Motorcycle-only zones at Melbourne traffic lights rejected by report

Police have backed a trial for motorcycle zones — similar to those for bikes — at the front of lanes at signalled central Melbourne intersections. But not everyone is impressed, with cyclists saying “intimidating” motorbike riders already invaded their boxes.

An artist's impression of how a motorcycle zone might look at a Melbourne CBD intersection. Picture: ARRB/Google

EXCLUSIVE: A proposal for motorcycle zones at central Melbourne intersections has been rejected by a draft report, even though police backed a trial of the idea.

The analysis by Australian Road Research Board consultants found the zones, similar to those for cyclists at the front of traffic at signalled intersections, had “limited benefits”.

The zones or “storage boxes” had been suggested as a way of making motorcycle and scooter riders safer because they would remove them from lines of traffic where they are vulnerable to a rear-end crash.

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Aerial view of how a motorcycle box might look at the intersection of Latrobe and King streets, Melbourne. Image: ARRB/Google

The report also looked at filtering feeder zones between cars before intersections to complement existing laws. Traffic filtering — motorcycles and scooters riding between lines of slow or stationary traffic — was made legal in Victoria in November 2015.

“Motorcycle boxes are also not expected to address the key issues facing motorcyclists and, as such, their effectiveness as a road safety treatment is limited,’’ the report said.

“Over the 2012-13 to 2016-17 period only 7 per cent and 13 per cent of motorcycle fatal and serious injuries were ­associated with rear-end and ­lane-change crash types respectively and less than half of those lane-change crashes ­occurred at a signalised intersection where the boxes would be implemented.’’

A motorcycle box or zone in operation in Bandung, Indonesia.

The report ruled out two options for trials.

“Resources may be better allocated to treatments that provide proven safety outcomes.’’

But Victoria Police backed a trial of the zones.

No motorcycle or scooter groups were consulted but the Bicycle Network and Melbourne Bicycle Users’ Group were asked for feedback as was pedestrian advocates Victoria Walks.

The Bicycle Network said motorbikes already invaded cyclists’ boxes and their behaviour was “intimidating”.

Victoria Walks feared motorcycles would be too close to pedestrians, especially at busy intersections with large crowds of people.

The council’s own motorcycle committee, VicRoads and the RACV also had input into the findings.

A council spokeswoman said as part of the Motorcycle Plan 2015-18 the council and VicRoads commissioned the ARRB to investigate how motorcycle boxes could improve the safety of motorcyclists in the central city.

“The resulting ARRB report has been sent to all members of the Motorcycles in Melbourne Committee and will be discussed at the upcoming meeting in April.’’

In Queensland, motorcyclists are able to share the cyclists’ waiting zones at intersections.

The latest revelation comes as Melbourne City Council considers a possible ban on motorcycles parking on footpaths in the CBD.

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@IanRoyall