Marathon council meeting ends with decision to halt rollout of new bike lanes in the Hoddle Grid

A City of Melbourne plan to rollout protected bike lanes across the CBD has been halted in its tracks. What does it mean for the controversial project?

The rollout of more protected bike lanes in the city has been pause for one year. Picture: Alex Coppel.

City of Melbourne councillors on Tuesday night backed a one-year halt in the rollout of further bike lanes in the Hoddle Grid after a marathon meeting.

Up to 49 people had asked to speak at Town Hall or on Zoom, while the council received more than 1100 written submissions on the issue.

Council management’s recommendation to pause the further rollout of protected bike lanes was made in the wake of a significant backlash from some city traders, residents and motorists.

Exhibition St is a key focus of anger, with vehicles restricted to one lane each way and parking spaces reduced due to the installation of pop-up bike lanes during pandemic shutdowns.

One of the bike lanes in Exhibition St that has drawn concern. Picture: David Crosling

Councillor Roshena Campbell, who heads the CBD activation program, did not back the motion due to concerns about anti-car measures in council’s transport policy.

“Because while it grants a one-year pause on the rollout of bike lanes in the Hoddle Grid, it does nothing to fix the issues that exist,” she said.

“And that is only going to breed more anger in our community, and make this a political and divisive issue for event longer.”

“We don’t govern just for the people who (catch public transport) and live close enough to get on a bike, we are a capital city council.”

In what appeared to be an organised campaign, all of the speakers spoke in favour of more bike lanes, making similar points about safety and the health benefits of cycling.

Several made emotional pleas in favour of protected bike lanes, citing personal experiences.

Craig Richards, chief executive of peak bike lobby Bicycle Network, said a record number of bike riders had attended the meeting.

“We come together and we stand up when we need to,” he told the meeting.

Mr Richards urged councillors not to “capitulate, stay the course, do what’s right, not what’s easy”.

Greens councillor Rohan Leppert, who originally called for the Exhibition St protected bike lane program, said “we know it’s the right policy”.

Councillor Philip Le Liu said a pause was a good thing as the council had to consider many issues, and not just make decisions for one group.