Flinders to City Bikeway

Thank you for your feedback and for sharing your concerns about the Flinders to City Bikeway project.

While the issue of cyclists paying road fees such as insurance and registration is a broader policy matter, our focus at the council level is to ensure safe and accessible infrastructure for all road users, including cyclists. This also involves provision for all types of cyclists including the one that wish to travel along safer local streets. This is consistent with Council’ strategic priorities when it comes to active transport provision within the Council area.

The bike boxes located at Jose Street between Winston Court and Morgan Avenue, and Clovelly Avenue near Cross Road, are positioned at road closures, ensuring minimal impact on traffic. Additionally, these bike boxes will be integrated within the proposed ‘pocket parks’, featuring landscaping to increase visual appeal. We are currently consulting with neighbouring residents to gather their feedback and ensure the design meets community expectations.

The Flinders to City Bikeway project underwent extensive planning and community consultation during 2021. During this period, we gathered input from residents, ratepayers, and stakeholders. This consultation included those directly affected in Clarence Gardens.

Feedback from local residents and stakeholders was essential in shaping the final design and route of the bikeway. Many residents from Clarence Gardens supported the project and highlighted the need for a designated safe cycling route. Their valuable suggestions and concerns about specific aspects of the route were carefully considered in the revised design.

While focus groups can be a valuable tool for gathering feedback, the extensive nature of this engagement, which included over 1,700 residents and various organisations such as Bike Adelaide, BikeSA, Active Transport Mitcham, and local schools, required a broader approach. Engaging a multitude of stakeholders ensured a comprehensive understanding of community needs and concerns. We will certainly consider use of focus groups for future projects where appropriate.

In 2016, a thorough study assessed various potential routes for the bikeway, focusing on cyclist segregation from vehicles, vehicle crash history, and vehicle speeds to identify the safest and most efficient routes. Following this, an extensive consultation in 2021 gathered input from the community. This consultation aimed to understand transport modes, usage frequency, key destinations, and safety concerns.

The feedback indicated a preference for routes that enhanced safety and ease of travel for cyclists. Jose Street was chosen due to its lower vehicle volumes and speeds, contributing to a safer cycling environment compared to busier arterial roads. While community feedback is certainly considered to reach a decision, other criteria are applied such as technical considerations, input from experts and local land use considerations. The design includes infrastructure improvements such as off-road movements at Rozelle Reserve and safe road crossing treatments to further enhance cyclist safety.

We understand your concerns about school children on Jose Street. The bikeway design incorporates traffic calming features and improved intersection safety to protect all road users. The consultation process showed that the community values safety and ease of travel, aligning with the planned improvements for Jose Street.

While Winston Avenue has highlighted bike lanes, the selection of Jose Street was influenced by factors like traffic volumes, crash history, and community feedback, making it a safer and more accessible option.

The route on Jose Street was selected based on a detailed study and extensive community consultation. The community's feedback emphasised the need for safer cycling routes, which Jose Street fulfils with its lower traffic volumes and planned improvements.

Thank you for your question regarding the engagement with cyclists and the new bikeway route.

During the planning process for the bikeway, we actively reached out to community groups and cyclists including Bike SA and Cycling SA. The chosen route reflects the desires of the majority of our community for a low-stress bikeway, addressing concerns about utilising existing high-traffic, high-speed routes. Through extensive community feedback, it became evident that residents prioritise safety and ease of travel. Careful consideration of factors such as vehicle traffic volume, accident history, infrastructure constraints, and community insights guided the selection of streets comprising the Flinders to City Bikeway.

Winston Avenue, while currently part of the existing Bike Direct network, was subject to thorough evaluation. Both Winston Ave and the Flinders to City bikeway are designed to meet the needs of different types of cyclists. Despite its existing infrastructure, it was determined that alternative bike route in form of the Flinders to City Bikeway away from Winston Avenue would better serve the needs of cyclists and other active travellers in terms of safety, accessibility, and overall experience. By optimising safety, accessibility, and connectivity, we aim to create a dedicated route that caters to the diverse needs of active travellers in the City of Mitcham.

This portion of the Flinders to City Bikeway route is catered towards casual cyclists and active travellers who prioritise safety over convenience. We are committed to continuously monitoring and improving the bikeway to encourage its use and ensure it meets the needs of all cyclists.

Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding the choice of route for the Flinders to City Bikeway. We understand that Maria Street, Edward Street, and Price Street experience high traffic volumes during school pick-up and drop-off times, and events at the nearby church also contribute to additional congestion. To accommodate the needs of the community, we have ensured there will be no impacts to on-street parking near the school on Edward Street, Maria Street, and Price Street due to the Bikeway. On Edward Street, buffered bike lanes will provide extra space between the bike lane and both oncoming and parked cars, enhancing safety for cyclists and encouraging a lower-speed environment by slightly reducing the traffic lane widths.

By providing a safe Bikeway to the school, we hope to reduce the need for pick-ups and drop-offs, subsequently lowering vehicle traffic and promoting a healthier, more convenient travel option for students. We are also aware of the high pedestrian and traffic volumes on Price Street and have made recent upgrades, including new pedestrian refuges, enhanced street lighting, and improved line marking to slow down traffic, increase pedestrian awareness, and enhance overall pedestrian safety. The route on Jose Street was chosen based on extensive community feedback indicating a preference for safety and ease of travel. Despite its narrowness, Jose Street offers a safer and quieter alternative to high-traffic, high-speed routes.

Winston Avenue was evaluated as part of the existing Bike Direct network, but higher traffic volumes and community feedback led to the selection of an alternative route. The chosen route through Maria Street and Jose Street, though less direct, provides a safer and quieter alternative for cyclists.

Thank you for your question. We understand that changes to road infrastructure can raise concerns about the impact on all road users, including car drivers.

The primary goal of the Flinders to City Bikeway project is to create a safer and more efficient network for cyclists while also considering the needs of all road users. Key points regarding the potential impact on car drivers include the implementation of sharrows (shared lane markings), which allow for both parking and bike awareness. Car drivers will still have parking options available while being encouraged to be mindful of cyclists. Some intersections will have reprioritised give way signs to improve safety for cyclists, requiring car drivers to yield at certain points. These changes are designed to enhance overall safety and reduce the likelihood of accidents, benefiting all road users.

The Bikeway project includes adjustments like raised intersections and traffic calming measures to create a low-speed environment that is safer for both cyclists and drivers. Reduced speeds can lead to fewer accidents and smoother traffic flow. Additionally, by encouraging more people to cycle, we hope to reduce the number of cars on the road, alleviating congestion and improving travel times for drivers. A well-balanced transportation network benefits everyone by promoting multiple modes of transport and reducing overall traffic pressure.

While there will be some changes that car drivers need to adapt to, the overall impact is intended to be positive, creating a safer and more efficient environment for all road users. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work towards these improvements.

Thank you for your feedback and sharing your experiences.

Regarding the plans for crossing Daws Road, we recognise the challenges and are working on developing a safe crossing. Although the scope is yet to be confirmed, similar plans are in place for a safe crossing at Cross Road. Details will be provided once they are finalised. Thank you for your patience as we work to develop these plans.

For the Jose Street Bikeway, the scope is detailed in the provided Individual Sheets. Key features include the installation of sharrows (shared lane markings) along the Bikeway, allowing for parking while raising awareness of the Bikeway among road users. Intersection treatments will include give way reprioritisation at several intersections, giving priority to road users on Jose Street. Additionally, a raised intersection at Bennet Avenue will slow down traffic and enhance cyclist safety, while stenciled asphalt and line marking treatments at Ayres Avenue will further delineate the Bikeway.

Thank you for your feedback and support for improvements to bicycle routes. We appreciate you sharing your detailed observations and concerns about the Winona Avenue portion and the rest of the Bikeway.

Regarding Winona Avenue, the introduction of surface treatment aims to create an overrun area for two-way vehicle movements and cyclists, enhancing safety by preventing collisions caused by motorists opening car doors. This treatment is designed as a shared space rather than a dedicated bike lane and will not be implemented on the rest of the Bikeway. The Winona Cyclist Street concept is an Australian first, modelled after European cyclist boulevards, developed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads in Queensland. Lane narrowing treatments on Winona Avenue are intended to encourage a low-speed environment, providing a safer and more pleasant experience for cyclists by reducing vehicle speeds and increasing driver awareness.

The unique design of the Winona Avenue Cyclist Street will not be replicated on the rest of the Bikeway. While the remaining sections will not include the same traffic treatments, the goal remains to prioritise cyclist safety. We are committed to ensuring the entire Bikeway is optimised for bike traffic.

Thank you for sharing your concerns about the increased traffic noise and parking issues related to the new give way priorities and bike lane implementation on Corunna and Jose Streets.

Regarding traffic noise, while there may be some increase due to vehicles stopping and starting, we do not expect this increase to be significant. The primary goal of the changes in give way priorities is to enhance safety and reduce the likelihood of accidents involving cyclists. For parking, based on feedback, we have updated the bikeway design to install sharrows (shared lane markings) instead of a dedicated bike lane. This allows for parking while making road users aware of the Bikeway and encouraging them to watch for cyclists. Parking for residents at the intersection of Jose Street and Corunna Avenue will not be impacted, with the only change being the reprioritisation of the give way signs.

Thank you for sharing your concerns about the increased traffic noise and parking issues related to the new give way priorities and bike lane implementation on Corunna and Jose Streets. We understand the impact these changes can have on residents, and we are committed to addressing these issues as effectively as possible.

Thank you for your feedback and concerns regarding the changes in give way signs to prioritise the Flinders to City Bikeway. The reprioritisation of intersections to give priority to cyclists is a crucial part of our strategy to improve safety and encourage cycling as a viable mode of transportation within our community. By prioritising the Bikeway, we aim to reduce the likelihood of accidents involving cyclists, especially at high-risk intersections, significantly lowering the risk of collisions.

The Bikeway is designed to provide a continuous and direct route for cyclists, necessitating changes at certain intersections to ensure the path is both practical and safe. Adjusting give way signs, such as those along Jose Street, ensures a smoother and safer ride for cyclists. We understand your concern about potential dangers to motor vehicle traffic. To mitigate these risks, we are incorporating clear signage and road markings, and closely monitoring the project following implementation to make necessary adjustments for enhanced safety and efficiency.