Melbourne City Council to cut down car parks for motorbikes

Parking in the CBD is about to become more scarce with the City of Melbourne set to replace dozens of car parks under a plan to divert motorcycles from parking in key congested footpath areas.

Dozens of car parks in Melbourne’s CBD will be replaced with motorbike spaces under a council plan to free up the city’s footpaths.

The City of Melbourne will debate the proposal on Tuesday, with 36 car parks to make room for 151 motorcycle bays.

Riders would then be banned from parking on footpaths along sections of Flinders, Bourke, Collins and William streets near the new spaces.

Parts of the city’s “little streets” such as Flinders Lane would also be signposted, with many of the new locations near popular spots for food delivery riders.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp supports the plan and it is likely to be passed by the council.

“In collecting experiences and data for our Transport Strategy 2030, residents, workers and visitors overwhelmingly told us they were feeling overcrowded in the city, so we’re doing something about it,” Ms Capp said.

A parked motorcycle in Melbourne’s CBD.

“This is one of the first steps we are taking to deliver our 10-year transport strategy, which will help accommodate an extra 500,000 people in the city each day by 2036.

“By introducing 151 new motorcycle bays we can divert motorcycles from parking in key congested footpath areas.”

There are about 1300 motorcycle and scooter riders in the CBD daily, with numbers also rising with the popularity of food delivery services.

A new transport strategy adopted by the council last year has set targets to slow down car speeds in the municipality, build more bike lanes and redesign streets to better favour pedestrians.

Transport portfolio chair Nicolas Frances-Gilley said Victoria was the only state where road rules allowed motorbikes on footpaths.

The City of Port Phillip has also banned motorcycles from parking on the footpath around Luna Park and the Vineyard at St Kilda. Picture: Chris Eastman

“While a motorbike or scooter might not be in the way when it first pulls up early in the morning, a row of motorbikes parked throughout the day can create a real hazard during the commuter and lunch rush when people are often forced onto the road to get past,” he said.

“Overcrowding creates a real challenge for people with reduced mobility and those using wheelchairs.”

Victoria’s two motorcycling groups said the changes were confusing and would discourage riders coming into the city.

Victorian Motorcycle Council spokesman John Eacott said riders supported any increase on street parking.

“But the VMC regrets the need to restrict pavement access which has long been an encouragement for riders to ride into Melbourne,’’ he said.

Motorcycles and scooters significantly reduces traffic congestion, he said, so any improvement to parking access will benefit all road users, not just riders.’’

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Motorcycle Riders’ Association spokesman Damien Codognotto said he feared the council eventually wanted to ban motorcycle parking from most of the CBD.

“We’re opposed to further reductions or restrictions on motorcycle and scooter footpath parking without real consultation.

“In spite of a serious lack of rider education on and enforcement of riding-on-footpath and pedestrian obstruction rules, the system has worked very well for 40 years,’’ he said.

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