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6 Councils - Melbourne metro

Whitehorse City Council

New North to South bike route for Blackburn

22 July 2010. The City of Whitehorse has opened an important new North to South bike route along Surrey Road, local streets and connecting to the existing Blackburn Road bicycle lanes.

The new facility provides an important link from the Koonung Creek Trail beside the Eastern Freeway, to the south.

In a difficult corridor the route is a sensible compromise given the current on road constraints. Bicycle Network Victoria’s preferred facility would of course be a route separated from vehicle traffic to an even greater degree, particularly at the Whitehorse Road intersection.

It is expected that in the future any redesign of this intersection by VicRoads will improve through movements for cyclists.

The Surrey Road section makes good use of the available road space with an exclusive bike lane and a shared bike/parking lane. However compromises have been made to avoid reducing vehicle capacity of the signalized intersections of Springfield Road and Whitehorse Road.

As this route is on the Principle Bicycle Network, where bikes are a priority, these issues will no doubt be re-visited in the future.

On Whitehorse Road the provision of a wide purpose built shared path to link to Railway Road and Cottage St provides a low-risk connection.. The crossing of Railway Road has a centre refuge but is uncontrolled. however there is potential to upgrade to a ‘Give Way’ format if usage warrants.

While the proposed route (discussed below) along Cottage/ MortonPark/ Blackburn Road provides a useful bypass of the very busy Blackburn rail crossing, it would be desirable to get a signed bicycle route in and out of the Blackburn Activity Centre, which is a major trip generator.

Also for cyclists riding north on Blackburn Road, the signalized intersection at the railway provides a safe crossing of Blackburn Road,allowing continuation east through Morton Park to pick up the route to Surrey Road at the rail crossing to Cottage Street.

Advisory bike lanes have been installed in Cottage Street, although there will be some conflict with industry traffic. In Morton Park there is a good path south to Central Avenue and a useful connection to the Blackburn Lake area with Advisory bike lanes on Central Road. The Central Rd Advisory lanes will provide encouragement for cyclists in the Blackburn Lake area to access the activity centre and the Blackburn Road route.

In the longer term there may be scope to upgrade the quality of this facility to an Exclusive Bike Lane.

Wolseley Crescent provides a low traffic connection to Blackburn Road and its Advisory bike lanes should raise awareness of motorists. This connection will serve south bound cyclists satisfactorily however northbound cyclists are likely to make a safer crossing of Blackburn Road to Morton Park at the signals as described above.

BiXE 2009: City of Whitehorse

Whitehorse City Council has a BiXE 2009 of $5.72 which is a good improvement on its BiXE 2008 of $2.65. This year’s result places Whitehorse slightly below the Middle Councils' average BiXE 2009 of $5.95 and above Bicycle Network Victoria’s recommended $5 per resident. Whitehorse has a 3 year BiXE average of $2.99.

Whitehorse City Council has opportunities to invest these funds into cycling infrastructure such as:
• Building the Pipeline trail. Whitehorse City Council could continue this all the way from Heatherdale Railway Station to Highbury Road. Monash City Council could then continue it all the way to Syndal Railway Station, providing a critical north-south link for recreation, commuting and the many schools along this corridor
• Upgrading the Gardiners Creek Trail and improving the link to the Blackburn area
• Providing more on road bike lanes on Council-maintained roads, particularly around schools.

Bicycle Strategy

Jul 06 Whitehorse Council have this year budgeted to review their Bicycle Strategy to help further improve cycling in their municipality. Bicycle Network Victoria looks forward to working with the council on this initiative. Register (on right) for updates so that when we find out the process is beginning we can let you know automatically.

Key projects in Whitehorse include:

Whitehorse Rd and Tram 109

The extension of tram route 109 along Whitehorse Rd has raised issues for cyclists with the installation of new platform stops.

Middleborough Rd crossing

The intersection of the railway line and Middleborough Rd is due to be realigned to ease the traffic bottleneck.

As a result Vicroads and Victrack have resolved to lower the railway line and place Middleborough Rd on an overpass. As part of this project there will be a pedestrian crossing integrated as a suspended platform from the bridge, allowing you to cross east-west between Laburnum and Box Hill.

Whilst this does not currently propose to link up with the current trail on the northern side of Bishop St which leads to Box Hill Central, it does offer hope for future possibilities as Middleborough Rd has always presented a major barrier to bike riders in this area. 

Principal Bicycle Network Routes in Whitehorse: