Plan to give cyclists and pedestrians their own foreshore path in Brighton
Pedestrians and bike riders will be separated when a notorious stretch of Port Phillip Bay’s popular Bay Trail is duplicated to make it safer.
Inner South
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Pedestrians and cyclists will be separated when a notorious hazard on Bayside’s Bay Trail is upgraded to a dual carriageway next year.
Bayside Council has agreed to duplicate the busy section of shared path between Sandown St and the Royal Brighton Yacht Club in Brighton, to minimise accidents between riders and walkers.
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A new 2.5m wide bike line will be built alongside the present 2.5m wide shared path, which will become a pedestrian-only zone.
It is used by 290,000 cyclists a year and an average of 7700 cyclists a week during summer.
Bayside Mayor Michael Heffernan said the design was just too narrow to carry that many.
“Separating cyclists and pedestrians will make a much safer experience for those using the Bay Trail and enable them to enjoy our magnificent foreshore,” he said.
Community feedback to the council showed 89 per cent of respondents were in favour of the proposed design concept, with tenders now being sought and construction earmarked for 2020.
Construction of a separated pedestrian and bike path through the Middle Brighton Baths precinct will also kick off in April/May.
Bicycle Network spokeswoman Anthea Hargreaves said the Bay Trail duplication would be a win for everyone.
“The duplication will make it easier for everyone to use the Bay Trail and reduce conflict points where people need to make way for each other,” she said.
“When both projects are completed bike riders and pedestrians will have separate paths from Elwood to Middle Brighton Baths.”
It follows works to provide a separated bike path on the Bay Trail between Bay St and Sandown St, completed in October 2017.
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