By Timna Jacks
Fresh designs of a long-awaited Sydney Road overhaul have been released by VicRoads, but permanent and protected cycling lanes are still not guaranteed.
Commuters and residents have been asked to have their say on five designs that have been released for a four-kilometre stretch of the narrow road from Brunswick to Coburg.
The RACV and Bicycle Network have wanted on-street parking on Sydney Road removed to create safe and permanent bike lanes, since cyclist Alberto Paulon was killed in 2015 when a motorist opened their car door and knocked him into the path of a truck.
But traders along the busy strip say more bike space can be created without losing parking spots.
One proposed design would elevate new tram stops and bicycle lanes between Brunswick Road and Bell Street, but on-street parking would still be available outside peak hour.
Another option would remove all parking along Sydney Road and create a fully protected cycling lane. Under this design, trams and cars would share a single lane each way. It would also include wider footpaths and allow for more trees.
A separate possible design would give trams a dedicated traffic lane during peak times. The second lane would be used by cars, while a smaller lane would be reserved for bicycles, but only during peak hour.
Option 1A
Option 1B
Option 2
Option 3
Option 4
Most of the options, which are broadly in line with Department of Transport designs revealed by The Age last year, would widen the footpath on Sydney Road.
Bicycle Network's chief executive Craig Richards said fully protected bike lanes were urgently needed.
"It’s alarming that Sydney Road remains one of the top five dooring hotspots for people who ride, yet little has changed since the tragic death of Alberto Paulon in 2015," he said.
A cyclist making their way along Sydney Road, one of the most dangerous routes in the city.Credit: Jason South
It is understood that Yarra Trams is also lobbying to remove parking to speed up Route 19 trams, which can travel as slow as 7km/h.
Nic Dow, secretary of community group Revitalise Sydney Road, said the removal of car parks to make way for protected cycling lanes was ideal, given the large number of cyclists using the road.
However, he was open to retaining much of the car parking outside of peak periods, if footpaths were extended and cyclists were given their own lane.
Mr Dow urged the government to drop designs that would see cars driving over a raised section of road outside new tram stops. The unpopular design has been used on Bridge Road in Richmond and caused so much confusion for motorists that car wheels have slipped off the elevated road.
Research commissioned by VicRoads has found that only 1.3 per cent of people using Sydney Road park on the street. Community group surveys have found considerable under-used parking on side streets or nearby car parks.
But Sydney Road Brunswick Association manager Claire Perry who represents more than 500 traders, said motorists couldn't easily access off-street parking due to poor signage and bans on right-hand turns.
She favoured a VicRoads design that raised cycling lanes at the tram stop which would include some physical barriers for riders.
"Everyone we speak to wants cycling lanes improved," she said, but noted that traders couldn't afford to lose on-street parking.
"Particularly in the bridal district, it's horrific to find a park in that area and in other parts of Sydney Road," she said.
Coburg Traders Association's spokesman Ray Jacobs said he did not want to see on-street parking lost, warning that it would put traders out of business.
Bryce Prosser, RACV's general manager of public policy, called for a separate cycling lane, wider footpaths and for parking to be relocated to off-street car parks and side streets.
RACV analysis shows that removing parking drastically improves traffic flow. Cars drive an average of 17km/h in the morning peak when clearways are in place, compared with 9km/h when they are removed and parking is allowed.
VicRoads' regional director Fatima Mohamed said: "We are investigating how we can improve Sydney Road for residents, traders and the thousands of motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and trams that travel along the busy corridor each day."
VicRoads has asked the public to vote on their preferred design by July 14.