June 2026
Monthly Catchup
We'll meet at Friday at 6pm at Borderlands in Pickett St Footscray for a chat about how we can get some progress. All welcome. https://www.facebook.com/share/1DrvgqZhvB/
Cycling and the Fuel Crisis
Cycling can play a significant short-term and long-term role in managing fuel shortages because it directly reduces demand for petrol and diesel in everyday travel. In a fuel crisis, the main policy goal is not necessarily to produce more fuel (which takes time) but to reduce demand so essential sectors like freight, agriculture and emergency services can still operate.
WeRide have released a report about how cycling can help. Here are the 9 simple things they recommend and BikeWest supports:
- Crossings and footpaths near schools, shops and stops
- Pop-up bike lanes on key commuter routes
- More frequent public transport services
- Pop-up bus-priority lanes
- Shorter wait times at push-button crossings
- Fuel-saving speed limits
- $100 vouchers for bicycle repairs
- Rapid grants for bike parking and end-of-trip upgrades
- $500 vouchers to buy a bicycle
The report can be found here:
Recent reporting shows Australia is already experiencing supply pressures and rising prices linked to global disruptions, with concerns about shortages and rationing in some areas.
BikeWest has composed a strategy with specific actions that councils can quickly take to assist people to get about by bike. We have sent this strategy to Maribyrnong, HBCC, MVCC with MV Sustainability and Brimbank with BrimBUG.
State Election Campaign
Sustainable transport is going to be an issue at the next State Election.
How safe is it for you, or your family, to move around on a bike? Strategic Cycling Corridors (SCCs) are the state's plan for a network of safe bike routes across Melbourne and regional centres. But after years of planning only a small fraction has been built. That's why BikeWest is partnering with Bicycle Network and other community groups across the state to ask for a dedicated 5% of transport funding for building safe bike routes. Check out the campaign page to find what's been built, what still needs to be done, and send a message to your local MP.
Sustainable transport is not just bikes— we're looking forward to parallel campaigns for public transport, walking, and electrification of road transport.
Build the Damn Lanes
LA VELOCITA
Strategic Cycling Corridors Map
Here is a fantastic map with lots of information on the the strategic cycling corridors for the upcoming state election including cost estimates. If you contact us we can give you details about the estimated cost in your electorate. This information could be very helpful in the upcoming election when talking to candidates.
Melbourne Airport Rail - Superhub Project
Sunshine
The long proposed Greenline is to become a reality. Overall this seems to be good though we're advocating for separating cyclists and pedestrians as currently they want an shared user path (SUP) which in such a busy area will just promote conflict.
Tottenham
Tottenham station is also set to be rebuilt by the project, this will include a new pedestrian tunnel separate it from the polluted Ashley St.
Unfortunately, we haven't had any success yet about changing the brief to include cycling infrastructure but we're still trying. People on bikes will be expected to dismount and walk 150 metres. This is despite the tunnel being one of the Strategic Cycling Corridors.
This will only change with an extensive public campaign. We are also enlisting the support of the Bicycle Network CEO, Ali McCormack who will be raising it with the Active Transport Minister Williams in their next meeting.
https://engage.vic.gov.au/airportrail-stage1
Near Miss Map
Please use this map to help us collect data that will be very valuable and persuasive. There are far too many crashes, near misses and other incidents that go unreported so BikeWest has worked with a fantastic colleague Vince to produce the Near Miss map to report these near misses and give us more evidence to advocate for safer cycling. The Near Miss Map can be found here, please use it if you have a near miss and share it widely
Maribyrnong Council
BikeWest recently had a meeting withe Maribyrnong Council transport team. We seem to be on a very similar page with council. We will be having regular meetings with council to work out a constructive way ahead. For the first time in a long time we have some genuine hope we can achieve something. Fingers still crossed.
Franco Cozzo Link
BikeWest are working hard with Maribyrnong Council to join the Hopetoun Bridge with central Footscray. We have been led to believe there has been progress on the section between Whitehall St and the river.
Traffic Signals at Melon St and Ballarat Rd
We have heard rumours that there will soon be traffic signals at this intersection enabling easier access between the Maribyrnong River and Braybrook. Nothing confirmed but stay tuned.
Westlink
BikeWest is continuing our campaign to lever off the opening of the Dixon Veloway and highlight the gap to the shared user path (SUP) on Cross St beside West Footscray Station. There is a 2km black hole between the Veloway and West Footscray Station and we have drawn up plans that utilise much of the designs the ALP took to the 2019 federal election. We are working with Maribyrnong Council and this will be part of the state election campaign. We have also met with the Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino as this is part of his electorate to discuss the possibility of federal funding.
Quarry Park Masterplan
BikeWest continues to work with Maribyrnong Council to develop a bicycle park in Quarry Park. The ask is for extended MTB trails, a crushed gravel running/CX path around the perimeter as well as a Bike Education Centre/Event space with a cafe and deck with the best view in Melbourne.
Climate Emergency Strategy Review
Maribyrnong are reviewing their climate strategy and of course cycling has a significant role to play in any such strategy. The review will be open to community feedback shortly
Physical Activity in Maribyrnong
Council are also seeking feedback from the community about how to get active. We hear cycling can be quite good physical activity. This obviously links with our hopes for Quarry Park.
Hobsons Bay City Council
HBCC are developing their Integrated Transport Strategy and had a workshop on Sunday March 15th. BikeWest attended the workshop
We were very pleased to hear the strongly supportive views on cycling from the other participants. The organizer of the workshop said he'd never hosted a workshop that was so strongly supportive of cycling. BikeWest has organised further meetings with HBCC staff about their ITS. This is a very pleasing change from our interactions with HBCC in previous years.
Moonee Valley City Council
MVCC have been working on their Integrated Transport Strategy for some time. BikeWest and Moonee Valley Sustainability have continued to work with council on the ITS.
Solomons Ford Bridge
Apparently agreement has been reached to build a pedestrian and bike bridge at Solomons Ford in Braybrook, near the Quan Minh temple. The sticking point seems to be bureaucratic delay in MVCC. We have sent a formal submission to the Mayor and have received a reply stating she will investigate it.
Research, International News
How Bentonville Became a Bike City
Three years ago, Bentonville, Arkansas, was a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) with an ambitious goal: to build a connected bike-and-pedestrian infrastructure in a few years that traditional planning timelines would have taken decades to deliver. Fast forward to 2026, and Bentonville has built 30 miles of protected bike lanes, sidewalks, and greenways, has earned Silver BFC status, and is on a credible path to Gold.
https://bikeleague.org/how-bentonville-became-a-bike-city-from-bronze-to-silver-and-beyond/
We might add a couple of things. Bentonville's journey towards bike friendly town was begun by building lots of MTB trails on the edge of town. This kick started Bentonville becoming a cycling destination and then an active transport town. A very similar opportunity exists with Quarry Park in Footscray. If Footscray can become a cycling destination bringing more and more people who ride bikes into the area this will help build momentum
Walmart started in Bentonville and a couple of brothers from the family are into MTB riding and still live in Bentonville so that kinda helps fund things.
Accelerated Mobility Playbook
Bentonville used the Accelerated Mobility Playbook to get action quickly. Something we can learn from
Advocacy Tool Kit
More to learn from our colleagues in the USA (hard to write that)
Active Transportation Program in Reno (RENO!!!)
Makenzie Morgan
Racetracks we call streets
Alan Ehrenhalt
Bloomberg Philanthropies Commits $350M to Cycling Infrastructure Across 30+ Cities
Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a major new $350 million investment aimed at reshaping how cities around the world design their streets. The funding will expand the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety alongside the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure, with a shared goal of saving an estimated one million lives over the next five years.
