Clearways & Clearway bike lanes
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Clearways can be positive, neutral or negative to the bicycle network.
Positive clearways
Some of the clearways currently in operation around the CBD of Melbourne provide riders with a defined riding space during the morning peak. These routes are among the busiest on the bike network. Rider numbers on these routes continue to grow. They include Mt Alexander Road, Brunswick St, Heidelberg Road, Bridge Road and Toorak Road.
Most of the routes designated in the Keeping Melbourne Moving clearway plan are existing clearways. Two existing clearways, Sydney Road and Barkers Road are not marked with a clearway bike lane and also carry a substantial number of riders. Bicycle Victoria is calling for these routes to be marked with clearway bike lanes as part of the Keeping Melbourne Moving clearway plan.
The longer clearway hours proposed under the Keeping Melbourne Moving clearway plan will mean the clearway bike lanes will operate for more of the day.
During the off peak the level of service for bike riders is reduced on these routes. The bike space moves from a defined lane next to the kerb to the space on the right of the parked cars. This off peak space is usually a non standard size for a bike lane and so is usually unmarked. This undefined space can still be relatively comfortable for riders, particularly when there is a good space between a tram line and the parked cars and the vehicle speeds are low.
Some clearways offer an undefined space (wide kerbside lane) for riders. Studley Park Road is one example. Wide kerbside lanes provide some level of improved service to riders. In general we are not enthusiastic about them.
The shared bus/bike lane that operates in Johnson St provides some advantage to riders. The buses on this route are relatively infrequent and for much of the time the space can be used comfortably by riders.
Neutral clearways
Some clearways (including some of those mentioned in the Keeping Melbourne Moving clearway plan) have no impact on the bicycle network. There is a clearway on St George’s Road but, north of the Merri Creek, these clearways have no impact on St George's Road as the bike path is in the central median. Some roads with clearways are not, in our view, appropriate for developing on road bicycle facilities. Three examples are Punt Road, Victoria Parade and Bell Street.
Clearways can also be neutral when the riders are permanently kerbside. In Swanston Street the rider is kerbside and on their right is a parked car. The arrangement on Albert Street East Melbourne will be slightly different. The Albert Street bike lane will run kerbside. On the riders right hand side in the peak there will be a travel lane. In the off peak the rider will ride between the kerb and a parked car. In this situation the clearway or parking allocation has no impact on the bike route.
This arrangement of space – with the bike route permanently kerbside – is our preferred layout. It is preferable to clearway bike lanes and shared bicycle parking lanes.
Negative clearways
Clearways are a negative when the installation of a clearway removes an exclusive bike lane next to parking. If for example Flemington Road were designated as a clearway and the kerbside parking removed, it is unlikely that a kerbside bike lane could be installed, as the bluestone drainage tray next to the kerb would be unrideable. We would oppose the installation of clearways in any situation where they removed a shared bike parking lane.
