Council is asking for feedback on several planned transport improvements:
Intersection of Balmain, Cotter, Church
We support this proposal, which was an outcome of the Cremorne Urban Design Framework. The kerbside protected bike lane on Balmain Street is important because it secures space for people biking, protecting them against the heavy evening peak-hour traffic of people exiting Cremorne onto Church Street. It’s OK as a first step, and even better would be to extend the protection much further along Balmain Street. The east-west corridor of Balmain Street and Cotter Street are part of Council’s New Deal for Cycling network. To improve conditions on a residential street such as Cotter Street there are two basic options; replace parking with protected bike lanes, or reduce the volume and speed of traffic so people biking can share the lane with people driving. In this case, Council is proposing to reduce the volume of traffic by making the intersection ‘exit only’, i.e. local residents can exit the neighbourhood onto Church Street, but through traffic is restricted.
Intersection of Lennox and Swan
We support this proposal. The protected bike remains at the kerbside, instead of being dangerously located between two vehicle lanes. In addition, a short section is protected with a kerb. Similar changes have been made at other intersections around Yarra, significantly improving safety for people biking, without limiting any vehicle movements.
Intersection of Wertheim and Stawell
We support this proposal. Wertheim Street and Manton Street form part of Council’s New Deal for Cycling network, providing an east-west “shimmy” or “wiggle” route through quiet streets in Richmond. Wertheim Street has a counterflow bike lane, and the proposal is improving safety by protecting a short section near the intersection, without restricting any vehicle movements.
Intersection of Scotchmer and St Georges
We support this proposal. Scotchmer Street forms part of Council’s New Deal for Cycling network, providing an east-west route through Fitzroy North. The proposal is improving safety for people biking by adding short lengths of protective kerb in the lead up to the intersection, without restricting any vehicle movements.
Intersection of Lennox and Bridge
We support this proposal. Lennox Street forms part of Council’s New Deal for Cycling network, providing a north-south route through Richmond. South of Bridge Road, the proposal moves the bike lane to the kerbside, instead of being dangerously located between two vehicle lanes. The proposal also adds protection, which improves safety for people biking without restricting any vehicle movements. North of Bridge Road, people biking south are going slowly uphill, so the proposal adds a longer length of protected bike lane. Again, vehicle movements aren’t restricted.
Intersection of Lennox and Highett
We support this proposal. Both Lennox and Highett forms part of Council’s New Deal for Cycling network, providing a north-south and and east-west route through Richmond. The proposal applies treatments that have been made at other intersections around Yarra, significantly improving safety for people biking, without limiting any vehicle movements. Specifically, bike lanes are kept at the kerbside, and short sections of protection are added. In addition, angle parking on Lennox is changed to parallel parking to free up space so that people biking aren’t dangerously squeezed.
Intersection of Johnson and Victoria
We support this proposal. The northern section of Johnson Street forms part of the state government Strategic Cycling Corridor network, and also Council’s New Deal for Cycling network, extending the Elizabeth Street bike lanes past Baker Street and up to Victoria Street. The proposal adds protection to the bike lane as it approaches Victoria Street.
Conclusion
It’s great to see Council planning small yet significant improvements around the municipality, and we urge Councillors to support them. You can have your say on Your Say Yarra.
Published 10 August 2025