Concerns rise over pedestrian safety on Murray Rd in Coburg North

There are fears it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed walking or cycling next to a northern suburb road locals claim has become a “racetrack”.

Merri-bek residents want to make Murray Rd safer for locals.

Schoolchildren and dog walkers are “terrified” to cycle and walk next to a major northern suburbs road with fears it’s only a matter of time before a speeding motorist kills someone.

Residents who live along Murray Rd in Coburg North say the footpath its too close to the four-lane road, making it “extremely hostile”, with the many crashes and near-misses.

Merri Merri-bek councillor Sue Bolton said residents and students from schools who use the footpath felt “it was like being on a freeway”.

“There is no separation really between the cars going at 60km/h or more and the footpath; you’re just centimetres away from cars going super fast,’’ she said.

“There’s no space on the footpath really for a cyclist and a pedestrian to pass each other even though it’s meant to be a shared path.”

A family walks next to Murray Rd showing how close traffic gets to the footpath.

Coburg High School’s past school council president and chairperson of the community advocacy group to make Murray Rd safe, Cate Hall, said the “crazily narrow” footpath needed a separate bike path to cater to the growing community needs.

“Many in our community ride a bike to commute and we need a separate bike path. Coburg high school has opened since the new lanes were added, which has around 1250 students and I am really proud to say we have a 77 per cent sustainable transport rate meaning a lot of students use the roads all around Coburg,” she said.

Murray Rd went from two lanes to four lanes in 2011 after the Department of Transport noticed safety concerns with the original line marking as motorists attempted dangerous overtaking manoeuvres.

But in that time, the demographic of the area has changed with more housing developments, and the addition of a child care, childhood centre and high school.

Merri Merri-bek residents want to make Murray Rd safer for locals. Picture: Himangi Singh

“A lot of young families have also moved in and many people walk with prams, on bikes with kids on the back particularly by Coburg Lake,’’ she said.

“There‘s no space between cars and peds and there’s a fear of the fast traffic including a lot of trucks right up against you.”

Coburg High School captain and Year 12 student Josh Riordan said school students were too scared to ride along the Murray Rd to get to school because of the fear of being hit by cars.

“It’s really dangerous because it’s two lanes each way now it’s quite hazardous for cyclists,” he said.

“It would be great to see the two lanes actually be brought back to one lane on each side with bike infrastructure, so that people can use this safely.”

A horrific smash on the footpath next to Murray Rd.

Preston High School Year 11 student Tom Taylor said it was ridiculous children were being prevented from using their bikes to get to and from school because of safety fears.

“If parents are too scared to let their kids get on their bike and ride to school, those kids are never going to grow up understanding what it‘s like to be a cyclist,’’ he said.

“We are never going to have a future generation who are inspired to make changes who push and advocate for cyclists and pedestrians.

“We want that generational change occurring from a young age. But if kids are being forced to ride in these conditions that‘s just never going to happen and it’s just unfair for those young people.”

There have been eight collisions recorded in Murray Rd so far in 2023

Coburg mum Antonia Sellbach said she didn't let her six-year-old daughter play in the front yard because it was not safe.

“We've got neighbours that have lost their letterboxes, lost their fences. We’ve had cars mount the kerb, we’ve had a series of accidents and that’s why most of the parents wouldn't let their kids play in the front yard,” she said.

A car that lost control on Murray Rd.

A Department of Transport spokesman said a review was underway to determine how the existing lane configuration could be changed to accommodate pedestrian and cyclist needs on Murray Rd.

“We continuously review the entire road network, including Murray Rd, and we will always work with the community to improve safety where we can for all road users.”

Cr Bolton said the majority of the road was the responsibility of the Department of Transport but footpaths was the council’s responsibility.

“Council has a responsibility to advocate on behalf of the community for solutions that can help Murray Rd and that‘s where I feel the council advocacy hasn’t been strong around this road and in recent times or even further ago times,” she said.