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Modelling shows need for cycling infrastructure following COVID-19

The Western Australian Government has awarded the tender to build a 2.8 kilometre section of shared cycling/pedestrian path in Fremantle as part of its $134M investment in cycling infrastructure over the next four years.

The Western Australian Government has awarded the tender to build a 2.8 kilometre section of shared cycling/pedestrian path in Fremantle as part of its $134M investment in cycling infrastructure over the next four years.Urban researchers from RMIT are developing city-scale simulation modes for cycling in Melbourne to test the impact of behaviour and transport infrastructure changes.

On the 15th of April the Bicycle Network undertook a two-hour count of shared paths across Melbourne and found with paths such as the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail and the Capital City Trail and Upfield Bike Path showing growth of 79 and 19 per cent respectively.

It has also been widely reported that bike sales have seen an increase since the country entered lockdown.

As part of a new project, PhD candidate Afshin Jafari from the RMIT Centre for Urban Research has recreated the travel trips of a single workday in Melbourne for 25 per cent of the city’s population, which equates to around 1.16 million people.

Mr. Jafari said if 20 per cent of public transport users who have a 10 kilometre commute shift to cycling, this increases the number of bike trips to work by 50 per cent.

“Our city-scale simulation model shows the shift to cycling increases the number of en route cyclists in morning and afternoon peaks in Melbourne,” he said.

“This increase puts more pressure on most of Melbourne’s key commuter routes such as Sydney and St Kilda roads, which are already notorious for their higher rates of bicycle crashes.”

Mr. Jafari said to address this sudden change actions will be needed, such as pop-up bike lanes.

The City of Melbourne has already propose to install 12 kilometres of pop-up cycling lanes, but Mr. Jafari said this needs to go beyond the CBD.

“While pop-up bike paths in the centre are crucial, we need to think about going beyond that one area and include others,” he says.

The simulation shows areas beyond the CBD are expected to feel the pressure from increased cyclists.

“Cyclists need to go through suburbs such as Footscray, St Kilda and Brunswick – areas that feed into the CBD but have been identified by cyclists as some of the scariest suburbs to ride through during peak hour.”

Melbourne’s Transport Strategy 2030 does include long term plans to improve cycling infrastructure however Mr. Jafari said the impacts of COVID-19 show changes are needed immediately to protect people’s health.

“Instead of waiting for the plan, we can insert temporary barriers in these areas to create safe lines for cyclists to help them navigate safely, while restrictions are easing,” he said.

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