Melbourne’s ‘pause’ on new bike lanes sparks outrage on World Bicycle Day | Melbourne | The Guardian
Advocates and key councillor hope the halt is short-lived, but transport union criticises existing lanes
Adeshola Ore
Cycling advocates are holding out hope that a halt on new bike lanes in Melbourne CBD announced Friday will be short-lived, warning of the risks posed by gaps in the network.
The Melbourne lord mayor, Sally Capp, said Friday there would be a “pause” on the construction of dedicated cycling lanes in the CBD. The City of Melbourne council said it would instead prioritise upgrading cycling infrastructure on arterial roads.
The council has built more than 19km of protected bike lanes over the past two years.
The announcement – which coincided with World Bicycle Day on Friday – follows backlash from businesses, motorists, the state transport union and residents, with some arguing the lanes made parking and delivery vehicle access difficult and increase city congestion.
But Melbourne Bicycle User Group spokesperson Nicholas Dow said the pause would create a cycle lane network with gaps.
