Moonee Valley City Council is developing plans for improvements to the interface between existing on- and off-road bike infrastructure in Fitzgerald Rd and Buckley St, Essendon.
The works involve:
The plan for consultation and review is below.
Please reach out to MooneeBUG and Moonee Valley City Coucil directly if you have feedback on this plan.
Ultimately, MooneeBUG is always supportive of investment in improvements to make our streets safer and more enjoyable for everyone, however we also have an obligation to provide valuable input as residents and people who ride bikes. To this end, some important questions I have are below, as well as proposed alternative.
This suggestion definitely has it’s comlpexities on the south end, regarding utility and traffic pole locations! It is worth considering creative solutions and alternative approaches.
Hi everyone,
Welcome to this month’s MooneeBUG Newsletter, Here’s a quick recap of March and some exciting announcements for the future.
Thanks to everyone who joined us for the March meeting where we spoke about how to convert energy into action. Our April meeting will be outside the Valley đ«ąat Lickey Split in Footscray on Tuesday 16th April, next to the awesome community bike-hub. Please RSVP on facebook or reply to this email.
Wayfinding signs coming back! After some asking, the Sustainable Transport officer let us know that Debneys Park end of Moonee Ponds Creek Trail will be getting much-needed signs (apperntly being replaced). Iâll keep you updated on the timeline
Flemington Bridge bike access: Great to see David Macauly raise this issue with the council. Listen to his question and the council’s response here.
I encourage everyone to ask a question at the next meeting. You can submit your question online, and donât even need to attend.
MooneeBUG (Tim and Frank) was key in calling this dangerous pinch point to councilâs attention back in 2021, and in great news, it has progressed through planning and consultation, and works are scheduled in the next 2-3 weeks. The north-bound bicycle lane will be extended and physically separated around the bend.
Federal Blackspot funding and The Department of Transport and Planning are adding bike lane signage, green surfacing, and sharrows around the Travancore corner of Mount Alexander Road. Of great interest as well, they are installing bike detectors and LED Stud lighting to alert drivers to the presence of kids and adults on bikes.
It is easy to be critical of these treatments, as they donât offer real protection for vulnerable road users, however Mt Alexander Road is an arterial road with many competing stakeholders, including trams, businesses, resident parking. Incremental upgrades like this can pave the way for more significant change in the long term by increasing ridership and visibility of people on bikes. More info here
MooneeBUG is working with Moonee Valley Sustainability to promote active and sustainable transport. Weâll be having a group ride around Moonee Valley to finish off the day.
Featuring:
+ Towards Better Streets – panel and Q&A
+ Info on infrastructure for cycling and walking
+ Bike repairs advice
+ Explore e-bikes and cargo bikes
+ Join Moonee BUG for a group ride
10AM – 1PM, Saturday 20 April @ Dwell (78 St Leonards Rd, Ascot Vale) More info on Facebook
Ride to School Day came and went without much fanfare. I am not a parent of any school age children. I would love to hear from any parents. Did your schools promote anything for ride-to-school day?
Bicycle Network Super Tuesday Bike Count had volunteers from MooneeBUG out and counting. Hopefully that data contributes to understanding and planning for sustainable transport into the future.
Bike Network E-Bike Expo: April 7 at the Brunswick Velodrome, BIke Network will be hosting a whole bunch of vendors, guest speakers, food trucks etc. Try out the different models available. More info on Facebook.
Fanny Street Reserve: BMX Jumps appear to be built, but word is theyâre not officially âopenâ yet.
Keilor Rd, Niddrie: Streetscaping works between Ross and Treadwell streets commencing in a week, Iâm not sure (but hopeful) this includes green paint surface treatment for bikes. (incremental improvements)
Moonee Valley City Council has announced two upcoming projects on the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail:
Stage 1 â Installation of lighting fixtures, electrical boxes and conduits
Stage 2 â Connection of the new lighting arrangement to suitable supply
From the Citylink Overpass (north of Reynard & Woodland Streets) and continuing up to the rear of 18 Lyttle Avenue, Essendon (Map at the end of the article)
These works currently scheduled for the 2024/25 Financial Year.
While these projects address specific needs, a comprehensive long-term plan for the trail’s improvement and management remains desirable. This could include:
Community input and council collaboration are crucial to developing a clear vision for the trail’s future, ensuring it remains a valuable community asset for generations to come. Reach out to MooneeBUG if you want to get involved or learn more.
Moonee Valley City Council last voted last week to note the completion of the Moonee Valley City Walking and Cycling Strategy 2012-2022. While the council noted various achievements, there wasnât much detail provided about what was accomplished and what hasnât. (See the meeting minutes here, or a recording on YouTube here)
Importantly, Councillor Rose Iser successfully proposed an amendment to evaluate the past strategy, consult with organizations like MooneeBUG, use data to inform planning, and emphasize the importance of active transport.â
Moonee Valley was very different in 2012 when the strategy was envisioned. Escooters didnât exist, it was 5 years before oBikes would come to Melbourne, and the first Moonee Valley Cycling and Walking Strategy 2004 was still in place (older draft strategies were never adopted).
The strategy, which spanned over 106 pages, including specific implementation plans, aimed to improve the walking and cycling infrastructure in Moonee Valley. Key recommendations included (among others):
Image: Proposed Zebra crossings at the Epsom Road/Ascot Vale Road Roundabout (Image from the Strategy)
While it is clear that many projects have increased the amenity of shared user paths, in particular, the Moonee Ponds Creek trail, and portions of the Craigieburn Cycling corridor have been built, there are still challenges. The Craigieburn cycling corridor, in particular, is subject to many crossings of state roads, and Moonee Valley still lacks safe arterial cycling routes. The on-road cycling network remains fractured.
Image: Monee Ponds Creek Trail – Dark underpass that has had lighting installed.
Measuring the success of the strategy is important, and it would be helpful to have more information on what has been achieved and what still needs to be done. While the council has noted the completion of the strategy, a more detailed report on the progress and challenges would provide a clearer picture of the state of walking and cycling infrastructure in Moonee Valley.
The strategy provided clear metrics for success, such as in the below sample, so it is quite unclear why Council was unable to report on them at the end of the strategy. I hope that it isn’t because they won’t like the answer!
It appears that instead of another active transport strategy, the council is developing a holistic, 10-year Integrated Transport Strategy for the 2024/25 financial year, which will include public transport, cycling, walking, micromobility, taxis, and of course roads and parking.
There is a real risk that cycling doesn’t get dedicated treatment in this strategy the way it has in the past, however anecdotally the past strategies have not been successful, so combining the transport landscape may result in cycling benefiting from the increased funding and planning as local roads are considered in the same space.
MooneeBUG 
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