Four Photos
Is it getting easier to ride a bike in Australia?
Four Photos tracks the progress of important bike routes in our cities.
#FourPhotos
Victoria
MELBOURNE
Melbourne is known as one of Australia’s most bike friendly cities, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. Here are four streets that need to be improved for people who ride.
We have described why we have included each location and what can be done to improve it. We’ll go back every two years to check on the progress.
Photo 1: St Kilda Road
Why: A key feeder route from the south into the city, a high number of car doorings and a long talked about place to be made bike friendly.
What is needed: A separated bike lane that protects the significant number of northbound-travelling riders from car doorings and traffic exiting driveways.
What’s happened: There are small sections of St Kilda Road where a pop up lane has been installed, but overall not much has changed. For the umpteenth time we’ve been told designs are close to being finalised. It’s time to stop talking and start building.
Photo 2: La Trobe Street (Corner of King Street)
Why: La Trobe street has mid-block separated bike lanes that disappear approaching the intersection. This intersection is a key feeder from the western suburbs where bike rider numbers are increasing.
What is needed: La Trobe street has mid-block separated bike lanes that disappear approaching the intersection. This key feeder from the Western suburbs needs separated lanes up to the intersection and bike space through the intersection.
What’s happened: While the pop up program has lead to more protected lanes on La Trobe Street and better protection at some intersections, riders are in the same position as 18 months ago at this important intersection
Photo 3: Exhibition Street
Why: This key feeder street from the north has a morning bike lane that vehicles frequently enter and park in.
What is needed: A separated bike lane for the hundreds of commuters each morning heading into the city from Melbourne’s north instead of some part time paint.
What’s happened: Success! We have a protected bike lane which prevents drops off, early turns and other vehicle incursions.
Photo 4: Sydney Road
Why: Alberto Paulon was killed on this street and it needs to change from a movement corridor with parking priority to a livable place.
What: Separated bike lanes to prevent a repeat of the tragedy when Alberto Paulon was killed. They should be part of a project to convert Sydney Road from a movement corridor to a livable place.
What has happened: No change. Riders are still left with a skinny, unprotected painted line.
Four Photos
The cities
We've picked spots in Adelaide where the current bike infrastructure is not up to scratch, or bike lanes could be developed to connect missing links.
We've picked four spots in Perth that are popular and existing bike routes but aren't quite up to scratch. With a bit of extra love they can become gold-class riding routes.
Ballarat is a city experiencing significant population growth. It has a golden opportunity to become a livable city where people have more choices about how they move around.
More people want to ride in Bendigo, but the bike network needs to be improved with better connections and bike lanes. We've chosen four places and recommended improvements.
Darwin has some bike friendly laws, but there are some areas that desperately need upgrading to help more people get riding.
For years, Sydney had the reputation as the toughest city in Australia to ride a bike. But many hard won, giant strides have been made recently.
Hobart can become one of Australia's great bike cities, but there are some dead ends in the network and not one protected bike lane.
Launceston could be an easy town to ride around, but there are missing links and poor quality trails and not one protected on-road bike lane.
Brisbane is becoming a bike friendly city – in 2019 it has a successful share bike program, a mayor who wants to relax mandatory helmet laws and allows footpath riding. However, there are still many gains to be made, including improvements to four important bike routes.