Maribyrnong cyclists are calling for improved infrastructure in the wake of new figures showing that hundreds of them continue to mix with heavy truck traffic.
Maribyrnong council’s annual bike count shows the intersection of Footscray’s Moreland and Napier streets was again the most heavily used route, with nearly 700 riders recorded travelling through in a two-hour period in March.
The overall count of 4816 recorded at 26 locations across Maribyrnong from 7-9am on Tuesday, March 4, was down about 4 per cent from the 5032 measured at the same locations in 2013.
Problems have been identified both within Maribyrnong and on links to the Melbourne CBD via Dynon Road or across Shepherd Bridge (Footscray Road across the Maribyrnong River).
West Footscray teacher Emily Keeling said that despite safety concerns, she cycles to work in Yarraville for health and environmental reasons.
“I definitely think this community wants cycling infrastructure improved,” she said. “I used to ride a lot more than I do now.”
Ms Keeling said even though her route had bike lanes, much of her ride was spent competing for space with trucks.
“Bad things can happen on the road. In terms of driver behaviour, you do get the occasional awful incident,” she said.
Ian Butterworth, infrastructure and engineering director at Maribyrnong council, said the council increased spending on bicycle infrastructure in the current budget and was looking at an increase next year.
Projects include bike lane line-marking on Somerville Road in Yarraville, design and survey of the Ashley Street/South Road shared path in Braybrook, and line-marking on Mephan and Hyde streets in Footscray.
Mayor Grant Miles said the council would use the bike-count data to lobby VicRoads for improved infrastructure and safe, direct routes and linked paths.
VicRoads regional director Patricia Liew said about $6 million in state government funding was going towards Maribyrnong projects.
These included extension of Federation Trail by an overpass over the Newport-Albion freight line to connect the end of the current trail to Fogarty Avenue in Yarraville. “In addition, about $5 million has been provided as part of the Regional Rail Link project for cycling-related infrastructure at Footscray, West Footscray and Sunshine, and also between Deer Park and West Werribee,” she said.
VicRoads has developed a proposal to improve the shared path on Shepherd Bridge.
