Pop-up Bike Lanes

We’re installing 100 hundred kilometres of new and improved bike routes across key inner-Melbourne suburbs to make it easier and safer for people to ride to and from the CBD.

About the project

As we return to work and other activities, more people are taking up healthy, affordable and sustainable ways to commute to and from the CBD. This $15.9million investment will deliver improved active transport links, to help relieve congestion on our road and transport networks.

We’re progressively planning and rolling out the new pop-up bike routes across inner city areas within local council areas including:

• Maribyrnong
• Moonee Valley
• Moreland
• Melbourne
• Darebin
• Yarra
• Stonnington 
• Port Phillip

The pop-up bike lanes support more people to ride their bikes on the network and connect key bike riding routes. 

We are developing the new pop-up bike lanes with local councils to ensure they best fit local needs. We will install a combination of pop-up bike lanes on busy roads, new signage and markings along quieter streets and improved access to our off-road bike network similar to initiatives seen in Paris, London and Sydney. 

The pop-up bike lanes will be in place for 12-18 months and will be removed or converted to permanent routes if they are successful, however this will require further funding.

Heidelberg Road Link 

We started with the Heidelberg Road Link in December to improve connections from Darebin to the CBD. The Heidelberg Road link provides a combination of separated bike lanes on busy roads, new signage and line markings along quieter streets, and better connections to our on- and off-road networks. 

This link fixes a key gap in the network across Merri Creek, making it safer and more direct for over 80,000 residents who live within five minutes, to ride to work, school and the local council areas of Darebin and Banyule. It also provides improved options for people who live along the Hurstbridge train line. 

To help people understand how to use the link to get where they want to go, we installed wayfinding signs, as well as updating parking signs to ensure changes to local parking are clear.  

Bike riders around Heidelberg Road are now experiencing improved connections from Wingrove Street in Fairfield to Alexandra Parade in Collingwood along with connections to the Wellington Street bike lanes into the CBD.

See our before and after video to see what the Pop-Up Bike Lanes look like in action.

Heidelberg Road Link update

The main works are now complete for the Heidelberg Road Link with already more than 5,000 bike riders per week using the new pop-up bike lanes.  Since January, we’ve seen a 30% increase in riders using the route on weekdays as more people started returning to the office.

We received overwhelming support for the Heidelberg bike lanes but as promised, we have also continued to listen to the local community, including those who are operating businesses in the area. 

Responsive design and ongoing improvements 

Since the Heidelberg Road Link pop-up bike lanes were installed, we have heard from the community and businesses about a range of needs. We have been engaging with community and businesses to understand those needs further. We aim to respond by providing short-term set down and pick-up opportunities, improving vehicle turn movements and providing additional localised car and bike parking opportunities.

We have received overwhelming community support for the Heidelberg bike lanes but as promised, we have also continued to listen to the local community, including local businesses with regard to some changes we may need to make to better accommodate local needs, whilst still ensuring the function of the Heidelberg Road link is not compromised. 

• Between Arthur Street and Station Street we have returned five car parking spaces for customers for loading and pick up/drop off. 
• Between Station Street and Panther Place we will trial a 15-minute loading bay between 11am - 3pm from Monday to Saturday. This trial will be in place for three months.
• Adjacent to Fairfield Park Drive we have returned five car parking spaces for Fairfield Park users and residents

We have made a number of other adjustments based on our ongoing monitoring and community feedback. 

Some of these changes include:

• tightening the bike lane entry at key points so that drivers and bike riders know where they should be
• adjusting bollard placement for better property access
• adjusting bollard placement for safer U-turns at Westgarth Street
• maintaining left-hand turn access from Jeffrey Street to Heidelberg Road
• updating signage on the approach to the Wellington Street and Alexandra Parade intersection to alert drivers to changed turn conditions.

We will continue to monitor and learn from the community and user experience to ensure we strike a balance between the needs of all transport users, traders and people who live in the community.  

Darebin and Yarra Connectors

Better connections to surrounding suburbs will make the core link from Station Street to Wellington Street a more effective commuter route to and from Melbourne’s CBD. In the coming weeks, we’re improving local connections in Darebin and Yarra on the following streets:

Clifton Hill and Fitzroy:

• Wellington Street
• Delbridge Street
• Falconer Street
• Napier Street 
• Queens Parade

Fairfield, and Northcote: 

• Station Street
• Victoria Road
• Jeffrey Street
• Westgarth Street

What are we doing?

We are looking at a number treatments to help guide drivers and bike riders as they travel along these streets to their destinations. These include line marking, on-road symbols, and audible tactile edge lines.

On approach to key intersections, we will also consider barrier kerbs and bollards to provide greater separation between drivers and people on bikes. 

We’ll make every effort to retain existing on-street parking for residents, visitors and businesses in these areas though some minor parking changes may be required.

St Georges Road Off-road Routes

In May 2021, we will commence works on the St Georges Road Off-road Routes. This link will improve bike riding access across the Merri Creek Trail to the Inner Circle Rail Trail, connecting the journey between Preston and Melbourne’s CBD. We will install new and improved signage, road markings, way finding and maps.  

This corridor will improve the north-south connectivity of existing bike infrastructure, including links to Melbourne’s CBD.  It will also provide greater awareness and knowledge of existing bike routes for new and novice riders, while also informing existing riders of alternative route options. 

We know safety is a key barrier to encouraging more bike riders on to the network, so we want to improve directional signage to help new riders choose the Merri Creek Trail as a safe route. Get involved

We’re using a pop-up approach and responsive design process to incorporate community ideas into the design, installation and adjustments of the lanes after they’re in place.

This program of works will allow us to be flexible and responsive as we understand the local user experience. 

Let us know your early thoughts by making a comment or suggestion on our online map. Your feedback will help us to understand any local issues or concerns, as we adapt the design to your area. 

We’ll be talking to stakeholders most impacted by the works prior to construction. 

Community feedback

Some examples of things we may be able to do as a result of this feedback include:

• Adjustments to bollard placement, signage or road markings to improve safety or access issues. 
• Measures to help people understand how to safely get around using the new road layout.
• Providing links to interest groups and local councils for people to gain skills and confidence in riding.

You can also sign up to receive updates directly to your inbox, or email us at [email protected]

For all urgent on road hazards, call 13 11 70.