CBD traders unhappy with Exhibition St bike lane fix

Inner-city traders say a new bike lane trial on Exhibition St is hurting trade and is the last thing they need in a pandemic.

Hilary Marshall (right) with daughter Kaitlyn and husband Brenton enjoying a ride on a protected bike lane. Picture: Josie Hayden

Councils are facing a backlash from struggling businesses who claim that giving more road space to bike lanes is hurting their trade.

Many CBD traders are fuming over new protected bike lanes in Exhibition St, which have reduced car traffic to one lane each way and removed parking spaces between Flinders and Bourke streets.

Collins St designer store owner Sener Besim complained he had not been consulted by Melbourne City Council.

“The talk seems to be let’s support the CBD, but we’re really disappointed we weren’t consulted,” he said.

“The bike lanes are empty, but this action has removed valuable short-term carparking and the ability for peple to pick up shopping.”

“A lot of people have just said, ‘it’s too hard to come and see you, really sorry.’”

A taxi blocks the former bike lane on Exhibition St.

Cycling enthusiast Hilary Marshall said that bike riding had to be encouraged and made safer to stop Melbourne becoming a clogged road city like Los Angeles.

“We’ve done a reasonable job of providing recreational paths, but in terms of road commuting I want to get to work as fast as I possibly can, that’s where the new bike paths are going to add value and a safety element,” she said.

Ms Marshall, a director of urban planning and engineering firm Ratio Consultants, said that a spike in electric bike sales during the pandemic was a welcome trend.

“A larger segment of the population can now commute more comfortably, people can ride in business clothes without getting hot and sweaty,” she said.

“We have a choice, we can either turn into an LA or we can be a 15 minute city like Paris - I know which one I’d prefer to be.”

A City of Melbourne spokeswoman said Exhibition Street was a key bike route going into the city from the northern and southeastern suburbs.

“Thirty-three cyclists have been involved in crashes on Exhibition Street in the past five years, so the new protected cycle lanes are an important safety measure and will free up space on public transport,” she said.

The spokeswoman said the council had been consulting with traders and residents over the bike lanes since early 2019 and extensive changes were made to aid traffic flow and keep parking in some areas.

The bike lanes are “temporary”, with the council to seek feedback before permanent works are done later in 2021.

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