Chapel St parking could be removed following death of Dutch cyclist Gitta Scheenhouwer

THE death of Dutch cyclist Gitta Scheenhouwer on Chapel St has prompted calls for a major overhaul of parking and bike access along the iconic shopping strip. The mayor outlined his plans at a memorial ride this morning.

PARKING spots along Chapel St could be removed to make way for a separated bike lane and wider footpaths after the death of Dutch cyclist Gitta Scheenhouwer.

The plan to transform the South Yarra shopping and entertainment strip was announced at a memorial ride this morning for 27-year-old Gitta who was killed in a hit-run on Chapel St on August 12.

Stonnington mayor Steve Stefanopoulos said replacing parking on Chapel St with a dedicated cycleway was a “no-brainer”.

MELBOURNE ‘FELT LIKE HOME’ FOR DUTCH HIT-RUN CYCLIST

ACCUSED CHAPEL ST HIT-RUN DRIVER NAMED

FAMILY OF HIT-RUN VICTIM’S EMOTIONAL CHAPEL ST VISIT

Dozens of cyclists took part in a memorial ride honouring Gitta Scheenhouwer (pictured) who was killed while riding her bike on Chapel St this month.

The proposal was his personal preference and he would lobby fellow councillors and council staff to back the idea, he said.

“Everyone will benefit,” Cr Stefanopoulos said.

“It’s going to be better for traders, safer for cyclists. The number of (cyclist) injuries and car doorings on Chapel St is just unacceptable.”

The councillor’s suggestion was met with applause from a group of about 70 cyclists who met in chilly conditions at 6.30am for the tribute ride honouring Ms Scheenhouwer.

Among those present for the ride were two of the Dutch woman’s friends and her family sent a message of thanks from the Netherlands.

Ms Scheenhouwer’s boyfriend Thomas said in a statement, read by Australian Cycle Alliance president Edward Hore:

“We as a family want to thank you for organising this ride. It is very special and means a lot to us that people on the other side of the world care.”

Stonnington mayor Steve Stefanopoulos wants to see parking along Chapel St banned and cycleways installed instead. Picture: AAP

Mr Hore said it was the fifth memorial ride he had organised in response to cyclist deaths.

“We’d obviously prefer not to run them at all,” he said.

The plan to bring in a cycleway on Chapel St was backed by Bicycle Network chief executive Craig Richards.

“Not enough has been done to make sure we’re well looked after on the roads. We need better protected places to ride and Chapel St is one of those key places where we really need to see a change,” he said.

“Instead of having bike riders protecting parked cars we need the opposite, riders on the inside of the parked car.”

Cyclists and pedestrians should be the priority on the busy fashion and entertainment strip rather than motorists, the mayor said today.

All parking spaces would be scrapped along the length of Chapel St, running from Dandenong Rd to Alexandra Ave, he said.

“This luxury that we have that you can park on our high streets in the inner city of Melbourne is a bygone era,” he said.

Members of Melbourne's Bicycle Network ride past a memorial for Dutch cyclist Gitta Scheenhouwer in South Yarra in Melbourne this morning Picture: AAP.

He said he expected some backlash from traders and shoppers, but said “there are too many competing interests, something needs to give”.

If the proposal was approved, it would be a multimillion-dollar redevelopment that could be completed within two years, he said.

Cyclist Boyd Fraser, who took part in the memorial ride, said the idea was just one piece of the puzzle, but would “transform Chapel St”.

OTHER NEWS:

$50BN UNDERGROUND TRAIN PLEDGE FOR MELBOURNE SUBURBS, AIRPORT

HOW MELBOURNE GREW TO FIVE MILLION PEOPLE

“Predominantly the reason that people don’t ride along there is fear,” he said.

“This would create a sense of security.”

The memorial ride included a Victoria Police escort and finished with cyclists stopping to pay their respects at the corner of Chapel St and Grosvenor St, where Gitta was hit.

Accused driver Michael Panayides, 26, has been charged with culpable driving causing death, failure to render assistance and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

He is due to face court on December 4.