Cycle away congestion
In the city of Melbourne, traffic congestion is worsening. Every day, traffic engineers battle with the heavy volume of vehicles on the road and try to come up with a traffic management plan which will solve our problem. But traffic management plans for Melbourne have been changing recently. Rather than focusing on what can be done on the roads, traffic engineers have turned their attention to an alternative form of transport. Bicycles.
Melbourne wants to become a cycling city and the local councils are investing big bucks in making this happen. With cycle lanes already crisscrossing the urban sprawl, the next four years will see even more improvements. Traffic engineers are developing neighbourhood routes which will connect shops, schools and other community features in Kensington, Carlton, Southbank and North Melbourne. Traffic management plans in Melbourne also aim to link the existing cycle networks and offer a fluid, cohesive set of routes.
So where exactly are these networks? Well, on the City of Melbourne website, there are links to existing cycle networks all over the city — take a look at the ones which pass by your work. Initial traffic management plans for Melbourne were to create safe pathways between different sections of the inner city. As more money is invested in the future, however, this slightly disjointed set of lanes will not only be connected by traffic engineers but also expanded into the suburbs to facilitate full commutes being undertaken on bicycles.
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The traffic engineers have also been working hard to complete their traffic management plans with new parking facilities for your two wheeled vehicles. Securing your bicycle to one of the 2500 on-street bicycle hoops throughout the city has never been easier and enables most workers to cycle right to the doors of their offices. More convenient than car parks, for sure. And cheaper to boost. The ‘bike pod’ at City Square is a fantastic initiative for cyclists which not only provides free, off-street parking but also has shower and changing facilities for workers to use before entering the office.
But when it comes to cycling, there is more to consider than just cycle routes and parking spaces. Traffic management plans also have to take into consideration how to make the roads safer for cyclists. Although cycle lanes help, there still needs to be a change in attitude for most drivers, encouraging a pedestrian-centric view of the city rather than a vehicle dominant one. Lowering speed limits, giving cyclists right of way and generally raising awareness of other road users will all help to keep cyclists safe on the road.
In order to make cycling accessible to everyone, the City of Melbourne has introduced a public bicycle hire system called Melbourne Bike Share. These blue bicycles now number over 600 and can be found at 51 stations around the city. They can be hired on an hourly, daily, or weekly basis for a small fee. Helmets are provided for free, as cycling without one is illegal in Australia. This scheme is intended to encourage more people to cycle and allow for a spontaneous pedal across town on a Saturday afternoon as well as catering to commuters.
Over the next four years, traffic management plans in Melbourne are going to have a significant emphasis on cycling. The aim is for one out of every four vehicles entering our city to be a bicycle by 2020. This is only possible with your help. To show your support for this eco traffic management plan get out on your bike and start cycling!
