Newsroom

BikeSpot results: Melbourne riding routes rated

Melbourne bike riders have nominated the routes they feel least comfortable riding on, with the infamous Chapel Street topping the list.

Data has been released from the BikeSpot 2020 project which had people rate and review bike routes.

More than 30,000 submissions were made to BikeSpot, with the majority being roads and riding routes in Melbourne.

Chapel Street received the most negative reviews, with people rating it a poor place to ride because of its narrow width and dooring risk.

Other usual suspects included in the 10 worst rated riding routes were St Kilda Road, Sydney Road, Collins Street and the Haymarket Roundabout, again for having poor or narrow bike lanes and dooring risks.

Not every route highlighted as being uncomfortable to ride on has a bad history of crashes, however this does not mean improvements should not be made to them more inviting and bike friendly.

This is due to happen on St Kilda Road and Hopkins Street in Footscray which are in line for major upgrades.

And the feedback from riders who used BikeSpot is that when work is done to improve riding routes, it is appreciated.

The top rated riding route was the Footscray Road trail, despite it currently having some temporary treatments whilst an improved off-road path is built as part of the West Gate Tunnel project.

Wellington Street in Collingwood and William Street in the city—the locations of two of Melbourne's newest protected bike lanes—rounded out the three best rated riding routes.

The new Chandler Highway bridge, near the Yarra Boulevard and the Main Yarra Trail, was also given a big tick by BikeSpot contributors. Yarra Boulevard itself was the fourth best rated route, with its high number of road cyclists making people feel at home.

BikeSpot 2020 was launched in March this year and gathered data for two months. The project was run by CrowdSpot and the Amy Gillett Foundation.

See the bikespot 2020 map

 

10 worst rated riding routes
  1. Chapel Street
  2. St Kilda Road
  3. Hopkins Street
  4. Haymarket Roundabout
  5. Collins Sreet
  6. Sydney Road
  7. Southbank and Yarra Promenade
  8. St Kilda Junction
  9. Chapel St (north end)
  10. Johnston Street
10 best rated riding routes
  1. Footscray Road Trail
  2. Wellington Street
  3. William Street
  4. Yarra Boulevard
  5. Chandler Highway path
  6. Inner Circle Rail Trail
  7. Napier Street (Fitzroy)
  8. Canning Street
  9. St Kilda Road (near QV Gardens)
  10. Clarendon Street (East Melbourne)

Click here to see more about BikeSpot 2020

Click here to see an article in The Age about the BikeSpot 2020 results

Like our articles?

Become a Member and help fund our advocacy work.

Join Now