Riders in Melbourne’s north are being offered a preview of potential new routes to connect Coburg and Glenroy.
Five different connections have been assessed to bridge the suburbs and extend the network of bike routes further north from the better-connected southern precincts of Merri-bek.
A previous trial of the route along busy Kent and Derby Streets was not successful.
The City of Merri-bek is seeking feedback on other options, including a preferred route—the Pascoe Vale Shimmy—along quiet local streets.
Submit feedbackIt has examined various criteria including length, gradients, intersections, and access to local attractions.
The council describes its preferred Shimmy route as the safest, most efficient, and effective option, taking advantage of quiet, local roads with low numbers of cars driving and parking, making it suitable for less confident or new cyclists.
"The shimmy has a comparable number of hills and has a similar distance to the current route”, Merri-bek says. "This route can be brought up to a suitable standard by a small number of shorter treatments at major road connections and crossings, which can be delivered in a shorter time period than other routes explored.
The website has a map with the preferred and the optional routes and an explanation of the features of each. You can toggle the map layers to see and compare each route.
The survey is open until 1 April and the council will meet to discuss the feedback in May.
You can discuss the issue in person at an information session on Saturday 16 March 2024, 10am - 1pm at Sussex Neighbourhood House at the Pascoe Vale Community Centre, 7 Prospect Street, Pascoe Vale.