Consortium pushes Melbourne plan for elevated cycle ‘freeway’ to keep bikes and cars separate

CYCLISTS would ride high above the ground through the CBD on a bike “freeway” under an ambitious plan to improve safety and provide a crucial transport link.

CYCLISTS would ride high above the ground through the CBD on a bike “freeway” under an ambitious plan to improve safety and provide a crucial transport link.

The 1.7km Melbourne Veloway would hover 10m above six busy intersections from Princes Bridge to Southern Cross Station, separating cyclists from vehicle traffic and pedestrians walking along the Yarra River.

Costing up to $25 million, it would be made of lightweight but high-strength materials, with the bike way “clipped” on to the existing rail viaduct on Flinders St for most of the route.

Similar elevated bike ways exist or are being considered in cities such as London, Copenhagen and Auckland.

Behind the bold idea is a high-powered consortium including Federation Square co-designer Donald Bates and Pacific Strategies director Mike Potter.

Mr Potter said the veloway would connect bike trails and be an important cross-town link.

“It will enable cyclists to ride from Richmond in the east, along the Yarra, past Birrarrung Marr, under the Princes Bridge and then up and over the veloway to the busy Docklands precinct and Southern Cross Station in the west,” he said.

“The current thinking which seems to begin and end with bike lanes and painting lines on roads is demonstrably not good enough. As a congested city we have to make life easier for motorists, taxis, delivery drivers and cyclists.”

Committee for Melbourne CEO Kate Roffey welcomed the proposal because “cars, bikes and pedestrians just don’t mix well”.

“This would solve the problem of separating cars and cyclist moving east-west across the city, and pedestrians can go under or over roads,” she said.

“This would help from both an efficiency and safety perspective.”

Solar panels would power the veloway, providing enough energy to meet all lighting and emergency needs.

The consortium is seeking $480,000 from the Melbourne City Council and the State Government for a full feasibility study.

This would look at determining the business case and any benefits flowing to taxpayers.

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