Bicycle Network: Better Transport

 The transport crunch

There is a big transport crunch coming in and around the CBD of Melbourne – the roads are full. Tomorrow there will be more people and more vehicles trying to join in. The population is growing. There has been a steep rise in the number of people working in the CBD. The port is going to get busier. Public transport is already full. The average speed of motor vehicles in the peak is going to drop from 20kph to 15kph.
Interesting times.

We know that bike riding for transport has boomed in recent years but how many people really are riding? We estimate how much of the transport task bicycle commuting could handle. We argue that this is a small investment with a big pay off. It will cost a lot and take a long time to make the transport system bigger so more people can travel by car and public transport. On the other hand, improving the bike network is relatively quick, easy and cheap.

Since this is a discussion about congestion, we have put aside the benefits of household savings in petrol costs, the reduction in carbon emissions and the improved health that comes from bike riding. These are all, of course, substantial benefits in their own rights.

To tackle congestion we need a better bike network. On these web pages, we describe this future network and look at how high-volume bike routes can be developed using tried and tested techniques.

This is not a radical or unusual proposal. We are asking the Premier and our community to take a lead from the Dutch and the Danes. These countries have invested in bike riding to the extent that today, one third of their transport trips are made by bike. It is no surprise that cities like London and Paris are taking a lead from them. It makes sense for us too.

Just because this is a good idea, doesn’t mean it will get the support of government. We are publishing this information because it won’t happen without your voice, your influence and your vote. We offer suggestions for how you can be part of turning these good ideas into something people can ride on.

Investment Scorecard

An ongoing list of new bike network projects that will help ease congestion.

30% of CBD commuters could arrive by bike

With a high quality network we can get 30% of trips to the CBD done by bike

A high volume bicycle network

The map lays out the plan for a high volume bike riding network centred on the CBD in Melbourne

Selecting and prioritising routes

There are a number of similarities and differences between the routes on the network we propose, and the routes in use today

Today's techniques

We know how to improve a bike route - we just have to do it consistently

Tomorrow's techniques

There are some effective techniques that we aren't using

Removing barriers

There are a number of other initiatives that will help increase the number of bicycle commuters to the CBD

The challenge

There are a number of threats to this vision

Call to action

Just because this is a good idea, doesn’t mean it will get the support of government

Follow the leaders

Others have gone down this path before us and had success