Albert Street in Brunswick could feature a better environment for bike travel under improvement plans to make it easier to walk and ride along the street.
The City of Merri-bek is looking at a multi-faceted program of improvements to the east-west street between the Upfield Railway line and the Merri Creek, with the aim of creating a more pleasant and liveable streetscape.
Albert Street crosses several key bike routes, in particular the John Street shimmy, where a shared zone is currently in the works at the intersection with Albert Street at Fleming Park.
The council has launched a consultation seeking public input into the concept.
https://conversations.merri-bek.vic.gov.au/albert-street-improvements
Albert Street is a long stretch of road, and the council says changes will vary for different sections of the street, based on need.
Among the changes under consideration are tree planting and greening, raised pedestrian crossings, and a mixed traffic approach where bikes and cars can share the road without protected bike lanes in the section between Sydney Road and the Merri Creek.
Such treatments have proved successful in other parts of Melbourne when carefully designed and implemented.
The council says that despite being important for accessing many local facilities and shops, Albert Street's design does not provide ideal conditions for walking and riding bikes.
Improving the Albert Street streetscape and walking and bike access, will make it easier and safer for everyone to use the street, when travelling locally and further through Merri-bek's transport networks, it says.
Some of the stated benefits of making improvements to this street are:
• Better connections between activity centres such as Sydney Road and Lygon Street and Nicholson Street.
• Making it easier and safer for students to walk and ride their bikes to nearby schools.
• Helping create a safe east-west bike riding route through Merri-bek, connecting through the Upfield Shared Path to the upcoming Victoria Street protected bike lanes.
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