Jennifer Pittorino
One busy street in Footscray has been named in the top 10 list of Melbourne’s unsafe cycling spots in Melbourne , according to a survey.
The Amy Gillett Foundation’s BikeSpot survey has found that Hopkins Street is the fourth most unsafe spot to cycle in Melbourne.
St Kilda Road took out the number one spot, followed by Chapel Street and Harbour Esplanade.
The BikeSpot map allows every Australian to say where they feel safe or unsafe while riding their bike, the Victorian results are based on 10,000 submissions.
Hopkins Street Footscray had 29 reports of being unsafe, mostly for having no bike lanes and a missing link.
Other responses listed the streets as a busy truck route causing bikes to normally ride on a narrow footpath.
One resident said they have had several near misses with left turning vehicles cut across them without looking.
Another cyclist said the bike lane stops at the bridge, meaning there is no clear path through Footscray, only narrow roads and lots of cars.
Hopkins Street turns into Barkly Street which was also listed among the unsafe spots to cycle in Footscray, with 14 reports on the survey.
Barkly Street also has no designated bike lanes, leading one cyclist to call the Barkly Street, Geelong Road intersection, “The intersection of death.”
“So many bingles involving cars and pedestrians occur here. It is also hazardous for bikes as the bike lane disappears and cars brush past without respecting their lanes,” they said.
Maribyrnong council chief executive Celia Haddock said both Barkly and Hopkins streets fall under the responsibility of both council and the Department of Transport and Planning.
“Council has a number of strategies to guide the planning and management of its road network including the Road Safety Strategy, Road Management Plan, and Bicycle Strategy, and is currently developing a new Integrated Transport Strategy,” she said.
“Council will continue to work with DoTP on achieving improved safety outcomes for all road users across our road network, including Hopkins and Barkly Streets.”
