To: Vicki Ward MP for Eltham

Bike Lanes the full length of Main Road Eltham

Main road is used daily by commuting and recreational cyclists but currently has no cycling specific infrastructure. We are asking for a dedicated continuous bike lane along Main Road through the Eltham electorate, from Research to Lower Plenty. The lane should be unbroken, with lane markings continuing through all intersections and should include links along Fitzsimons Lane to Templestowe and Bridge Street and Sherbourne Road to Greensborough.

Why is this important?

Adding bike lanes to current cycling routes fulfills part of the Victorian Cycling Strategy aim of reducing stress on bicycle routes and assists in establishing better integrated cycling corridors, we ask that the member for Eltham implement cycle lanes along the length of Main Road. Including cycling infrastructure into the planned works at Fitzsimons Lane is the perfect opportunity to satisfy the cycling strategy aim of incorporating improved cycling infrastructure in all major transport projects.

How it will be delivered

The petition will be delivered to the Office of Vicki Ward at the end on 14 March.

Updates

2019-06-18 21:28:20 +1000

In response to a copy of the petition sent to the roads minister, I received a response mt mail.
While acknowledging the main road corridor as part of the strategic cycling network, the minister has implied that the current off road paths along the Diamond creek and the Research shared path are sufficient for providing "safer, lower stress cycling experiences".
In this context VicRoads has no plans to install on-road bike lanes on main road.
This is of course an inadequate and incorrect assertion, as the off road shared paths in Eltham are inadequate for commuting, segmented, indirect and do not connect to any major activity centres.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xeigwENi1V3Cwgnc8

2019-06-12 21:39:20 +1000

This week I have received confirmation from Vicki Ward's office that she has passed on our petition to the minister for Roads, Jaala Pulford, on 24 April.
Although we submitted the petition in March, the comment was not sought for a couple of months. In my experience with ministers this is about normal as far as response times, I imagine the minister's response will come some time in July.

2019-03-06 22:18:02 +1100

One week until we hand the petition to Vicki Ward at her office.
We also got some coverage in the Diamond Valley news this week. I just want to clarify a couple of my quotes, as there are two separate points that have been merged into one.
I did identify Fitzsimons lane/ Main Road as an issue in that there is no defined pathway (marked Lane) through for cyclists now, or in the planned changes to this intersection. However my comment about squeezing through traffic related to the behaviour of drivers and the road becoming more scary along the bottleneck sections of main road where they try to squeeze through with other traffic. I will be following up Vicki Wards assertion that the Bolton St Shared path connects Sherbourne and Main Roads, as it does not connect to any other cycling infrastructure.

2019-02-22 16:26:40 +1100

An amazing response so far, I have organised to meet with Vicki Ward on 14 March to discuss Bike lanes and present the petition to her. We will be highlighting the additional points raised in your reasons for signing as well.

2019-02-10 11:21:13 +1100

100 signatures reached

2019-02-10 10:03:28 +1100

50 signatures reached

2019-02-09 20:40:07 +1100

25 signatures reached

2019-02-06 11:06:25 +1100

10 signatures reached