Bicycle Network: Metro Routes

Laurens St route speeds city access

11 July 2011.  New bike lanes are coming to Laurens Street, North Melbourne, providing a quicker and more direct route into the north west corner of the city, and creating even more potential for the planned east-west bike route along La Trobe Street.

Laurens Street has always had great potential, linking the wide bike lanes of Arden Street to city-bound Adderly Street and in to La Trobe. Many riders already use this street to get through the North and West Melbourne are to connect Arden, Adderley and Queensberry Streets in the area.

It was welcome news when Bicycle Network Victoria was approached earlier this year by the traffic team at City of Melbourne to discuss a proposal to add bike lanes to Laurens Street.

We helped them build an internal business case for the bike lanes to be installed, not only for the benefit of riders but to also manage the exisitng poor behaviour of parked vehicles, particularly trucks, in the street.

The project will be delivered shortly.

This reperesents yet more forward thinking from a Council who understands that bike facilities can deliver a benefit not just for bikes but can help to tackle other issues also. You can see the initial plans here. (note some modifications were done subsequent to our feedback)