The City of Glen Eira has rejected options for an alternative route, proposed by the council itself, putting the future of the vital strategic cycling corridor connection to Caulfield Station in doubt once more.
Following controversy over the designated route off-road along Queens Avenue, the council asked for options for a route along Derby Street.
At its meeting on Tuesday, the council decided to switch its support to a previously rejected on-road, two-way, too-narrow, bike lane on one side of Queens Avenue along the Caulfield Racecourse.
It appears the council has ended up playing itself out of the game, as the final decision will now be made by the Level Crossings Project (LXRP).
Work on the off-road Queens Avenue path, as part of the Glen Huntly-Caulfield level crossing project, was due to start in February.
The alignment was selected in 2018 as part of the Strategic Cycling Corridor mapping project. This leg is intended to be part of the path being delivered to Mordialloc.
The LXRP took the proposal to public consultation in 2021 and it was all systems go. Trees that had to be removed were to be replaced two for one.
But controversy erupted when work was due to start with residents calling for no tree or carpark removal.
Another bout of consultation followed. The alternative route along Derby Street was proposed, concepts were developed, and then, further consultation.
The decision has been handballed back to the LXRP, but with council now favouring a separated path on the road.
Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack says the on-road option along Queens Avenue is substandard and should not be under consideration.
"The original off-road LXRP plan is the best option by far: it is off-road, is spacious, does not impact car parking, gives the community twice as many trees, and will attract the most riders," says McCormack.
"The situation calls for a rapid resolution."
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