North: Epping precinct

Epping has been identified as one of Melbourne's major activity centres and generates a high volume of trips. Incorporating bikes will be a challenge

Epping sizes up new lanes

24 January 2012. Modern bike infrastructure is not just for the inner suburbs as Epping, on Melbourne's fringe, looks at the introduction of Copenhagen-style lanes.

Whittlesea Council will investigate the separated lanes, which run between the curb and the parked cars, for the redevelopment of High Street between McDonalds and Childs roads in Epping.

Melbourne has a number of such lanes, and the local experience has followed international understanding that the configuration results in less crashes and more riders.

The Coroner recently recommended that the government look at a wider introduction of Copenhagen lanes as a strategy to reduce the number of doorings.

VicRoads is developing design standards for separated lanes so that councils can have more confidence in installing them.

Whittlesea Council is taking the concept to community consultation.

RACV has stated it did not support Copenhagen-style lanes because they increased road congestion. But this is not backed up by any evidence and RACV is expected to eventually face facts and support the concept.

Rail Project broadens bike horizons in the North

21 May 2009. The recent State Budget has funded a rail corridor bike path along the Epping to South Morang rail extension, due for completion in 2013. This is great news for public transport and bike travellers alike.

This commitment is an example of the State Government's recent pledge to 'mainstream' bikes as part of major projects, and to incorporate them into the core of the transport network; initiatives strongly supported by Bicycle Network Victoria.

The project will include a Parkiteer cage at the new South Morang Station and a shared path along the rail corridor. This east-west path will connect with the Darebin Creek Trail and the Broadmeadows 'drain trail'.

Information currently available basically shows the path running along the south side of the rail corridor from the Darebin Creek Path and heading west to South Morang.

There were concerns over the western end (indicated in red, below) as there was no clear statement regarding the path reaching Epping.

Initial concerns over the western end of the path and its connectivity have been allayed after discussions with the Project Director who has assured Bicycle Network Victoria that this will be incorporated in plans currently being developed

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View Epping Rail project in a larger map