December 15th, 2024More protected bike lanes please: RACV
With bicycle deaths in Victoria up 71 per cent on last year, the RACV is calling on governments to improve road safety for bicycle riders by rolling out more protected bike lanes in strategic corridors across Melbourne.
Last month the RACV released a comprehensive refresh of its RACV Bike Superhighway network, detailed in an updated study and map.
The map presents high-priority bike riding corridors across metropolitan Melbourne that RACV believes the Victorian and Federal Governments should prioritise investment in.
The updated study, which builds upon the original 2017 analysis, incorporates new, evidence-based modelling that reflects post-pandemic travel trends, recent bike infrastructure improvements and the growing uptake of e-bikes.
The RACV believes the refreshed RACV Bike Superhighway network will help prioritise the allocation of limited active transport funding, to achieve positive road safety, health and transport mode-shift outcomes.
RACV General Manager Mobility Julia Hunter emphasised the critical need for increased investment in bike infrastructure, noting the updated map has been designed to help governments prioritise targeted active transport investment.
“RACV believes investing in separated bike infrastructure will increase the uptake of bike riding and save lives,” Ms Hunter said.
“The RACV Bike Superhighway provides a starting point for investment decisions, recognising there may be alternative roads within each corridor that are more feasible to upgrade than others.
“The main point is, separating bike riders from motor vehicles on corridors where there is highest demand is one of the most effective ways to keep people safe, and to encourage Victorians to ride more often.
“When it comes to getting around, Victorians are increasingly using multiple modes of transport, with 38 per cent having used both public transport and a bike in the past 12 months.
“However, RACV research shows that many Victorians still feel there is inadequate bike infrastructure, and safety remains a major concern.”
The RACV encourages both the Victorian and Federal Governments to invest in infrastructure that prioritises bike lanes that are physically separated from cars.
This story based on an RACV media release
