Bicycle Network: Metro Routes

Baillieu's single point of failure

20 September 2012. For the thousands of riders commuting into the city from Melbourne's west there is only one option for crossing the Maribyrnong River—the ancient, narrow, decrepit and risky Shepherd Bridge—a structure that would have been replaced by a new bike crossing if not for the Baillieu Government's freeze on VicRoads bike program.

The Blue Ribbon campaign hit Shepherd Bridge this week to highlight the urgent need for action and for the Government to build a bridge to the people in the western suburbs.

Bicycle Network Victoria's RiderLog App illustrates the undeniable importance of the Shepherd Bridge to existing residents of Western and Inner Melbourne.

It clearly shows the degree to which riders are dependent on this horrible piece of infrastructure on Footscray Road.

But imagine how many more residents could be getting off the Westgate Bridge or relieving public transport if the Shepherd Bike Bridge were constructed.

The image below is data from just one day, illustrating bike trips over Shepherd Bridge.

This clearly shows how important this river crossing is. Currently only the brave and desperate rider is up for battling this crossing with freight trucks and sub-standard design.

The potential to get more people riding for a large span of the western suburbs is not to be underestimated.

We are calling on the Baillieu Government to get on with it and fund this project immediately. The residents of Western Melbourne do not care for a Zero Bike Budget.

You can let the Baillieu Government know you want the Shepherd Bridge project to proceed and to Bring the Bike Budget Back by clicking here

Figure 1: Usage of Shepherd Bridge by riders on a typical weekday (click image for RiderLog pdf). See more information on the RiderLog ‘select link analysis’ service.

(Not) building bridges – how the Baillieu Government's zero bike budget is letting the west down

12 July 2012. In its ability to move commuters between Melbourne’s western suburbs and inner Melbourne, a new bike bridge across the Maribyrnong River near Footscray Road would be the equivalent of adding another lane to the Westgate Bridge.

Concept plans for the Shepherd Bridge are complete, community benefit would be enormous and costs relatively minor - but the project has fallen victim to the Baillieu Government's zero bike budget.
In 2011 $347 million was spent on the Westgate Bridge strengthening and lane expansion project. When it was completed Roads Minister Terry Mulder said: “The bridge's capacity has increased by around 1000 additional vehicles during peak times”.
Already there are more than 600 riders crossing the woefully sub-standard Shepherd Bridge each weekday morning. Many others want to ride but do not want to be forced to travel within centimetres of heavy traffic that also uses the bridge.

Concept plans for the new Shepherd Bridge across the Maribrynong River along Buckley and Napier streets are already complete and Bicycle Network Victoria last week was shown a number of different designs, commissioned by VicRoads.
All options involve a separate structure downstream of the current bridge. Some options start east of the Sims Street slip lane and will carry riders over not only the river but offer a grade-separated crossing of Moreland Street and a separate ramp down to Whitehall St.
These designs have taken into account the possibility of the Truck Action Plan being revived in the future but could easily be built prior. VicRoads had originally proposed building the long overdue bridge in 2012/13 but this prospect collapsed when the Baillieu Government delivered a Zero Bike Budget for this financial year.
We believe this project would be a huge benefit to the western areas of metropolitan Melbourne. The campaign to have Shepherd Bridge built is part of Bicycle Network Victoria’s broader strategy to bring back the bike budget.

You can let the Baillieu Government know you want the Shepherd Bridge project to proceed and to Bring the Bike Budget Back by clicking here

Buckley Street Lanes arrive

15 June 2011. VicRoads has started to mark out bike lane along Buckley Street in Footscray between Arbran St and the West Footscray Railway Station—a major development for riders in the western suburbs.

This will provide riders in the west a viable route to link in with the recently completed path along the north side of the rail corridor ('1' on diagram below) out to Ashley Street. From a broader context this route has the potential to become the equivalent of the Gardiners Creek/Yarra Trail of the west.

The layout is generally good however there are a couple of intersections where VicRoads have left bikes stranded (refer 2, 4 and 5).
View the detailed plans here.

Whilst the 'teardrop site' redevelopment at the eastern end of Buckley St (number 5) included a bike lane on the inbound side it stops well short of the Hyde St intersection and is complemented by a substandard path along the south side (number 6) which VicRoads failed to meet their mainstreaming commitment despite Bicycle Victoria's pleas to look after riders.

A narrow, poorly aligned path with challenging sight lines shared with pedestrians is the result.

At the time the project team responsible for the tear drop site were asking the VicRoads region to provide the solution and the region were looking to the now seemingly shelved Truck Action Plan to help out also.

Riders can feel justifiably miffed as to why their needs have slipped through the cracks on this vital link which will govern the success or otherwise of all bike infrastructure investment anywhere west of this point. It is effectively the junction of all bike routes to the west and entering the Footscray Central Activity District. The funds committed to the Shepherds Bridge bike link (8) are yet to be spent, the Whitehall crossing (7) was held up while the Truck Action Plan and Whitehall St upgrade were resolved and the teardrop section (6) is yet to addressed.

Bicycle Network Victoria has also been in discussions with the Regional Rail Link (RRL)  team to ensure a positive outcome for bikes to retain a viable link (2) between these Buckley St lanes and the Cross St path(1), completing the shared path from Ashley St to the Sunshine Station precinct and a viable link across the Sunshine Station area and provide a facility along the RRL corridor to at least Ring Rd and preferably to the Deer Park Bypass ('Wellness') Trail.

Route needs investigation

08 July 2010 Bicycle Network Victoria has approached VicRoads and outlined that we believe this link is the number one priority in the VicRoads NorthWest region. With the potential to be the major link to the western suburbs and connecting to the soon to be completed path west of West Footscray station, the link into Docklands desperately needs to be made a reality.

We are looking to State Government to deliver this route. The Regional Rail Link is being asked to include the Ashley St to Sunshine section to the west.
The Truck Action Plan is being asked to incorporate a solution to the Shepherds Bridge/Maribyrnong River Crossing and westwards across Moreland St to Whitehall St.

This leaves the West Footscray to Shepherds bridge section.

Bikes to piggy-back on rail and truck links

18 November 2009. Three major projects in the inner west could deliver additional outcomes for bikes.

The challenges along this section of the Western Rail Path corridor are:

• North-South crossing of rail corridor at Western Oval
• Buckley and Napier Streets
• Maribyrnong River and Sims Street crossing

Additionally the Truck Action Plan is looking at more efficient freight movements along Footscray and Whitehall Roads. This may involve a major reworking of the Footscray Road and Moreland Street (Docklands Highway) intersection.

Retaining bikes in that traffic mix would hinder the desired outcome. Bicycle Network Victoria has made presentations to the project scoping group suggesting that a separated and potentially elevated structure could take bikes from the west side of Moreland Street, across the Maribyrnong River and also the Sim Street slip lane. This would be a major project and would provide a good result not only for bikes but also the freight industry.

The Regional Rail Link project is currently looking at the upgrade of the rail line. You can read more on that here.

The Linking Melbourne Authority (MLA) have started looking at a freight solution between the Deer Park Bypass and the Docks area east of the Maribyrnong River. Bicycle Network Victoria believes that the Government should include bikes in the solution as part of their 'mainstreaming' of bikes as part of all major road and rail projects commitment.

These projects should deliver a sound outcome for bikes along the Western Rail Corridor, particularly west of the Ring Road through to Footscray Road.

Maribyrnong City Council will soon start construction of a path along Cross Street on the northern side of the rail corridor. This could link up to a separated route along Buckley and Napier Streets, via the West Footscray Rail overpass, to the Footscray Road path, incorporating the elevated structure across the Maribyrnong River mentioned above.

We have had initial discussions with the MLA and will soon submit a more detailed scope in regard to the Regional Rail Link and 'WestLink' (truck tunnel) projects.

The Truck Action Plan group have already approached Bicycle Network Victoria to seek our input on bike route opportunities in relation to the Federation Trail 'missing link' between Millers Road and Hyde Street. 

Victorian transport Plan opportunity

1 September 2009 The Victorian Transport Plan released in December 2008 announced a number of big ticket projects. The so called 'WestLink' project is a freight initiative linking the Geelong Rd and the Docks area. The Melbourne Linking Authority (previously known as SEITA) have been appointed to oversee the investigation of this project.

This part of inner Melbourne is also a strong focus for the State's Cycling Strategy and it appears the corridor of intent of the 'WestLink' project may be common to the Western Rail Path corridor as identified in the Cycling Strategy. This presents a great opportunity for the government to deliver on their 'mainstreaming' commitment to incorporate bike infrastructure as part of major road and rail projects 'as a matter of course'.