Bike paths in Melbourne

Last updated

The innermost part of the Melbourne bike network. Melbourne bike paths 1 Stevage.png
The innermost part of the Melbourne bike network.

Bike paths around Melbourne have been developed over many decades. Many off-road trails follow current or former watercourses (such as the Darebin Creek Trail and the Koonung Creek Trail) and traverse long distances, so that responsibility for planning and maintenance is split between various State Government authorities and local councils. [1] With the increased recognition from all levels of government of the benefits of cycling, Melbourne today has a network of shared bicycle trails which have developed over time along its river and creek systems and alongside freeways and railways. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

The total length of the trails in Melbourne in 2014 was around 1,900 km. One can cycle from Werribee in the west to Research in the east (about 62 km) or from Craigieburn in the north to Seaford in the south (about 78 km), and only have to use the occasional stretch of road. Melbourne's bike paths are often accessed from its train system. Ongoing community campaigns, such as those of Bicycle Network, [5] have resulted in some expansion and improvement of the network.

Usage

In 2006, VicRoads installed bicycle counters on the trails at 17 locations throughout inner Melbourne. [6] These counters provide data on the usage of Melbourne's trails. For example, the Anniversary Outer Circle Trail at Cotham Rd, Kew, has about 20 cyclists per hour throughout the day, whereas the Yarra River Trail, on the north side of Morell Bridge, has a distinct peak hour rate of about 250/hr but only 50/hr in non-peak periods. [7] [8] This supports the observation that the former is used mainly for recreation and the latter for recreation and commuting.

Bike paths along freeways

A number of freeways have been constructed with separate bicycle paths built alongside, including Eastlink, the Deer Park Bypass, and the Metropolitan Ring Road. However, the CityLink tollway system has no provision for cyclists along several sections, including the Bolte Bridge. Cyclists are also excluded from riding the West Gate Freeway over the West Gate Bridge, although exceptions are made for some special bicycle events like Around the Bay in a Day organised by Bicycle Network.

Future expansion

In December 2008, the Victorian State Government released their Victorian Transport Plan which budgeted $100 million for cycling over 12 years. In 2009, the Victorian Cycling Strategy was also released, however, the Victorian Auditor-General reviewed this Strategy in 2012 and found there had been almost no progress on the items in the plan, which included more cycle lanes and junction treatments, and that it had been sidelined by the new Liberal government. [9] In 2012 there was opposition from cyclists following the cancellation of most cycling projects from the State budget, with protests organised by Bicycle Network Victoria. [10]

The Parks Victoria recommends expanding the trails [11]

Development of the network is slowed by the number of agencies that may be involved when a new path is proposed. Such agencies could include VicRoads, VicTrack, Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water and the local Councils. The network is fragmented along Council boundaries. Some examples are:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moonee Ponds Creek Trail</span>

The Moonee Ponds Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the Moonee Ponds Creek through the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicycle Network</span>

Bicycle Network is an Australian charity, one of the largest cycling membership organisations in the world, whose mission is to have More People Cycling More Often. Before 2011 it was known as Bicycle Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cycling in Melbourne</span>

Cycling in Melbourne is an important mode of transport, fitness, sport and recreation in many parts of the city. After a period of significant decline through the mid to late 20th century, additional infrastructure investment, changing transport preferences and increasing congestion has resulted in a resurgence in the popularity of cycling for transport. This is assisted by Melbourne's natural characteristics of relatively flat topography and generally mild climate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merri Creek Trail</span>

The Merri Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians that follows the Merri Creek through the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gardiners Creek Trail</span>

The Gardiners Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows Gardiners Creek through the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dandenong Creek Trail</span> Suburban trail in Melbourne, Australia

The Dandenong Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows Dandenong Creek through the outer eastern and south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federation Trail</span>

The Federation Trail is a 23-kilometre-long (14 mi) shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which mainly follows the heritage-listed Main Outfall Sewer through the western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. There are three bridges spanning across major arterial roads, as well as button-activated traffic light crossings at most other major road-trail intersections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandler Highway</span>

The Chandler Highway is a short road in the inner eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It runs from Heidelberg Road in Alphington, crosses the Yarra River, then continues across the Eastern Freeway, then terminates at an intersection with Princess Street and Earl Street. Its total length is less than 2 kilometres, leading to the claim that it is "the shortest highway in the world". It was named after a prominent local businessman and politician A. E. Chandler, who was instrumental in pushing through the development of the Outer Circle railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outer Circle Trail</span>

The Outer Circle Trail, also known as the Anniversary Trail, is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which partly follows the Alamein Line through the inner eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scotchmans Creek Trail</span>

The Scotchmans Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows Scotchmans Creek through the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darebin Creek Trail</span>

The Darebin Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians which follows Darebin Creek in the inner and outer northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craigieburn Bypass Trail</span>

The Craigieburn Bypass Trail, is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians in the outer northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. In 2008 it was given the local name of the Galada Tamboore Pathway - Wurundjeri for "creek waterhole" or "stream waterhole" - as it goes past the Craigieburn, Cooper street and Galada Tamboore grasslands which are all nationally significant for their plains grassland and riparian habitat for endangered and vulnerable native fauna and flora, including the critically endangered Golden Sun Moth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koonung Creek Trail</span>

The Koonung Creek Trail, also known as the Koonung Trail, is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows Koonung Creek in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The trail also follows the course of the Eastern Freeway as it too, follows the course of the Koonung Creek, and has good connections to on-road paths.

The Maroondah Aqueduct Trail is a shared use path which follows the disused Maroondah Aqueduct through the outer eastern suburbs of Eltham and Research in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mullum Mullum Creek Trail</span>

The Mullum Mullum Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows Mullum Mullum Creek in the outer eastern suburbs in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Pipe Trail</span>

The Northern Pipe Trail, is a shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians that follows Cheddar and St Georges Roads in the northern suburbs of Reservoir, Preston and Thornbury in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M80 Trail</span>

The M80 Trail is a shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians that bridges the northern suburbs and follows the Western Ring Road/Metropolitan Ring Road (M80) freeway in Melbourne, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syndal Heatherdale Pipe Reserve Trail</span>

The Syndal Heatherdale Pipe Reserve Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the Syndal to Heatherdale pipe reserve in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waverley Rail Trail</span>

The Waverley Rail Trail is a combination of shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians and on-road bicycle route, which follows the Glen Waverley railway line from Holmesglen railway station to Glen Waverley railway station in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main Yarra Trail</span>

The Main Yarra Trail, also known as the Yarra Trail is a shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the Yarra River through the northeastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

References

  1. Victorian Cycling Strategy 2018-2028. Department of Transport. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  2. VicRoads - Bicycle Route Maps
  3. Melbourne and Geelong's shared paths in Google Maps
  4. "Melbourne and Geelong's shared paths in Google Earth". Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  5. "Bike Paths". www.bikepaths.com.au. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  6. "VicRoads bicycle counters - Google Maps". maps.google.com. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
  7. "VicRoads: Cycling Data and Statistics". www.vicroads.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 29 April 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
  8. Lucas, Clay (12 March 2006). "Have helmet, bell, two wheels — will commute". The Age. Melbourne: www.theage.com.au. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
  9. http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2011/08/20/is-the-auditor-general-on-track-with-cycling/ Alan Davies in Crikey
  10. "Baillieu put under the pump on cycling budget". The Age. Melbourne.
  11. "Linking People and Spaces (2002)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2008.