Better connected and safer cycling infrastructure needed to support more Victorians to ride

Infrastructure Victoria Chief Executive Officer Dr Jonathan Spear said: "Cities around the world show when you invest in walking and cycling infrastructure, people choose to walk or take a bike. In London, around a quarter of all trips can be easily and safely done by bike.” 

Victoria’s infrastructure strategy 2025–2055, released today, makes 45 recommendations to the Victorian Government across infrastructure sectors including transport, health, housing, energy, social infrastructure and the environment. It also identifies 8 future options for the government to consider.  

The updated strategy offers practical, evidence-based advice on the projects, policies and reforms most critical to Victoria’s growth and resilience over the next 3 decades. New evidence and analysis, together with stakeholder and community feedback, have directly informed updates to the strategy. 

The recommended network of 16 priority cycling corridors would create 250 kilometres of continuous and safe bike connections for Victorian cyclists. Infrastructure Victoria estimates it would cost the government up to $620 million over 5 years to provide the following routes (see also maps below): 

“Many Victorians would like to ride, but they do not because they are worried about safety,” Dr Spear said. 
 
“Better connected bike infrastructure that is separated from traffic helps more people choose to ride, including young people, women and less confident riders. People using micromobility devices like electric scooters are also safer with separated bike infrastructure.” 

In Melbourne, 60% of people’s trips are under 5 kilometres. Many of these trips are well-suited to a short bike ride, but less than 2% of them are made by bicycle.  

More people riding reduces traffic congestion and crowding on public transport. Up to 5 times more people can travel on bike lanes each hour compared to car lanes. 

Safer cycling corridors also deliver $2.40 to $3.40 in benefits for every dollar spent and up to $4 when delivered together as a network. Short extra links to nearby local destinations can add up to 3 times more benefits. 

“The Victorian Government has made some good progress in recent years with over 250 kilometres of new active transport links made possible through major projects such as the level crossing removals,” Dr Spear said. 

“The next priority is to fund and deliver, with local councils, these 16 cycling corridors to provide safer connections for all users across the network,” Dr Spear said.  

The strategy also recommends cycling infrastructure investment in Wodonga, Castlemaine, Shepparton and Mildura from the mid-2030s, after the initial 16 projects are delivered. 

By partnering with the Australian Government and other organisations, along with smarter use of existing government land, the Victorian Government can implement the strategy’s 45 recommendations at a cost of around $60 billion. 

“Our recommendations lay out how the Victorian Government can reduce the costs of providing infrastructure over the next 3 decades and generate over $166 billion worth of benefits for Victorians,” Dr Spear said. 

Infrastructure Victoria is required to develop and update Victoria’s 30-year infrastructure strategy every 3 to 5 years. This is the second strategy update since Infrastructure Victoria was created 10 years ago. 

Victoria’s infrastructure strategy 2025–2055 will be tabled in the Victorian Parliament this week to inform the policies of all parties. The Victorian Government is required to respond to the strategy recommendations within 12 months.  

Media enquiries 
 
Mandy Frostick mandy.frostick@infrastructurevictoria.com.au Ph: 0422 529 536 
Madeleine Brennan madeleine.brennan@infrastructurevictoria.com.au Ph: 0402 715 577 

Victoria’s infrastructure strategy 2025–2055 recommends: 

Recommendation 16: Build safe cycling networks in Melbourne and regional cities 

Build more protected and connected cycle corridors in Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Wangaratta. Publish regular updates to the strategic cycling corridor network. 

Fast facts 

• A 2022 Monash University survey found more than 75% of Victorians are interested in cycling but only if cyclists are separated from vehicles, such as protected cycle lanes and off-road paths. 

• The Victorian Government has committed to increasing active transport mode share to 25% by 2030.  

• The share of active transport in Melbourne is only 4% for work-related trips and 16% for education-related trips. As a comparison, 42% journeys to work and education are made by bicycle in Copenhagen. 

• One-quarter (24.9%) of vehicle trips in metropolitan Melbourne beginning between 8 and 9 am are for school drop-offs, contributing to peak hour congestion. 

• Hospitalisations for cyclists and motorcyclists have risen by over 30% over the past decade. 

• Switching one trip a day from car to bike or e-bike resulted in a saving of half a tonne of carbon per person per year. 

Table 1: Length of 16 priority new and upgraded cycling corridor

Figure 1: The Victorian Government should deliver a network of cycling corridors in Melbourne and regional Victoria