The long-running campaign to make Sydney Road more bike-friendly has reignited, with riders calling for the installation of protected bike lanes along the busy thoroughfare.
A group of riders rode along the inner north arterial route on Friday 24 April as part of a Critical Mass rally to draw attention to the lack of protected lanes.
Work is expected to start by 2028 on the massive project to remove eight level crossings along the Upfield Line in Brunswick, which will see a 2.1-kilometre rail bridge installed overhead with a redeveloped Upfield Trail running below.
Detailed design work will get underway next year but it has been announced that the Upfield Trail will be rebuilt to match the section further north built during the previous overhead rail construction stage.
During construction there will also be a multi-month shutdown of the rail line with passenger services being transferred to buses on Sydney Road.
The Upfield Trail, which runs parallel to Sydney Road, currently carries large of riders each day, many of whom prefer to take this off road route rather than battle with the traffic.
VicRoads released five design options for a refreshed Sydney Road back in 2019, including an option to fully remove on-street parking and create protected lanes and wider footpaths between Park Street, Brunswick, and Bell Street, Coburg.
An opportunity for major changes to the street will come when accessible tram stops are installed. These will require removal of significant amounts of car parking and changes to tram stop locations, and will greatly facilitate upgrades to buike infrastructure along the street.
Riders are now pushing for the future construction closures of the Upfield Trail to be used as an opportunity to trial separated bike lanes on Sydney Road.
"Sydney Road is a fantastic opportunity for bikes," said Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack.
"We'd love to see the state government put sustainability and public health first by making this arterial route a more appealing street for bikes and installing a protected lane.
"With just 20% of people arriving at Sydney Road by car, it makes sense to prioritise active transport and public transport options."
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