Melbourne City Council’s bike lane and footpath bill revealed

Melbourne City Council will spend twice as much on bike lanes and footpaths than on roads over the next year, at an eye-watering cost to ratepayers.

Empty bike lane in Swanston Street. Picture: David Crosling

Melbourne City Council will spend double the money on new bike lanes and upgrading footpaths than it will on roads over the next year.

The council has faced a backlash from some traders and motorists for new pop up bike lanes through the CBD that have reduced car space.

However, it’s understood that changes are on the way as the council analyses vehicle movements to ensure smoother traffic flows.

Council’s new draft budget has allocated $12.9 million for footpaths and cycleways, but only $6.5 million for roads in 2022-23.

And just $4 million of the road funding is actually for road renewal, with the rest going on improvements to pedestrian safety.

Town Hall will spend $1.18 million more on footpath renewal than road renewal, and $3.2 million on Exhibition St theatre precinct streetscape works that will include widening footpaths.

$4 million in ratepayer money will be spent on new bike lanes. Picture: David Crosling

Ratepayers will fork out $4 million for new bike lanes and other cycling infrastructure over the next year.

Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang said that the City of Melbourne should be spending much more on roads than on cycle infrastructure given more cars were used to get to the city than bikes.

Mr Lang said that Exhibition St, which has a controversial pop up bike lane, was not a good example of the council’s “prowess” in bike lane, footpath and streetscape planning.

“Those theatres attract a number of people who come to Melbourne from interstate for a weekend to see a show and go shopping,” he said.

“Is it any wonder that there is so much chatter and anger amongst the shop owners and regular visitors and workers in the City of Melbourne given the impact of the council’s changes to Exhibition St.”

Melbourne bike lane on Exhibition St in the CBD. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Lang said the best solution would be “to rip up the bike lanes in Exhibition St”.

The City of Melbourne has argued that access to the city must be made safe for all modes of transport, including for cyclists and pedestrians as their numbers grew.

It’s understood the council will spend much less on bike lanes than Sydney will this year, and funding will decrease in coming years.

The Exhibition St streetscape works, which are similar to improvements made outside the Princess Theatre in Spring St, were identified in a council report as needed to improve pedestrian connectivity and greening of the city.

Victoria Walks executive officer Ben Rossiter welcomed the council’s investment in footpaths.

“As people are coming back to the city our footpaths are getting very busy, very quickly,” he said.

“It’s critical to the long-term liveability and economic strength of the city that footpaths are made wider so it’s easier to get around on foot.”