Pascoe Vale bike trial: Moreland Council’s separated bike lanes

It’s supposed to fill the missing bicycle link in the northern suburbs. Instead, it’s pitting bike riders and motorists against each other.

The controversial trial bike lane on Northumberland Road, Pascoe Vale.

A petition has been created demanding that trial bike lanes in Pascoe Vale be removed — just days after they were installed — over fears they could cause a deadly car accident.

Pascoe Vale resident Vincent Veca who created the petition, accused the council of installing dangerous and inconvenient obstructions without first consulting the community.

“They‘ve actually made that road so dangerous, that people can have a head-on collision very easily” he said.

“To turn into Northumberland Rd, you‘ve actually got to drive on the opposite side of the road and avoid oncoming cars … narrowly missing them for a bike lane.”

Mr Veca insists that he is not opposed to bike lanes in general, but that the council failed to consult the community before installing the trial lanes.

“If the council consulted us before making a decision … we would have said; Take the nature strip, take the footpath and the convert it into a bike lane,” he said.

The controversial trial bike lane on Northumberland Rd, Pascoe Vale.

Many comments on Conversations Moreland, the council’s dedicated community feedback website, were similarly critical.

“I wonder if the people who designed this all, ever came out to Kent Rd to see what it is really like visually. I can’t stress enough to say that I’m very disappointed in the council in how the local residents were treated here. Didn’t receive any notice or emails at all.” An upset resident wrote.

The lanes are intended to fill missing links in the Coburg to Glenroy bicycle link and were constructed using materials that can be modified or removed depending on the outcomes of the trials. They are expected to remain in place for two years.

Much of the response has also been positive, with commenters noting that the separation from cars the lanes created made them feel safe while cycling.

“As someone who is increasingly using her bike for transport in and around Moreland Council, it makes me feel very secure and confident when I see new bike paths like this. It encourages me to cycle even more, and I welcome this development and others.” Rachel A wrote.

The controversial trial bike lane on Kent Road, Pascoe Vale.

Faith Hunter, convener of the Moreland Bicycle Action Group said: “Moreland BUG were very happy to see council trialling these separated bike lanes on Northumberland Rd and Kent Rd.”

“We’ve had a lot of feedback from residents who are very happy with the separated lanes, in particular families who feel safer travelling with children when they are separated from traffic. “The most consistent feedback we do get from residents in Glenroy and Pascoe Vale is that they want more opportunities to travel around safely by bicycle for some of their local trips. “

Moreland Mayor Annalivia Carli Hannan said: “To get these projects up and running quickly in response to the pandemic Council resolved in July 2020 to implement these projects as trials, and seek community feedback throughout the trial. The feedback we are receiving from the community now will inform Council’s decision on the future of these projects in 2022 and 2023.”