Yarra River swimming vision now locked in with council signature

City of Melbourne has signed the Swimmable Cities Charter, committing to restore the health of the Yarra River for swimming.

McLeish backs Yarra Ranges Council call
#AusNews #VicNews #Yarra Ranges #Council #VicGov #SpringSt #Liberal #coalition

https://www.victoriannews.com.au/politics/state-politics-victoria/mcleish-backs-yarra-ranges-council-call/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Richmond bike lanes to shrink after controversial parking plan approved
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/far-too-narrow-richmond-bike-lanes-debate-intensifies-before-vote-to-bring-back-car-parks-20250811-p5mm3m.html

Yarra City Council Mayor Stephen Jolly is a tool of the motoring lobby. His decision to make critical cycling infrastructure worse will have a severe impact on safety and amenity, as well as the environment. He can claim he's making a compromise as though he's doing the right thing, but we all know he's a knob who won't stand-up to fight RWNJs.

#AusPol #VicPol #Melbourne #Cycling #Yarra #StephenJolly

We walked 10km along the Yarra today. It was a few kilometres further than I had intended but I hadn't taken into account a 3km bulge in the walk because of the bendy, wendy Yarra River.

This week was the first week I have done exercise since my surgery four weeks ago. I did two walks of about 2.5 km each this week as well as this long one. I have definitely lost fitness but I am pleased that I have been able to do this much.

The weather is glorious in Melbourne today so it was a great day for it. I have now walked the Yarra from Docklands to Fairfield. When the weather gets warmer I must get my bike fixed and start riding the Yarra River and Gardiner's Creek bike trails.

#Melbourne #Yarra #YarraRiver

Elizabeth Street, Richmond: 10 + riders, 6 cars on 1 light cycle at Hoddle

Over 15 years since Albert St protected lanes in East Melbourne were built, the connecting Elizabeth St lanes in Richmond were added 4+ years ago creating a much-loved east-west route for riders

‼️Lets ensure they remain that way: add your name to our petition

https://form.jotform.com/yarrabike/yarra-council-dont-risk-our-safety

Keep an eye on next weeks Yarra Council Meeting on 11 February 2025 for agenda items, this should be avaliable by end of this week:

https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/about-us/committees-meetings-and-minutes/council-meeting-11-february-2025

#melbourne #naarm #activetransport #cycling #yarra

Stephen Jolly is clearly feeling the heat from the Yarra bicycle community.
Reversing on removing the Coppins St bike infrastructure and instead making it permanent, announcing things the previous council already announced (Wellington St up to Alexandra Pde) and committing to some things that probably aren't possible (extending Elizabeth St protected bike lane down Baker St and a protected bike lane on Langridge St, protected Wellington St lane up to Queens Pde)

#bicycles #yarra

https://www.instagram.com/stephenjollyyarracouncillor/

The Yarra City Council wants to narrow the bike lanes on Elizabeth St in Richmond to add an additional parking lane.
They're justifying this on the idea that the lanes are overly wide.

The bike lanes are pretty wide by Melbourne bike lane standards but are still narrow by proper bike lane standards, they've got enough space for you to be riding your cargo bike and for someone else to overtake.

The geometry problem that the council encounters is that while there is space on the street for wide protected bike lanes, there isn't enough space to add a parking lane and have bike lanes of a usable width.

When you add an additional car parking lane you need to narrow the bike lanes to at most 1.4 metres (with probably <1m of usable space due to car doors).

The ability to overtake in bike lanes isn't an optional extra it's a complete necessity. Motorists will drive at very similar speeds on local streets, but cyclists will ride at a wide variety of speeds depending on the abilities of the rider (and whether they have electric pedal assist).

Narrow bike lanes make safe overtaking impossible which increases stress and discourages slower riders from wanting to use the lane.

A common response that came back from the Petal project survey was that young women felt uncomfortable riding on busy bicycle paths because they felt like they were in the way and received some level of aggression from faster riders because of it.

If you're in Yarra or ride through Yarra put your name on the petition.

https://form.jotform.com/yarrabike/yarra-council-dont-risk-our-safety

#melbourne #bicycles #ProtectedBikeLanes #yarra #richmond