Cyclists cash incentives proposed to prevent Melbourne traffic nightmare

A radical bike plan with incentives for cyclists could help ease Melbourne’s traffic nightmare. Here’s how.

Cyclists could receive tax discounts or be paid to ride to work under one of a raft of proposals floated by Infrastructure Victoria to solve a looming traffic crisis.

The body on Wednesday released a new report showing car use was outpacing public transport usage, with more work needed to stop congestion soaring about pre coronavirus levels.

But one idea floated in the document has raised eyebrows by sounding out the potential to provide incentives for cyclists to use their bikes.

“In a Victorian context this could be a discount on the payroll tax (or direct payment) for those employers whose employees are paid an allowance to ride to work and have made arrangements with their employer to do so,” the report reads.

Cyclists could be paid to ride to work under the new plan. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

“It could also simply be a payment from the government provided directly to employees who commute by bicycle.

“Another option is to reimburse a proportion of equipment-related expenses used for commutes.

At a time when public transport crowding is also unsafe, such a payment would be even more justified, and may help people make the shift to active transport.”

The document also flags the economic burden of traffic on the economy and the cost of adding new public transport trips for governments, with a cycling discount potentially offset if these expenses did not have to be made.

MELBOURNE FACES TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE

The report release comes as Melbourne is on a cusp of a traffic nightmare, with new modelling from the state’s peak infrastructure body showing crush-hour speeds will slow to a crawl as Victorians continue to ditch public transport for their cars.

A new report by Infrastructure Victoria shows traffic has almost fully returned to pre-coronavirus levels and is on track to rise across inner Melbourne by up to 100,000 car trips per day.

The increase comes as public transport usage has been sluggish and over the next 12 months is expected to remain at just over half normal patronage.

Conservative modelling shows the two issues will put a massive strain on our roads that will slow down the morning rush around the heart of the city by 20 to 30 per cent, with average speeds of just 20km/h.

Infrastructure Victoria CEO Michel Masson said action was needed from governments and employers to stop this from happening and prevent habits from being locked in.

Traffic to Melbourne CBD is increasing as workers are allowed back to work after the COVID restrictions Picture: David Crosling

“Without intervention, we expect car use in inner Melbourne to increase by around 15% compared with pre-COVID levels – the equivalent of 100,000 additional car trips every day – while public transport use is unlikely to return to above around 60 per cent of previous passenger numbers,” he said.

“As we emerge from holidays and return to work and school, a range of measures are

needed to get commuters safely back on to public transport to get the city and the economy

moving again.

“For example, more flexible work practices, such as a mix of working from home and the

office and earlier or later start and finish times, can help shift demand across the transport

system, helping to support safer public transport travel.”

Infrastructure Victoria found that social distancing was possible on more than 90 per cent of morning train services, meaning commuters could remain safe even if 75 per cent of the CBD workforce returned to the office.

But they are tipping motorists will remain cautious and in their cars over the next 12 to 18 months unless more changes are made.

Vehicle trips below 5km and 20km were expected to surge across inner Melbourne.

Mr Masson said these trips could be slashed if cycling lanes were built and improved.

A commuter wears a mask while riding a tram on Swanston St. Picture: David Crosling

Researchers found encouraging 265,000 walking and cycling trips across the city would save inner Melbourne car drivers 18 minutes in traffic a week.

“There are proven examples from Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and the UK that show with

improved safety, many people would make the switch to active transport,” Mr Masson said.

“Increased investment in separated cycled lanes across Melbourne, which we are seeing already in parts of the inner city, would encourage more CBD workers to safely cycle to work.”

Mr Masson welcomed recent moves by the state government to introduce a 30 per cent discount on off-peak fares.

More work was needed to encourage employees to arrive earlier or later and to get commuters on underused public transport such as the city’s bus network.

“This is a great start,” Mr Masson said.

“We think the government could go a step further by introducing discounts for travel on buses to further shift demand across public transport modes and ensure ample room for physical distancing.”