After an eternity of delay, bikes and pedestrians now have appropriate priority on the Capital City Trail at Rae Street in North Fitzroy.
The new treatment will be especially welcome as this street was the last remaining unsignalised crossing where motor vehicles had retained priority, creating a hazard for those riders who expected uniformity along the trail.
The trail through this precinct had been gradually upgraded since about 2006, with significant improvements underway by 2012.
In 2014 the City of Yarra contacted Bicycle Network to initiate discussions for priority crossings at the busy cross-streets, including Rae.
Progress, although slow, was made but there were always hold ups with Rae Street, with sightlines, traffic counts, heritage rail tracks and COVID-19 among the causes being cited at various times.
At the electronic counter not far away, more than 1 million riders can be tallied annually, so this missing priority was a significant aggravation to many.
Bicycle Network had strong support from councillors and local residents, but delays persisted.
Official guidance in Victoria is for shared paths to have priority over local roads, a principle many councils were reluctant to follow initially.
Because shared paths are built for bikes and pedestrians, and pedestrians always have priority over motor vehicles, it is logical for shared paths to have such priority.
And, it must be said, car drivers mostly honoured that priority, despite what the signs at Rae Street said.
Fortunately the City of Yarra has delivered, better late than never.
Photo credit: Rail Trails Australia
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