City of Melbourne bike lane expansion project under review

The battle over whether drivers or cyclists deserve more space on city roads has kicked up a gear, threatening to stall a key transport plan.

A row over bike lane expansion is looming at Town Hall. Picture: David Crosling

Melbourne City Council is set for a showdown over rapid bike lane expansion, with a councillor questioning the key transport policy.

Councillors have voted to launch an independent review of the city’s transport plan, but the bicycle lobby fears it could become a smokescreen to roll out fewer protected cycle lanes.

New lanes have been built in places like Exhibition Street, provoking a backlash from some motorists and traders over lost road and parking space.

A row over bike lane expansion is looming at Town Hall. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Councillor Roshena Campbell, elected on Lord Mayor Sally Capp’s ticket, said that the accelerated roll out of bike lanes during the pandemic may be inconsistent with what’s needed for the city’s recovery.

“Because the reality is that for … people who live say more than 25km away, maybe even more than 15km away, riding your bike is not how you get into the city,” she told a meeting on Tuesday night.

“And if you are priced out of driving in, or you are forced to take certain streets that are now less accessible and are reduced to one lane because of bike paths, that may be a deterrent for you.”

Councillor Roshena Campbell says driving in is key to the city’s recovery.

Greens councillor Rohan Leppert will resist pushback against bike lane expansion.

Ms Campbell said the council may need to make certain decisions to aid city recovery.

Greens councillor Rohan Leppert said Ms Campbell’s stance confirmed why so many cyclists had lobbied council not to wind back bike lane expansion.

“We need good quality data (from the review), not because it's a smokescreen to change the … transport strategy, certainly not on my watch,” he said.

“I, for one, am not going to revert back to a tired old argument from (3AW’s) Neil Mitchell or any other bloviater that only people who drive cars increase the economic value to the city.”

Mr Leppert said that compared with pre-pandemic data, a lot of vehicle movement in the city now was not destination, but through traffic.

“So let’s properly understand where these people are starting from and where these people are going to,” he said.

RACV mobility general manager Elizabeth Kim said there had been a shift towards active transport like cycling and walking over the past 18 months, which should be encouraged because it eased congestion.

“We currently have a unique opportunity to embed and enhance this travel behaviour for recreation, for leisure and for commuting before old habits return,” she said.

Ms Capp said the review should provide an objective analysis of transport options in the wake of pandemic effects.

“It is worthwhile for us to look at current and future trends, look at evidence and data, and consider the way forward,” she said.