UPDATE - 18 December:
After months of review, analysis and consultation, the Inkerman Street route through north Caulfield has been selected as the major East-West bike corridor to link the Djerring Trail to St Kilda Road.
In a comprehensive report—totalling more than 300 pages—City of Glen Eira officers opted for the Inkerman Street route over the alternatives of Dandenong Road and Alma Road.
The recommendation was confirmation at the council meeting on Tuesday 17 December.
The City will now proceed with the design—including determining the best cycling treatment option for the corridor—in conjunction with a community reference group.
Inkerman Street route wins recommendation
16 December 2019: Inkerman Street has been recommended as the major east-west bike corridor in north Caulfield to link the Djerring Trail to St Kilda Road, after months of review, analysis and consultation.
In a comprehensive report—totalling more than 300 pages—City of Glen Eira officers opted for the Inkerman Street route over the alternatives of Dandenong Road and Alma Road.
The recommendation goes to Glen Eira council for confirmation this Tuesday.
Once approved, the Inkerman connection will need considerable design development before trials or final delivery.
Inkerman has previously been selected by the council, and neighbour Port Phillip, as the best street for the vital east-west connection.
The decision was reviewed after a concerted campaign by community interest groups who claimed to be offended by loss of car parking in the street.
However, the weight of evidence has backed the original choice.
The officer report says that the route best meets the criteria for a safe cycling corridor, is feasible for construction and clearly provides the most attractive and safe environment for bike riders, particularly people who are new to riding.
"Importantly, this route allows Council to take the lead on the design and ultimately construction of a safe and attractive bicycle corridor," the report says.
"This route also aligns with the planned bicycle upgrades to Inkerman Street by Port Phillip City Council and to St Kilda Road by the State Government. This means that a fully constructed safe path from Caulfield to the CBD can be completed within the next five to six years.
“It is anticipated that there will be a loss of parking to create safe cycling infrastructure. However, through the design process officers will seek to increase on-street parking spaces where possible.
"Officers will fully explore all of these concerns with a Community Reference Group through the design process to seek to reduce the impact on neighbouring properties as much as possible. As per our previous commitment, no scenarios will be explored where parking on both sides of the road is removed.
"The other routes utilising Alma Road are not as direct or safe as Inkerman Road and require further discussions with Port Phillip City Council, who are not in favour of these routes.
"The State Government's transport body, the Department of Transport, has submitted that it does not support Dandenong Road as an option.”
The report states a preference for a bi-directional lane on one side of the street, not typically favoured in Melbourne.
However, by using the southern side of Inkerman Street, the route can take advantage of Caulfield Park, which offers 670 metres free of side streets and residential facing on street car parking. The southern side also less driveways, side streets and parking demands than the northern side.
See the media release from Glen Eira Mayor, Cr Margaret Esakoff here.
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