Inkerman Street through St Kilda is set for new painted, on-road bike lanes after the City of Port Phillip voted to green light an upgrade of the street.
The decision followed a heated council meeting in which dozens of people on opposite sides of two options presented by the council addressed the chamber.
Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack says the decision was a disappointing one for active transport in the state.
"We know that once bike infrastructure is built, and built to the best possible standards, it makes our streets safer and more attractive.
"And while we understand that costs can be prohibitive, we believe there are long-term benefits to community amenity too," McCormack says.
"People don’t stop coming to well-designed, vibrant shopping strips just because they have to walk a extra few metres from their cars."
The street is the designated east-west cycling corridor to link St Kilda across to Caulfield Station and the Djerring Trail in the east, making the project an essential component of the active transport network in the inner south-east.
The council selected Option B, a configuration that includes on-road uni-directional buffered painted bike lanes on each side of the street and the removal of 14 car spaces. It will cost about $6.8 million.
The bike lane gains some separation from parked cars on one side and moving traffic on the other by painted chevron buffers, such as used in Clarendon Street, East Melbourne.
The meeting also considered Option A, a kerb-operated option which would have removed 114 car spaces and cost about $9.3 million.
The chosen project includes other improvements to the street, which will be of benefit to all road users:
- Re-sheeting of Inkerman Street between St Kilda Road and Hotham Street
- Introduction of a 40km/h speed limit
- Bike-lane marking on approach to and through signalised intersections, with green treatments and intersection marking
- Installation of green treatments and line-marking at unsignalised intersections, to provide awareness for bikes crossing
- Three new mid-block, accessible pedestrian priority crossing locations with flashing lights
- Implementation of signalised ‘early start’ for pedestrians and bike riders at traffic lights and flashing ‘give way to pedestrians’ signs
- Dedicated right-turn signal phase at Chapel Street
- Installation of kerb extensions at two unsignalised intersections where crashes have occurred.
The council also voted to increase the width of parking bays to accommodate broader vehicles.
Mayor Heather Cunsolo said the decision reflected the council’s efforts to respect divided community views on how to make Inkerman Street safer from St Kilda Road to Hotham Street.
“Changes to our roads can evoke passionate responses and this one was no different. We received 1742 submissions from bike riders, traders and residents during our consultation as well as many texts and emails,” Cr Cunsolo said.
“After considering all feedback, we are proceeding with the option which removes fewer parking spaces while still providing a much-needed safety boost for bike riders and pedestrians,” she said.
“No process or design is perfect. While Option A offered extra safety provisions which could potentially have encouraged more riders, Option B will still make intersections safer and deter dooring by reallocating road space as a buffer between cars.”
The council will proceed to design and construction is due to start in 2027.
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