On Wednesday we took some of our Port Phillip councillors for a ride down Inkerman St.

There is a bike lane proposed for this street: either Option A (buffered by concrete) or Option B (buffered by... paint!).

Unsurprisingly the street obliged us by demonstrating why paint isn't protection: drivers pulling out of parallel parks without checking for oncoming bikes; trucks crossing the painted lines; buses and other vehicles passing at less than the 1m minimum distance; left hooks cutting off people on bikes...
We looked at the signalised intersections (intersections clock up the most crashes, but are unprotected in Option B); the current difficulty of crossing the road, and talked about the strategic importance of the connections to St Kilda Rd and the city, and to Caulfield and the Djerring trail.
The locals shared their experiences of the road. The kid who needed to get to school; the young mum who didn't dare ride on this road at all; and the older lady who had given up riding altogether, due to the unsafe conditions. There was also a lot of hope for the future: for more sustainable transport; for an inclusive street that supports all users.
One of the kids summed it up nicely: let's make the choice that makes the world better.
#cycling #melbourne #naarm #SafeInkerman #BikeLanes @fedibikes @danielbowen