Bayside locals will use the 2018 state election as a platform to push for a 24-hour truck ban along Beach Road and Beaconsfield Parade.
The area on Beaconsfield Parade and Beach Road between Bay Street and the Nepean Highway sees a lot of trucks, which rat-run through the streets to avoid nearby toll roads and traffic lights.
A truck curfew is currently in place between 8pm and 6am Monday to Saturday, as well as between 1pm Saturday and 6am Monday, however residents say a total ban is necessary.
Bayside Action Group member Stephen Hill told The Age trucks needed to be discouraged from using Beach Road and Beaconsfield Parade for anything but local deliveries.
“We get the particularly dirty and dangerous trucks,” he said.
Albert Park resident Aline Inci echoed Mr Hill’s fears saying the diesel fumes were a blight on the area.
“We’re breathing that all the time,” she said.
Mrs Inci said the trucks regularly breached the curfews in place and presented a danger to the 25,000 bike riders who use Beach Road every weekend.
Pressure from local councils and Bicycle Network has already seen the weekend truck ban extended as part of a trial.
From mid-November, the weekend curfew will begin at 8pm Friday to accommodate bike riders on Saturday mornings when they outnumber all other road users in the area.
If the permanent ban were to get up it would benefit bike riders who use Beach Road during the week, which is becoming increasingly popular, especially during summer months with longer daylight hours.
However, VicRoads acting regional director Dave Teague insisted no long-term changes were planned at this stage.
"We will carefully consider the results of the trial in mid 2018 before determining whether any permanent changes are necessary," he said.
The Bayside action group will kick off their campaign shortly with a letterbox drop to go out to thousands of households.
They have also flagged the possibility of running an election candidate focused solely on this issue.
