St Kilda motorcycle footpath parking ban put in place by Port Phillip Council

PORT Phillip Council has put a permanent ban on motorcyclists parking on footpaths in a busy St Kilda strip.

The City of Port Phillip has banned motorcycles from parking on the footpath on a popular St Kilda strip. Picture: Chris Eastman

PORT Phillip Council has put a permanent ban on motorcyclists parking on footpaths in a busy St Kilda strip.

The controversial decision to block motorbikes being parked on sidewalks outside the Vineyard on Acland St and near O’Donnell Gardens and the entrance to Luna Park follows a 12-month trial of the bans starting in February last year.

But Victorian Motorcycle Council vice-chair John Eacott said the bans, put in place to improve safety at one of St Kilda’s busiest pedestrian thoroughfares, were a “sledgehammer to crack a nut” approach.

“These idiots (motorcyclists) who create a disturbance are just that but on all motorcycles is going to achieve nothing,” he said.

“There are 400,000 motorcycle license holders in Victoria and (in 2015) they contributed $3.6 billion to the Victorian economy.

“You’re driving them away.”

Mr Eacott urged the council to defer making decision on making the bans permanent until a “better review” could be done.

Under state laws, a motorcyclist is allowed to park on the footpath unless there is a sign specifically stating otherwise.

And they must not block the path of pedestrians, delivery vehicles, public transport users or parked cars.

Cr Andrew Bond said the ban targeted “only a very small area in the Acland St precinct”, with “ample area” for motorcyclists to park in the revamped strip.

Cr David Brand said the bans were a “fair enough thing to do” to protect the safety of pedestrians in the bustling tourist spot.

Councillors unanimously voted to push ahead with the bans but will also look to create more designated motorcycle parking bays in the area