Works at the Anzac Melbourne Metro Station are almost done, and the St Kilda Road bike lane project is essentially complete.
Riders now have a disruption-free 4.5km trip both ways between the city and St Kilda in wide car-free lanes, an experience that once seemed a remote possibility.
Final roadworks around the station precinct have been wrapped up, the fencing is gone, the lanes are marked, the traffic signals are in operation and the lighting is connected.
Because Princes Bridge has long been the primary crossing over the Yarra River into the city, the route has always been critical to bike riders, and creating a quick and low-risk route was long a top priority.
The lanes were delivered in two separate projects, most of the linear distance was delivered in 2023 by the Department of Transport and Planning, and the central zone in the domain precinct was recently undertaken as part of the station project.
The risk of dooring, once a significant problem on the street, has virtually been eliminated.
Hook turns for bikes have been introduced as has priority movement at traffic light intersections.
Drivers are gradually adjusting to the new configuration: when travelling on St Kilda Road, drivers must indicate and give way to bike riders when turning left through an intersection and they must look both ways and give way to bike riders before entering and exiting driveways.
Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack says the organisation began advocating for better bike lanes decades ago: “First we just wanted a simple bike lane, then we got them made wider, then with green surface treatment, now with fully separated lanes — every extra step with more separation from traffic attracted more riders.”
The state government has reported an increase of 220% in the number of riders using the thoroughfare compared to the same period in 2021-2022.
"Now we hope to see more riders than ever getting healthy and doing their bit for the planet and the household budget,” McCormack says.
“With the increased residential densities coming to Southbank and the new residential precincts close to the city in South Melbourne, the cities of Melbourne and Port Phillip urgently need to further deliver on their plans for better active transport facilities in these inner southern suburbs."
When Anzac Station opens with the Metro Tunnel next year it will have more than 120 bike parking spaces, and people will be able to connect to train services on the new Cranbourne/Pakenham to Sunbury Line via the Metro Tunnel.
Riders will note the circular, architectural design of the bike rails. They might look great, but they can be problematic for some bike and lock combinations. We are hoping these are rapidly reconsidered for a more functional alternative, but we recommend riders carry a strip of velcro to prevent the problem in the meantime.
With the completion of construction, Domain Road is also expected to open to pedestrians, bike riders and drivers next month – after being shut since 2017.
The St Kilda Road bike lane project originally continued further south from the junction, and initial plans have been produced and accepted by Bicycle Network, but not by the City of Port Phillip.
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