The Department of Transport is about to get rolling with plans to both unwind and improve pop-up lanes in the City of Port Phillip.
After a rocky start, where some pop-up routes and treatments vexed both bike riders and drivers, DoT and the City of Port Phillip have used community feedback to re-think elements of the project.
Some routes will be reinstated to their previous pre-popup condition, others will be modified, and others will face significant redesign.
Pop-ups are in essence temporary bike infrastructure that can be trialled and evaluated, adjusted on the run, made permanent, or partly or completely removed, depending on whether they prove effective or not.
DoT says that community reaction to the Port Phillip pop-ups coalesced around three themes:
- Visual amenity concerns.
- Safety concerns about pop-up bike route designs.
- Uncertainty about how to navigate temporary infrastructure.
Works to remove pop-ups will get underway in the coming weeks as contractors become available.
"At locations where we’re exploring alternative designs, we’ll share potential design options with the community in the coming months prior to any changes taking place", DoT reports.
"We’ll continue to work in partnership with the City of Port Phillip and the local community for the duration of the Pop-up Bike Lanes Program trial.”
DoT has listed the changes to be made at various locations:
Bridge Street and Williamstown Road intersection
End the trial at this location and reinstate the northbound left turn lane onto Williamstown Road.
Bridge Street between Evans Street and Princes Street
End the trial at this location by removing the temporary central bike lanes and reinstating the original road configuration.
Bridge Street and Bay Street intersection
End the trial at this location and reinstate the southbound left turn lane onto Bay Street.
Lyons Street between Bridge Street and Esplanade West
Improve the visual amenity of the pop-up bike routes at this location by removing concrete blocks and bollards.
Nelson Road
End the trial at this location and reinstate the original road configuration.
Armstrong Street
End the trial at this location and reinstate the original road configuration.
Marine Parade, at Dickens Street and Glen Huntly Road
Improve the visual amenity of the pop-up bike routes at these locations by removing some of the bollards and other temporary infrastructure.
Speed cushions
Continue to work with the City of Port Phillip to review the location of speed cushions and communicate any changes to the community.
Westbury Street
Continue to monitor the trial treatments in place on Westbury Street between Inkerman Street to Alma Road and work with the City of Port Phillip and key stakeholders to explore alternative design options for this location.
The City of Port Phillip has well-developed plans to deliver quality bike infrastructure across the municipality, and Bicycle Network expects this program to continue.
The State Government has just started work on the St Kilda Road bike lane project which will lead to many more Port Phillip residents taking up bike commuting to the city and to the future Anzac Station.
Bike riding to work and education, and for local utility trips, will continue to burgeon, especially across inner and middle Melbourne, and there will be no let-up in the demand for well-planned and appropriate bike infrastructure.
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