New inner-city bike lanes

With office workers returning to the city and traffic becoming a reality again, the City of Melbourne has joined forces with RACV to encourage commuters to consider cycling as a convenient, healthier way of getting around.

Let’s Ride Melbourne! is a new program aimed at inspiring Melburnians to get on a bike with a range of activities including bike confidence workshops, and the fast-tracked installation of new bike lanes.

Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece said the council would be prioritising new bike lanes to encourage people to ditch their cars for a bike.

“Let’s Ride Melbourne is a great way to access helpful resources and activities for new riders who want to learn more and build confidence,” the Deputy Lord Mayor said.

“We’re fast-tracking the installation of new bike lanes to make it safer for more people to ride, which frees up space on public transport for those who need to travel into the city from the outer suburbs.”

New lanes have already been installed along Exhibition and William streets in the city, Rathdowne St, Swanston St and Canning St in Carlton, Albert St in East Melbourne, as well as shared zones in the city’s little streets.

RACV general manager Elizabeth Kim said new research had found the pandemic significantly influenced how we choose to get around, prompting people to consider alternative mobility options.

Ms Kim added that recent and planned upgrades to Melbourne’s cycling infrastructure by local governments were making it easier and safer for a wider range of bike riders to get around Melbourne.

“The mental, physical and financial benefits of riding for transport, as well as for leisure, are being discovered by more people than ever before,” Ms Kim said.

Prospective bike riders can sign up for the workshops, subscribe to the regular newsletter and engage with the latest cycling information online •

For more information: letsride.melbourne.vic.gov.au