Infrastructure Victoria has chided the state government over its slow build-out of the vital strategic cycling corridor network that underpins the development of cycling routes across Melbourne and regional cities.
It has urged the government to speed up the deployment of these key routes, and to expand them, also recommending regular three-yearly updates to the plan.
Strategic cycling corridors were first mapped about a decade ago as a web of high-quality commuting routes that would link most major destinations such as residential neighbourhoods, workplaces, shopping centres, sports complexes and places of education and entertainment.
However, Infrastructure Victoria points out in its latest draft 30-Year Victorian Infrastructure Strategy that precious little of the 2768km network has been built, and the parts that have materialised have been delivered as part of major transport projects.
"The Victorian Government should build priority bicycle corridors in the strategic cycling corridor network,” the Infrastructure Victoria draft document says.
“It should build 10 corridors in Melbourne and a network of cycle corridors in 6 regional cities, including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Wangaratta, Wodonga and Castlemaine by 2035.
"This will create more than 180 kilometres of continuous safe bike connections, [and] includes adding separated bike lanes, wayfinding, lighting and protected bike infrastructure at intersections.
"We have chosen these corridors based on the places people travel to, connections to existing bike infrastructure, accident hotspots and local government priorities.
"These corridors will encourage more cycling trips and can replace around 40,000 car trips every day.”
Infrastructure Victoria estimates that building a safe cycling network in Melbourne and regional cities will cost $400 million to $600 million over 10 years.
"Bike paths vary in complexity. Based on recent projects, building new bike paths can cost from $500,000 to $5 million a kilometre. These costs range from a protected cycling corridor to comprehensive place-making redevelopment that includes pedestrian and public transport access, and landscaping works.”
Feedback from the public about this and other recommendations is being sought.
You can download the draft strategy and make a submission before 28 April via https://engage.vic.gov.au/victorias30yearinfrastructurestrategy
Submissions will be reviewed between May and October with the final strategy tabled in the Victorian Parliament in late 2005.
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