Traction gained on hoon cyclists

By Sean Car

Southbank’s perennial headache of getting speeding cyclists off Southbank Promenade may have finally turned a corner thanks to a new cycling plan currently in the works at the City of Melbourne.

The new strategy is being integrated as a part of the council’s design works to upgrade Southbank Promenade, which are expected to be completed mid-2019 and considered for funding as part of the 2019/20 council budget.

Stage one, which is independent from Crown Resort’s and Schiavello’s development plans surrounding Queensbridge Square, would see a 300-metre section between Princess Bridge and Evan Walker Bridge torn up in the second half of 2019.

As well as replacing the pavement, improved growing conditions for trees and installing better lighting, the scope of the works will also include creating a greater division of space between people riding bikes and pedestrians.

With 1.2km of new dedicated bicycle lanes to be completed late next year as part of the current Southbank Boulevard transformation, it’s understood that the temporary closure of the promenade is being timed to force speeding cyclists into the boulevard.

With Southbank Boulevard to provide a safer and faster route to cyclists, a council spokesperson told Southbank Local News that an awareness campaign would be launched prior to promenade construction works to educate cyclists on the changes.

The expectation is that by the time the promenade is re-opened, there will be a high level of awareness that Southbank Boulevard provides a better alternative.

“These investments into protected bicycle lanes in our city will boost cycling participation and are imperative as our city grows,” the council spokesperson said.

“Melbourne is a cycling city and our cycling infrastructure needs to be safe to support those who cycle in the city.”

The news has emerged following renewed talks between council’s engineering services and the Yarra River Business Association (YRBA), which has lobbied council for many years in an effort to prevent what it calls the “lycra brigade” from using the promenade.

Speaking at the YRBA’s business luncheon last month, Lord Mayor Sally Capp said that council had “a plan moving forward” to provide feasible alternatives for cyclists currently using the promenade.

“What does that mean? We’ll be able to take those hard-core cyclists and commuter cyclists off the promenade by giving them a legitimate alternative pathway in and around the city. I think that’s going to be fantastic for everyone,” Cr Capp said.

According to council data from 2017, more than 2000 cyclists travel in and out of the city using either side of the Yarra River trail or St Kilda Rd during peak hours every day, making Southbank the most densely populated for cyclists in the municipality.

As one of the most pedestrianized parts of the City of Melbourne, Southbank Promenade has been notorious for near misses and collisions over the years. Efforts to curb speeding cyclists by installing rumble strips, enforcing 10km/h speed limits and conducting awareness campaigns have had little to no effect.

YRBA executive officer Tim Bracher said he was pleased that council had finally recognised the “major amenity issue” on the promenade, after what he described as years of largely failed talks with previous council officers.

“Productive meetings with the City of Melbourne’s head of engineering services has seen a refreshing re-set of council’s attitude regarding the impact of the lycra-brigade on our precinct,” he said.” “Previous discussions had hit a brick wall. I.e. no recognition that there is even an issue.”

“The latest talks have elicited a council admission that there is a major amenity issue on the promenade, even though the official stats don’t rate it as a priority safety problem.”

“It seems that the many near-misses do not count. You need reports of collisions, injuries, hospitalisations and even deaths before it can be addressed as a safety issue.”

While council said it had no plans to implement permanent bans for people riding bikes along the promenade, it said it would consider temporary restrictions requiring people to dismount bikes for short distances during construction.

It’s understood that new street furniture, bollards and raised footpaths will also be used to deter cyclists from using the promenade in the future.

The new bike lanes along Southbank Boulevard will take cyclists off the promenade from Linlithgow Ave and up Southbank Boulevard. The City Road Master Plan will also see upgraded cycling routes installed along Kavanagh and Balston streets to connect up with City Rd West.