By Timna Jacks
Pop-up bike lanes planned at the height of COVID-19 to accommodate a huge increase in cycling have been ripped up or stalled in Melbourne’s inner-north, due to internal council politics and construction delays.
The trend comes as the Andrews government has built less than one-tenth of the 100 kilometres of pop-up bicycle lanes it planned to have completed by June.
Darebin resident Ruth Jelley is advocating for a cycling lane on High Street, Thornbury.Credit: Chris Hopkins
Cyclists are calling for pop-up lanes to be rolled out more quickly, following a huge spike in cycling during the pandemic — up to a 300 per cent rise on pre-pandemic levels during lockdown.
Weekday volumes are now 73 per cent of pre-COVID levels despite many people working from home, and cycling is becoming increasingly popular on weekends, rising to more than 120 per cent of pre-pandemic levels on some routes.
Despite the increase in demand, cycling lanes that were supposed to be built in the City of Moreland last year have still not been constructed.
Last July, Moreland Council promised it would trial pop-up lanes on Dawson Street in Brunswick and Northumberland Road in Pascoe Vale.
But the lanes that were set to be built in 2020 have been delayed by contractors impacted by the COVID-19 construction restrictions and “unforeseen circumstances such as utility works”, a council spokeswoman said.
Moreland Bicycle Users Group president Faith Hunter said the large number of construction projects in Brunswick was slowing down the rollout of cycling lanes, but the lag was exasperating.
“There’s a level of frustration when you see how quickly the City of Melbourne can roll cycle lanes out,” Ms Hunter said.
Further north, the introduction of pop-up cycling lanes has had a bumpy start.
Darebin Council unanimously voted to discontinue a six-month trial cycling lane along a 600-metre stretch on South Crescent, Northcote, which removed 82 car parking spaces, following advice from council officers concerned about poor car flow.
And plans to investigate a bicycle lane on High Street in Thornbury and Northcote was voted down by Labor and independent councillors, some of whom cited the loss of parking and concerns about economic harm to traders.
Greens councillor Susanne Newton said she was concerned that councillors were making “populist decisions” that prioritised car parking, rather than voting for “changes that will benefit the community.”
“From a political level, Labor councillors are seeing it as a Greens thing they can take away,” she said.
Cyclist Ruth Jelley said traffic in Darebin was worsening and better cycling infrastructure would encourage more people to get out of their cars and ride instead.
She said she felt “invisible” on areas of High Street that lacked bicycle protection.
“I think we should have at least considered progressing this to a consultation phase,” she said.
When questioned about the decision to oppose the High Street cycle lane plans, Darebin mayor Lina Messina, who is an Independent who opposed the move, said the council was “committed to ensuring a safe environment for people to travel and will continue working with communities to find productive ways forward.”
In October, the Andrews government said it would build 100 kilometres of pop-up cycle lanes in six months, but has only built nine kilometres on Heidelberg Road between Fairfield and Collingwood.
It will soon start building 10 kilometres of smaller cycling links that will improve existing routes in Fairfield, Northcote, Clifton Hill and Fitzroy under the $16 million works.
The temporary pop-up bike lanes are being trialled for the next 12 to 18 months and will be modified in response to community feedback, a government spokeswoman said.
“We’ve taken a flexible approach to this, which allows us to address needs as they change or emerge, ensuring they’re fit for purpose.
“Our investment in pop-up bike lanes is helping make bike riding safer while striking a balance between the needs of all transport users, traders and people who live in the community.”
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