Victorian Cycling Strategy Report Card: April 2010

I have become aware of an update from the government which now lists all the major projects related to cycling which has been completed or is about to commence. Standouts include the upcoming commencement of the operation of the Melbourne Bike Share system in a couple of months. A review of the system will be posted on MBR at that time. The Merri Creek Trail Pipe Bridge at Rushall was also officially opened on April 3, which should make life easier for inner northern suburb cyclists. A NearMap view from February 20 is shown below. You can also select other dates to see the construction.

View Large Map

This report card also reveals some new information. The new footbridge over the Maroondah Highway at Lilydale for the Warburton Rail Trail is set to be constructed in the second half of this year. You should notice improvements being made on the Gardiners Creek Trail around the middle of this year, after the M1 project has been completed for the Monash. The new extension of the Federation Trail is also set to commence construction in June, with the opening from Altona Road to Williamstown Road in early 2011. I just hope there is a bridge or tunnel across the freight railway line. It would be a big disappointment if there was a level bike crossing.

Click here for the report card!

Stay tuned as I will try to post more update and news in the future!

Burwood Highway Pedestrian Bridge finally open!

Yes, it has finally happened. Last weekend (November 7-8), the Burwood Highway Pedestrian bridge finally opened (or removed) it's gates! After months of welding problems, structural faults, dodgy paint work and who knows how many more problems, it is now open for all pedestrians and cyclists. No longer will you have to wait up to 3 traffic light cycles to get from one side of Burwood Highway to the other. What used to take minutes now takes seconds. Having inspected the bridge, I am very happy with the quality of the finished product. I would just like to see some landscaping around the bridge because the area is pretty ugly in terms of greenery.

Here are a few snapshots of the finished and opened bridge. I have already used one as my new background on the Melbourne Bike Routes Twitter account.

View down one of the ramps

View across the bridge itself

A view of the intersection you will never have to cross at again! How fantastic!

Now we all wait as one more intersection gets bypassed at the Maroondah Highway in Ringwood, which is progressing well.

Ringwood - Belgrave Rail Trail Realignment - Bayswater Station to begin.

Over at Bayswater Station, cyclists journeys will be made safer by the construction of two sections of new shared path (Ringwood - Belgrave Rail Trail) through the car park of the station. Currently you have to ride through the car park on the road. This will soon be fixed. Unfortunately, they will not be increasing the width of the path where the bus stops are, but it is an improvement otherwise. Here is the link to the press release which includes a plan of the changes. Besides the new path sections, there will also be minor realignments of roads in the car park, as well as the relocation of lost parking spaces to the southern side of the existing car park. Construction is set to commence August 24, 2009 and is set to be completed in a 10 week timeframe, by November 2009.

Plan to build cycle path on West Gate Bridge

I have received information that I am quite estatic about. As part of the VicRoads West Gate Bridge Strengthening Project, an "international quality" cycle path will be built on the northern side of the bridge, with the four metre wide path being joined onto the existing deck structure by revelutionary 'tack on' technology which adds virtually no extra stress onto the existing structure. Bicycle Victoria released a statement earlier today stating that "Even though the Victorian Cycling Strategy was a large boost to the cycling movement across the state, we cannot thank the state government and VicRoads enough for this late, but very impresssive gift to the cyclists of Victoria."

The path will only be open to cyclists, with control points at each end where you must obtain a new 'cycle pass' card to allow access. The control points will also be closed during times of high wind. Instead, riders with a 'cycle pass' will receive a free trip on the cycle punt raft across the Yarra River, which will only operate when the bridge cycle path is closed when the path is completed. Along with high unscalable fencing along the whole of the path, it will be impossible to leave the path once on the bridge. The total cost of this project has been estimated at $30 million dollars and should be completed by 2011, along with the strengthening works.

I believe that this project will result in Melbourne being put on every cycle tourist's list right at the very top. Those who ride in events such as "Around the Bay in a Day" relish the opportunity to cycle on the bridge. Being able to ride on it to work or for leisure whenever you want is something totally different altogether.

MAJOR NEWS: Victorian Cycling Strategy released!

After the release of this plan was delayed in Feburary due to the bushfires, Brumby (premier) and Pallas (minister for roads and ports) today jointly released the "Victorian Cycling Strategy" (not the "Victorian Bicycle Plan" name I was using) at some park I could not identify when I saw footage on Ten News!


I have briefly read the plan and have summarised the planned improvements which are only relevant to "Melbourne Bike Routes" If you are looking for regional bike route improvements and other aspects of the plan which are non-route based (such as school education programs etc. etc., you should look at the plan yourself)


Whilst I think the statistics and graphs and tables are good analysis to the current cycling situation in Victoria, like yourself, I am only interested in what they are actually going to do in terms of cycling infrastructure in Melbourne. I will now start my comprehensive list of planned improvements relevant to MBR.


CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY OR WILL COMMENCE IN 2009/2010

• Federation Trail extension: Off-road bicycle path from Millers Road, Altona to Williamstown Road, Yarraville.
  
  
• Merri Creek Pipe Bridge – Merri Creek Trail re-alignment path as part of upgrade of pipe bridge by Melbourne Water.
  
  
• Bicycle crossing: At the intersection of Willsmere Road and the Anniversary Trail, Kew.
  
  Google Street View
  
  
• Gardiners Creek Trail upgrade: Widening and general improvement works between Glenferrie Road and Toorak Road.
  
  
• Fitzroy Street path: Off-road bicycle path between Acland Street to Albert Park, St Kilda.
  
  
• Mount Alexander Road lanes: On-road bicycle lanes at the Shamrock Street/Grice Crescent intersection.
  
  Google Street View
  
• Maribyrnong River Trail extension: Off-road bicycle path along Hyde Street, Somerville Road and Whitehall Street to Footscray Road.
  
  
• Cecil Street lanes upgrade: Upgrade of on-road bicycle lanes along between Albert Road and Whiteman Street, South Melbourne.
  
  
• Maroondah Highway footbridge: Construction of a new bridge over the Maroondah Highway in Lilydale to form an extension of the Lilydale - Warburton Rail Trail from Maroondah Highway to Lilydale Railway Station.
  
  
• York Road traffic lights: Provision of a signalised crossing on the Lilydale-Warburton Rail Tail to provide access across York Road, Mt. Evelyn.
  
  
• Bulleen Road lanes: New on-road bicycle lanes between the Koonung Creek (the creek bridge, not the trail) to Golden Way.

PRIORITY ACTIONS AND PROJECTS MENTIONED IN THE VICTORIAN TRANSPORT PLAN TO BE COMPLETED BY 2021

• 10km radius priority cycle routes: The routes highighted in blue on the map below show routes (both on and off road) which will receive priority attention to help make inner city cycling faster and more comfortable.

• Federation Trail - Maribyrnong River Trail link: Off-road bicycle path from Williamstown Road to Hyde Street, Yarraville.
  
  
• Balwyn Road facilities: Provide on-road bicycle facilities on Balwyn Road, Balwyn.
  
  
• Fitzroy bicycle priority traffic lights: Installation of bicycle priority signals at selected intersections in Fitzroy.
  
  
• Williamstown - Docklands/CBD link: Connect Williamstown to the Melbourne CBD and Docklands.
  
  
• Inner east route upgrade/extension: Upgrade the cycle route to the east, extending the existing route to Kew/Camberwell North.
  Note: I am not sure what this route actually is. If anyone knows, please leave a comment.
  
• Gardiners Creek Trail further upgrades: Further upgrades (suggesting it will occur in sections other than Glenferrie - Toorak Roads as mentioned above) for the trail.
  
  
• Maribyrnong River Trail upgrade: Suggests that it is just a general upgrade of existing sections of trail.
  
  
• North inner city link upgrade: Link and possibly upgrade the link from Queens Parade to Albert Street.
  
  
• Yarra Bend Park / Eastern Freeway link: Link the Chandler Highway to Wellington Street.
  
  
• CBD on-road lanes: Improve bicycle facilities along William Street and Latrobe Street as primary routes into and through the CBD.
  
  
• Inner north - south routes: Improve bicycle facilities on key north-south routes, including Royal Parade, St Georges Road and Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.
  
  
• CBD North bike bypass: Create a northern CBD bicycle bypass to the west to connect with the Maribyrnong River Trail.
  
  
• Merri Creek Trail upgrade: Upgrade of the Merri Creek trail around Rushall Station.
  
  
• Capital City Trail / Main Yarra Trail - Melb. Uni. link: Link Melbourne University with the Capital City Trail / Main Yarra Trail in the east.
  
  
• Maribyrnong area links: Provide links outlined in the Maribyrnong Cycling Strategy, possibly including a link between Footscray and Sunshine.
  
  
• Capital City Trail / Main Yarra Trail access upgrade: Improve access to the Capital City Trail on the south bank of the Yarra River near Alexandra Avenue at Yarra Street in South Yarra.
  
  
• Footscray Road improvements: Improve cycling access along Footscray Road to the CBD.
  
  
• Other links improvements: Improve key links in the Prahran area and Eastern suburbs.
  
  
• Albert Street / Elizabeth Street improvements: Improve links in Albert Street and Elizabeth Street in line with works to be undertaken by Melbourne City Council.

OTHER PROJECTS

• 
  
  Diamond Creek Trail extension: Off-road path between Diamond Creek and Hurstbridge stations.
• 
  
  Freeway paths: Off-road paths alongside the Frankston Bypass (Peninsula Link) and the Dingley Arterial (between Westall Road Extension and Dandenong Bypass).
• 
  
  Cycle route planning website: Development of a cycle route planning website with information about different types of cycle routes in the network and links to public transport. This website may be incorporated in or linked to the State Government’s journey planning website for public transport (Metlink).
• 
  
  Public bike hire scheme: This program, provided for under the Victorian Transport Plan, will establish a system for Melbourne based on successful systems in Paris and other parts of Europe. It will promote greater usage of existing cycling infrastructure in central Melbourne, and promote cycling for short trips in and around the CBD. The system will extend the reach of public transport at the destination, as cycling is faster than walking and more flexible than route-based public transport, and it will build on current strategic efforts by the State to develop safer and more accessible cycling infrastructure. The system will exist within central Melbourne providing access to the inner Melbourne cycling network. The proposed first stage will include at least 50 bicycle stations within central Melbourne, spaced approximately 500 m apart, with capacity for at least 600 bicycles at start-up and the option for quick expansion. The state will work in close consultation with the City of Melbourne and intends to issue a Request for Tender in 2009.
  Note: I want to know how they are going to stop people from stealing the bikes!
  
  UPDATE: I have found more information about this scheme. It should be up and running by 2010 and will offer memberships in the form of either daily, weekly or yearly periods. The first half hour of all trips are free as well with additional fees after that. It looks like you pay a fee to have access to the bikes, then you can ride around for free for half an hour, but if you return a bike to a station after that time, you will pay a fee.
• 
  
  Railway station bike cages: 26 bikes in each, with ability to expand, 18 already installed at metro stations, 10 more in future. Then case by case basis afterwards.

And finally here is the link to the plan.

There it is folks. Feel free to comment. More posts to come in the future.

Knox Festival 2009: Knox Bicycle Plan Public Release

Sorry it took a little while to report this, but on Saturday March 3, I visited the annual Knox Festival, which is held at the Ferntree Gully Recreation Reserve on the first weekend of every March. This reserve is in an excellent location, as the Ferny Creek Trail runs right through the north of the reserve.

I arrived from the west and did not encounter any controlled entry points along the path in this direction (but it didn't matter, because if you rode a bike to the festival, you got in for free). I parked my bike and locked it up to the unusual bicycle parking (which I forgot to take a picture of). The parking was right next to the Bicycle Plan stand, but it wasn't just a stand. I saw something that did quite impress me. A giant Melway cycle map, which is featured in the newly created Knox City Council Cycling in Knox TravelSmart map. (This new map is currently not available online, but should soon. If you pop into the Civic Centre in Wantirna South, they should be able to give you one)

This reminds me that I really should follow up on my no-response email to Melissa Sparrow of Knox City Council. This time, I shall send my concerns about the Knox Bike Network to the generic council email address and see if this gets a response.

Here are a couple of photos of the giant map!

Darebin Road Underpass and gap closer opened!

OK, this might not be as exciting as for example, news that the Darebin Creek Trail extension to the Main Yarra Trail being given the green light (this decision to this problem is currently being made by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)) but it is still fantastic news for Darebin Creek Trail users.

The trail is now continuous from just north of the Heidelberg Road bridge in Alphington right up to Darebin Creek Reserve in Reservoir. This photo from the Bicycle Victoria website was taken looking south towards the bridge in October 2008, when the underpass was nearing completion, but the gap closer path was still under construction. Before the works, you would have to exit the trail at Darebin Road, cross the road, then travel down Ford Crescent for a few hundred metres to rejoin the trail. Now you can just go under the bridge and behind the back of the factories, all on the new expected standard for all major Melbourne trails, 3 metre wide concrete.

I have yet to have ride the Darebin Creek Trail, but a plan of action to ride it all myself would maybe consist of a train trip to East Camberwell Station. Yes it is a crappy station, but it is right next to the Outer Circle Trail, which I will then travel up north on to Chandler Highway, cross the shockingly narrow bridge (it used to be a rail bridge before it was converted to a vehicle bridge), travel east along Heidelberg Road, then somehow reach the start of the trail and zip up it, somehow bridge the gap in Bundoora, then travel right to the end at Epping North, then returning by train. If I do take this ride sometime, I will report it on this blog.

More information on the opening of the underpass and gap closing path can be found in the Victorian Government Media Release.

Parts of the new "Victorian Bicycle Plan" are dripping through

This is exciting. The government is currently completing it's first major bicycle infrastructure review in over two decades. It was meant to be released this month but because of the tragic bushfires, this has now been pushed to March. Luckily, The Age has some leaked details which include

• Bicycle lanes on William and La Trobe Streets
• CBD blanket speed limit of 40 km/h to increase safety for cyclists
• Bicycle infrastructure to become mandatory for ALL new road projects.

While these leaked details are great, we need bicycle lanes on more inner city streets, plus a double bicycle lane (2 bike lanes side by side in one direction like a two lane carriageway) between St. Kilda and the Capital City Trail in North Fitzroy. We also need the Capital City Trail to be upgraded so the entire length is free of stairs (the ones near CityLink are being bypassed as we speak) and is 3 metres wide at all points except where it is unfeasible to do so. And every major break in the currently constructed off-road network needs the gaps removed.

Keep an eye on my blog in the near future for more updates as the release of the plan gets closer.

Source: Melbourne to get more bike lanes from The Age.

News: Proposed Frankston Bypass Trail route is released

It was quietly put through on the SEITA website on November 10, the Environmental Effects Statement for the Frankston Bypass, which includes detailed plans for the route of the Frankston Bypass as well as an associated trail I am calling the Frankston Bypass Trail. I have created a Google Map with the trail and it's features, which the final alignment is still under consideration following input from the public, Bicycle Victoria and local councils.

My first positive thoughts are as follows:

•  There is ONLY ONE level road crossing at Robinsons Road which is fantastic! It looks like the planners have learnt a lesson from EastLink and considering the government is copping it for not building all the required footbridges for EastLink, they do not want to make the same mistake. A range of footbridges and underpasses are provided.
• The trail will be built to the same standard as the EastLink Trail which is a 3 metre wide concrete path, again another plus.
• There will be provision made for a future Mornington Rail Trail which is excellent forward planning, which will enable a link from the Frankston Bypass Trail right down to Mornington. (Melway 106 J7)
• The trail will begin at the Patterson River on the Dandenong Creek Trail which is an ideal and logical choice
• Links to other trails are somewhat provided such as links to the Carrum Downs Trail, Skye Road Trail, the path along Cranbourne - Frankston Road and the Frankston - Stony Point Rail Trail.

Now my negative thoughts:

• Missing links to local trails should be taken into account. There should be a link to the Eel Race Drain Trail under the Mornington Peninsula Freeway (Melway 97 J10). There should also be a defined link between the Bay Trail between the Seaford Wetlands (Melway 99 G4) along Austin Road, the footbridge over the Frankston Freeway, along Brunel Road until Peterson Street, which links to the existing Carrum Downs Trail (Melway 99 H3).
• Will the Dandenong Creek Trail be upgraded as well? This will be I question I am to submit as part of the public comment on the plan. The EastLink upgrade failed to upgrade the Dandenong Creek Trail between Greens Road in Dandenong South (Melway 94 J2) to the Bay Trail in Patterson Lakes (Melway 97 D6) as well as upgrading trails along BOTH sides of the Patterson River between the Mornington Peninsula Freeway and the Nepean Highway.
• WHY does the trail abruptly end at Bungower Road? Why construct a trail to the middle of nowhere (Melway 147 D2) and simply dump the rider on a country road away from anything of notice? I propose to continue the trail along the Frankston Bypass then the existing Mornington Peninsula Freeway right down to Nepean Highway in Dromana (Melway 160 D5) then run the trail westward along the Nepean Highway to the intersection with Marine Parade (Melway 159 K4) with a link to the Mornington Peninsula section of the Bay Trail. It makes sense and provide a different opportunity for tourism for the peninsula and provides a fully off-road sealed link between the city and the peninsula.

Now that you have seen the plans and my analysis, what are your thoughts? Also take a look at the full Frankston Bypass plan than make a comment on the plan if you wish at the SEITA website.