The proposed Box Hill to Hawthorn trail will become a critical active transport link for Melbourne's east, and local advocates are pushing hard to bring it to life.
The 9km trail would connect Hawthorn and Box Hill and fill a gaping hole in the network of radial bike paths converging on the Melbourne CBD. It will provide an important east-west corridor for local riders who have few options to ride separated from traffic.
The route was deemed a Strategic Cycling Corridor in 2019 and the Victorian Department of Transport completed a feasibility study in 2021.
But progress has been slow and the project depends on critical funding.
Federal Member for Kooyong Monique Ryan told parliament earlier this year that the trail would bring benefits to her community, create active transport connections to more than 20 educational institutions and link to surrounding bike infrastructure such as the Yarra Trail and Anniversary Trail.
"We know that this is a project with a whole lot of merit," Ryan said.
Meanwhile, a petition pushing the state government to progress the project is gaining traction. You can read more and pledge your support here.