Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood reveals plan to fix bike lanes, advocate for 50c myki fares

Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood has promised to fix the Exhibition St bike lanes and call on the state government to slash myki fares to 50c on weekdays, if elected to the city’s top job.

Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood has pledged to change the “botched” Exhibition St bike lanes and call on the state government to slash myki fares to 50c on weekdays under a sweeping transport plan, if he is elected to the city’s top job.

The Saturday Herald Sun can reveal Mr Wood and his running mate Erin Deering’s long-awaited transport policy, which they say will deliver a “common sense and practical approach” to fixing the transport issues within the city.

“We need to deliver a transport system that recognises that the City of Melbourne is used every day by local residents and businesses but also many thousands of people from greater Melbourne and visitors from interstate and overseas,” Mr Wood said.

Mr Wood has a plan to fix the Exhibition St bike lanes. Picture: Alex Coppel

Under their plan, the rollout of all bike lanes would be overseen by an independent transport panel made up of business representatives, cyclists, disability advocates and transport experts.

Mr Wood said, if elected, he would look to return the southern end of Exhibition St – between Flinders and Bourke streets – to four lanes of vehicle traffic, while also restoring parking.

He said this would be possible by moving the bike lanes into the centre of the street, meaning they would run either side of the trees, which are dotted along the middle of Exhibition St.

The plan involves moving the bike lanes along the southern end of Exhibition St into the centre of the street.

Mr Wood said this plan would also involve installing three fully-protected intersections where Exhibition St crosses over with Flinders, Bourke and La Trobe streets, which would be based on the intersection installed on Albert St in East Melbourne.

It is understood that these intersections would help cyclists to navigate their way down Exhibition St, as the bike lanes shift into the centre of the thoroughfare.

“We know Exhibition St is a sore point,” Mr Wood said.

“If elected, Team Wood will ensure the southern end … which still has the old and unsafe temporary bike lane separators, is upgraded to always maintain two lanes of through traffic in each direction and not just outside peak hour.”

Ms Deering added: “The City of Melbourne botched the Exhibition St bike lanes and we need to take a common sense and practical approach to fixing this issue, so that more shoppers return to the city while prioritising safety for bike riders.”

Arron Wood and Erin Deering. Picture: Kit Edwards

However, Mr Wood’s team conceded that even this plan would need to be ticked off by the independent transport panel, which would receive public submissions and operate openly.

The pair said they would also call on the state government to follow Queensland’s lead and implement 50c public transport fares on weekdays to encourage workers and visitors to return to the city.

According to the proposal, commuters would have their daily adult fare cut from $10.60 to 50c if they travel into the City of Melbourne, however the government is unlikely to slash fares as it hurtles towards $187.8bn of debt by 2027-28.

Mr Wood and Ms Deering said they would also advocate for “critical congesting-busting projects”, such as the Melbourne Airport rail link, the Metro 2 tunnel and a fast rail to Geelong.

Wood will call on the state government to slash myki fares to 50c on weekdays. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Lord Mayor Nick Reece is yet to reveal his transport policy, with only days remaining until ballot packs are mailed to voters.

Last month, fellow candidate and Carlton legend Anthony Koutoufides said under his transport plan, “no more” protected bike lanes would be rolled out, which separate cyclists from motorists with a physical barrier.

He also pledged to remove the protected bike lanes along Exhibition St and roll out narrower, unprotected bike lanes in their place, similar to those along Bourke St.

“Different modes of transport are a must, but we need a much better balance to ensure our businesses can also survive and thrive,” Koutoufides said.

Greens candidate Roxane Ingleton said she backed Town Hall’s current bike lane plan.

“I want to see more separated, safe and connected-up bike lanes like (Exhibition St) built in the next term of council,” she said.

But in April, the council hit the brakes on its plan to roll out new protected bike lanes along Flinders St, Bourke St and Spring St, conceding that it had to focus on replacing the “deteriorating” cycling infrastructure it installed only three years ago.

The projects were paused and moved to “future years”.