Letters to the editor

Right idea, wrong place

I am the owner of a Southbank property, having immigrated from China more than five years ago. Recently I’ve noticed something happened in Southbank.

As you reported last month, the City of Melbourne cut off one car lane to build a bicycle lane on Princes Bridge. This caused large traffic congestion on the Princes Bridge.

However on Clarendon St, next to the Exhibition centre, between the building and the road, there is only two metres for cyclists and pedestrians. When we were in a traffic jam on Princes Bridge, only one bicycle passed by.

Roughly, more than 100 cars were congested in this area, giving way to the cyclists. When I stood at Clarendon St for 10 minutes, more than 10 bicycles passed through.

I thought this was a very silly council decision, just to make money and make the city’s traffic even worse.

I think instead of the Princes Bridge bicycle lane, we should build one on Clarendon St, from the Exhibition Centre to Normanby Rd, which is currently the narrowest area.

On the road there are three car lanes, one could be altered into a bicycle lane. There are always cars going full-speed along here and it causes a dangerous situation for the cyclists.

A lane here would reduce car speed and help keep the bicycles and pedestrians safe.

Song