinced riders that only the most persistent and adventurous are willing to run this gauntlet.

East of here however is a different story. Numbers east of Acland St have significantly increased and continue to grow to the east of Canterbury Rd.

The good news is that this can be improved. Bicycle Network Victoria has raised riders concerns with the City of Port Phillip and believe that the evolution of this route will see numbers continue to grow.

Riders don't like this bit. A confluence of no path to the west side of the crossing, palm trees in the middle of the path, a drinking fountain, no clear route through and a vertical drop off is discouraging riders

Port Phillip gives way on signs

7 October 2009. Bike riders have won right-of-way along the new separated bike lane in Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, after Port Phillip council gave way on Give Way signage.

Initially riders were faced with Give Way signs at T-intersections as they travelled along the two way lane. This was confusing to both drivers and riders.

Engineers made the same, wrong assumptions when the off-road path on O'Hea Street, Coburg was built.

Now riders will face “road ahead” signs and cars on side streets will face the "Give Way".

However, further problems are emerging at the bottom of Fitzroy Street near the tram stop. This issue will be reported on soon.

The Fitzroy Street lanes are nearing completion

26 July 2009. The new lanes are looking good.

There are some problems—for example the lanes feed off into the park and not down the Bowling Club drive west of the Ian Johnson Oval, which is the direct way along the lake route.

There are some unnecessary poles (see the picture on the home page) right next to the path—clearly against the Austroads design guidelines. See clearances.

The southern section past the tram stop is going to be a problem as walkers and riders mix in a narrow unmarked area.

The section of the Bay Trail that connects to the south remains a concern. The separated path needs to continue down Jacka Boulevard (see below) allowing faster training riders and commuters to bypass the foreshore.

The foreshore route, which lacks a defined bike route and has many obstacles and hazards, is only appropriate for low key riding.

 Sam Newman tests new bike lane . . . with Mustang

20 May 2009. Riders on St. Kilda's new Fitzroy St separated bike path can be assured it will hold the weight of their bike. TV celebrity Sam Newman recently tested the surface with his two-tonne Ford Mustang. Bicycle Network Victoria was there to photograph the event.

Mr Newman, famous as a Geelong footballer for wearing white boots, is a committed urban bike rider who prefers a suspension bike for smoothing out the rough of Melbourne's bike lanes.

He recently crossed paths with the Police, who caught him riding without a hair-spoiling helmet.

Riders will be grateful that Sam has closely assessed the new path and hope that no damage was done to the Mustang as he drove across the construction zone to get his precious parking spot.

Fitzroy St, looking west from the Bowling club frontage. 

Work begins on Fitzroy Street project

26 February 2009. The two way separated bike lane in Fitzroy Street has moved a step closer to reality with initial works beginning at the Jacka Boulevard / Beaconsfield Parade intersection.

New lane treatments, pedestrian crossings, tram stop and a new plaza for Cleve Gardens are part of the first $4.5M phase, to be completed by July this year. Riders may be less impressed by this short section as many obstacles are included in the design and may serve to direct path users into, not past each other. We have outlined our concerns to Council and shall monitor the situation.

Of more importance for riders will be the institution of bikes lanes on both sides of Beaconsfield / Jacka on the approaches to the Fitzroy Street intersection.

The new plaza in Cleve Gardens will be the termination point of what Port Phillip City are calling the Fitzroy Street Greenway Bike Path.

The Fitzroy Street Greenway provides a two way path between the foreshore and Albert Park Reserve.

The path will be three metres wide and at the footpath level and provide physical separation between cyclists and motorists on Fitzroy Street. The Greenway will be a major part of the 'Lake Route', one of the council's three priority routes in the bicycle network.

The Lake Route will connect the St Kilda Foreshore with major attractions: Fitzroy Street; Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre; South Melbourne Market and the Melbourne Convention Centre.

More details on the Councils plans are here.

A solution for the Jacka Blvd bike lane puzzle further south near the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron remains nebulous, with further homework by the Council required.

Funding for Fitzroy St confirmed

May 08 In response to Premier Brumby's January congestion roundtable, the State Government has announced $28.8M (out of a total $112.6M) of new funding over four years as a short term response to strengthen the Bike Network and help ease congestion within 10km of the Melbourne CBD. This project was identified as one that will be built with this money. 

Fitzroy Street goes both ways

April 08. The City of Port Phillip is currently advertising plans for two major improvements to the bicycle network in St Kilda. The Foreshore connections project will deliver a Copenhagen style bike path in Fitzroy Street and on-road bike lanes on Jacka Boulevard.

The plans for Fitzroy Street show that riders will be able to travel from the Esplanade along Fitzroy Street to Albert Park along a two bike path on the west side. (The left hand side heading away from the beach). This will allow riders to head straight to the CBD through Albert Park and Cecil Street rather than going around two sides of a triangle - up to Station Pier and then along the tram route to the City. 

It is important that you write in support of these projects. Please use the form provided by the City.

Members are encouraged to go to Your Home Page and send a note of support to the Mayor.

Announcement of Lake Route construction date

Jul 07 Over the last 6 months VicRoads, the City of Port Phillip and Bicycle Network Victoria have been working together to deliver the lake route project.

This route will eventually provide a car free route from the Bay Trail in Brighton and St Kilda right through to the Northbank of the Yarra River in Melbourne's CBD. See below for details of the entire route.  

We are looking forward to Minister Tim Pallas announcing that the project will be delivered during the 2007-08 financial year.

City of Port Phillip builds Melbourne's first 'Copenhagen' style bike lane

Dec 06 As a part of the South Melbourne Market redevelopment the City of Port Phillip has built the first separated bike lane in Melbourne. This short but important section is the first stage of a fully separated bike route from St Kilda Baths to Southbank.

This photo at the South Melbourne Market on Cecil St shows the future of bike facilities in Melbourne. 

The design was developed in consultation with Bicycle Network Victoria. Riders are ramped up onto a 'back of kerb' style bike lane that is separated from vehicle traffic and pedestrians.

We congratulate the City of Port Phillip in developing a high quality facility for riders in record time.

$500,000 announced for Cecil St in South Melbourne

Nov 06 Prior to the recent State election the Minister for Transport Peter Batchelor pledged "$500,000 to transform Cecil Street’s existing on-road bike lane into a ‘Copenhagen-style’ cycleway."

“The upgraded Cecil Street cycleway will connect South Melbourne with the southern end of the CBD via the existing shared path bike track at Whiteman Street,” Mr Batchelor said. “The cycle lane will be placed between the footpath and parking bays, allowing cyclists travel at a very safe distance from the road’s traffic.”

The project announced by Minister Batchelor will provide separated bike lanes from Albert Road to Whiteman Street connecting the trails in Albert Park to Melbourne's CBD.

St Kilda Baths to Melbourne’s CBD via Cecil St and Fitzroy St

Jul 06 Bicycle Network Victoria has been working with the City of Port Phillip to develop a quality bike route between the St Kilda baths and Melbourne’s CBD.

The route begins from the south with the proposed ‘Copenhagen’ style separated bike lanes in Fitzroy St from the St Kilda Baths through to the southern end of the Albert park trail (near the bowls club). The route follows the existing off road trail through Albert park until it reaches Albert Road near the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. From there north we have ascertained that it is possible to install high quality separated Copenhagen lanes for the length of Cecil street that will link to the Sandridge trail in Southbank and eventually to the Main Yarra trail and CBD through the new Convention Centre development.

The City of Port Phillip is very supportive of the route and has passed a motion highlighting its priority in their network. A number of projects along the route will help deliver this project including the St Kilda foreshore redevelopment, the redesign of Fitzroy St, and the South Melbourne Market and Red Bear site redevelopments. We are currently working with the City of Port Phillip and State Government Agencies to secure funding for this project.

Cecil St Alternative to Clarendon St

Dec 05 Cecil St has become an alternative route for cyclists after the Think Tram project on Clarendon St which has made it difficult for cyclists.