The City of Melbourne has been exploring better ways to ensure all road users can share our roads safely. The following cycling infrastructure has recently been implemented by the City of Melbourne:
Separated bike lanes
New bicycle lanes are currently being installed in Albert Street, East Melbourne between Gisborne and Hoddle streets, in order to help improve safety for all road users by separating motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
Very like the separated bike lanes which were installed in Swanston Street in 2007, the Albert Street bike lanes have a few differences.
These bike lanes will incorporate a smaller barrier between cars and the bike lane. The barrier will not be raised as it is in Swanston Street. Instead the barrier will be marked with striped line-marking and will feature a ‘rumble strip’ so car drivers know when they are straying into the bike lane.
The new dedicated bike lanes will be a permanent feature of Albert Street, but the use of the lanes for cars will change during the course of the day.
During peak traffic period a clearway will operate:
- on the on the inbound or southern side of Albert Street (6.30am to 9.30am) and
- on the outbound or northern side of Albert Street (4-6pm)
At each of these peak times, there will be two lanes of moving traffic and the dedicated bike lane on the clearway side of the road.
Outside peak periods one lane of traffic may park between the bike lane and the traffic. The rumble strip will alert drivers that stray into the bicycle lanes, by causing their vehicles to vibrate.
The new lanes became operational on Monday 7 June 2010, however some work will still be carried out until the end of June to complete the green pavement treatment and the line markings.
Albert Street bike lane tips for parking (PDF, 76kb) 
Melbourne Bike Share
Melbourne Bike Share is a joint RACV/Victorian Government bicycle hire scheme. The initiative is also supported by the City of Melbourne and Bicycle Victoria.
The scheme is due to start in late May 2010. For more information, visit Melbourne Bike Share.
Manningham Bridge development
The Manningham Bridge was opened 2 March 2010 to coincide with Super Tuesday, Australia's biggest visual bike count.
The bridge allows cyclists and pedestrians to walk/ride safely across Manningham Street, avoiding the traffic below. The bridge links the east and west sides of the Capital City Trail.
Rathdowne Street 'Vibra-line' lane marking
In mid-2008, the cycling path along Rathdowne Street in Carlton, between Victoria Street and Princes Street, was upgraded as a high quality bike route.
The existing on-road bike lanes were treated with a green surface colouring and ‘vibra-line’ lane marking. Vibra-line lane markings alerts drivers and cyclists alike if they move outside their respective road spaces. The new lane markings also create an audible alert, working in conjunction with visual markings and surface colouring to reinforce the bike lane’s presence.
With these new measures in place, Rathdowne Street has been transformed into one of the city’s highest quality cycling routes.
Bike parking at Lygon Court, Carlton
New bike racks have been installed outside Lygon Court on Lygon Street, Carlton. Bike parking space demand is extremely high in the area, given its proximity to cinemas, shopping and cafes/restaurants.
The City of Melbourne has responded to high demand by designating two car parking bays for cyclists. Seven bike parking hoops have been installed in these specially modified parking bays.
Space for two vehicles (cars) has been transformed into space for 14 vehicles (bikes).
More information
For more information about new or existing cycling infrastructure and works, contact the City of Melbourne’s Engineering Services Group on (03) 9658 9658.
Find out more about the City of Melbourne's sustainable transport strategies: