Newsroom

Super Tuesday results: where Melburnians ride

Bike rider numbers continue to grow on Melbourne’s dedicated bike routes, show results from the 2019 Super Tuesday report.

Bicycle Network’s annual commuter bike rider count has found that bike rider numbers have increased by more than 30 per cent in recent years on routes including La Trobe Street, Capital City Trail and Main Yarra Trail.

The Capital City Trail at Footscray Road was Melbourne’s busiest location for bike riders in 2019, recording 1,889 bike riders, an increase of 30.3% since 2013.

La Trobe Street, the site of Melbourne’s first Copenhagen-style separated bike lanes, recorded 1563 riders at the intersection of Exhibition Street, an increase of 82.5 per cent since 2013.

St Kilda Road, typically Melbourne’s busiest bike route, saw a decrease in rider numbers from 2018 and minimal growth in the past five years. St Kilda Road is currently hampered by Metro Tunnel works and the long-promised protected bike lanes are still a long way from being a reality.

Bicycle Network CEO Craig Richards said the results show that when proper bike lanes and paths are built, people get riding.

“The number one reason people ride a bike is because it’s convenient. The number one reason why they don’t is cars. When protected places to ride are provided people get on their bike,” said Mr Richards.

The Super Tuesday commuter bike count data comes just after the University of Melbourne’s 2019 HILDA report showed that the average commute time has blown out by 11 per cent in the past 15 years.

“We can’t build our way out of congestion. We’re just wasting too much time stuck in traffic. Our population is going to keep increasing and the best way to make it easier for everyone to get around is to get more people on bikes,” added Mr Richards.

“More people on bikes means less cars overall, which will still help those who must drive.”

The City of Melbourne was one of 20 Victorian councils to participate in Super Tuesday. Bike riders were counted at 38 separate locations in the council area.

Read more about the Super Tuesday report in the Herald Sun.

Click here to download the full City of Melbourne Super Tuesday 2019 report.

For more information about Super Tuesday visit supertuesday.com.au.

The top 10 – Melbourne's busiest bike routes in 2019

  1. Capital City Trail at Footscray Rd
  2. Corner Flinders St and Swanston St
  3. Corner of St Kilda and Southbank Boulevard
  4. Corner of Exhibition St and La Trobe St
  5. Corner of La Trobe St and Swanston St
  6. Royal Pde (shared path)
  7. La Trobe St near Flagstaff Gardens
  8. Royal Pde towards Brunswick
  9. Grattan St near Royal Melbourne Hospital
  10. Sandridge Bridge and Southbank Promenade

Become our friend

Find out more about Bicycle Network and support us in making it easier for people to ride bikes.

Become our friend - Footer