Inkerman Rd safe cycling proposal sparks tensions among neighbours

Plans for a massive bike highway in Caulfield North have sparked a bitter battle between cyclists and drivers as abuse flies from both sides. Now cycling supporters have been accused of going one step further.

Caulfield North residents are furious about Glen Eira’s plans for a safe cycling route on busy Inkerman St. Picture: Josie Hayden

Plans for a massive bike highway in Caulfield North have sparked a war between cyclists and campaigners, inciting abuse from both directions and even resulting in petition posters being slashed.

The proposed Inkerman Rd Safe Cycling Corridor, to run between Hotham St and Normanby Rd, would provide an east-west bike link from Dandenong to the CBD.

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Glen Eira Council will spend $300,000 to investigate the route but more than 1000 people have signed a petition blasting the plan due to concerns about cyclist and driver safety and loss of vital carparking, with Dandenong Rd suggested as an alternative option.

Save Inkerman lead campaigner Simone Zmoot said “aggressive” cyclists and powerful bicycle lobby groups had attacked concerned residents on Facebook.

And petition posters saying “Put Residents First” were vandalised and slashed last week.

A vandalised Save Inkerman campaign poster.

“It does seem to reflect some aggression and animosity, but if (the cyclists) want to persuade people to welcome new transport choices into their community, getting aggressive isn’t really a good way to do it,” Ms Zmoot said.

“There’s a real concern that the bicycle lobby doesn’t actually listen to people’s concerns and that is not helpful to work towards a solution to suit everyone.”

Ms Zmoot admitted some concerned Inkerman Rd residents had also become hostile towards others on Facebook, but remained adamant campaigners were not “anti-cycling”.

She said most people were just concerned the bike highway was not suited to the small residential street, prioritised residents outside the municipality, and could put both cyclists and drivers at risk.

“There are 200 potential places for cars to come out of driveways along this street so I just hope people will genuinely start listening to one another,” Ms Zmoot said.

“Most residents think a properly constructed bicycle highway along Dandenong Rd could be both safer and faster for commuter cyclists.”

But keen cyclist Herschel Landes‎ supports the bike highway, arguing the marked bike lanes on the street were too narrow and dangerous.

He condemned anyone who defaced property, but said the campaigners were just “crying poor” and the Put Residents First signs were offensive, discriminatory and implied some residents had more rights than others.

“Local cyclists who would like to... enjoy a safe bike route, or who don’t rely on street parking, or who reside nearby are all equal residents and are entitled to equal enjoyment and equal access of community space,” he said.

Glen Eira planning director Ron Torres said Dandenong Rd and 30 other streets had been ruled out in preliminary investigations.

But Cr Joel Silver has called for a report further investigating Dandenong Rd as an option, or a split of two one-way bike lanes on both Inkerman and Alma roads with no loss of parking.

Cr Silver said he was yet to make a decision, but “the resident concern was a big factor”.

The Bicycle Network has been contacted for comment.