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Albert Street cycle lane “dangerous”
RACV has slammed Melbourne
City Council’s recently implemented
Albert Street bike lane as dangerous
to cyclists and motorists.
RACV General Manager Public
Policy, Brian Negus, said while
RACV supported measures to improve
cyclist safety, the new bike
lane on the edge of the Melbourne
CBD was ill-conceived and confusing.
Mr Negus said the implementation
and design of the bike lane
was “politically-correct transport
policy gone mad”.
“The new lane is confusing to
motorists and cyclists and it is obvious
the council has not thought
through the implications of such a
scheme,” Mr Negus said. “We are
all in favour of cycling in the city, as
highlighted by our implementation
with the Victorian Government of
Melbourne’s Bike Share scheme.”
Mr Negus said the council
should put in a new kerb or relocate
the bike lane to ensure there
is a defined area where cyclists
can safely ride their bikes and also
a defined area to ensure motorists
know where they can park safely.
Melbourne City Council approved
the “Copenhagen-styled”
cycle lanes for Albert Street in 2008
and the lanes went operational in
July this year.
“Albert Street is a significant traffic
route serving traffic into and out
of the CBD and carries more than
25,000 vehicles a day,” said Mr Negus.
During the morning and afternoon
rush hours Albert Street still
has two lanes of traffic on each
side. However, one car left in the
clearway time causes traffic mayhem
with vehicles forced to back
up behind the parked car creating
a safety issue for motorists.
Outside rush hours, the inside
traffic lane reverts to parking
space – creating a line of parked
cars standing out from the curb
that acts as a buffer for the cycling
lane.
“The $340,000 cycle lane has
been a massive waste of money,
given the outcome has caused so
many problems for motorists and
cyclists. It has also drawn criticism
from businesses located along Albert
Street,” said Mr Negus.
Courtesy RACV D
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Taxi Talk - voice of the taxi industry SEPTEMBER 2010