On 1 September 2021, Council voted to apply to the Victorian Government Department of Transport (DoT) for $13M to build three shimmy ‘pop-up’ bike routes: Park Street (West), Moray Street to Albert Road connector and the Bay Trail to Moray Street link that aligns to the Victoria Government’s Shrine to Sea project. 

FOR: Crs Baxter, Crawford, Cunsolo, Copsey, Martin and Pearl

AGAINST: Crs Bond, Sirakoff and Clark

Council will seek from the Victorian Government delivery of a process of design, community engagement, evaluation, adjustment, and maintenance will be implemented over the life of these trial ‘pop-up’ bike lanes. Following the confirmation of any funding, Council Officers will provide the permits and approvals necessary for the installation and maintenance of the ‘pop-up’ bike lane infrastructure on Council owned roads.

We asked Cr. Rhonda Clark why she voted against this proposal and received this response:

"One of the things that I have come to admire about council and council processes is the strong commitment to consultation and engagement with the community. It is provided in everything council does and in every small change. Everyone has the opportunity to have their say and their feedback is taken into consideration.

It is this commitment to our community which is totally missing from this proposal. Not only is it missing, but it has also never happened and the proposal from Dept of Transport is to only allow 6 weeks. For most residents this is the first time they have heard about a shimmy bike lane or removing one traffic lane from Park St or taking out 13 car parks on Park St or losing 25 car parks in Kerford Road.

Council’s own recommendation is that it “Seeks a commitment from the Department of Transport that for proposals funded by the Program, a process of design, community engagement, evaluation, adjustment and maintenance will be implemented over the life of these trial ‘pop-up’ bike lanes."