Bold plans to build a $25 million Jetsons-style skyway for cyclists around the southern edge of central Melbourne are being backed by United States engineering giant Jacobs, as powerful business interests call for better cycling infrastructure before the November 29 state election.
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The 1.7-kilometre Veloway, designed by Donald Bates, the architect behind Melbourne's iconic Federation Square, would run seven metres above the ground from Flinders Street Station, over six intersections from Princes Bridge to Southern Cross Station, before sweeping down into Melbourne's Docklands.
Made of a lightweight, high-strength material, the elevated bike way would be cantilevered to the existing rail viaduct on Flinders Street for most of its route and separate cyclists from cars and pedestrians on the dedicated skyway.
The consortium of businesses will use a national Bike Futures conference in Melbourne on Wednesday, attended by state Transport Minister Terry Mulder and Melbourne lord mayor Robert Doyle, to sell the futuristic project aimed at easing tension between commuters.
"The bike culture in Australia and the way that bikes are used as a form of transportation is different than in European cities, both in terms of the speed that people travel and the distances that they want to traverse," Mr Bates said.
"Providing a separated, dedicated, transportation link, particularly in the CBD area, is a way to alleviate the conflicts, not just with cars but with pedestrians."
The City of Melbourne Bicycle Plan and VicRoads data shows 14.8 per cent of traffic entering the Melbourne CBD each morning now cycle, compared with just 4 per cent in 2008. But tensions have escalated with 117 reported bike crashes and 600 incidents of "dooring" in the past four years.
Jacobs, which acquired local engineers Sinclair Knight Merz for $1.3 billion last year, recently agreed to advise on the project, joining leading architect Rob McGauran and consulting firms WT Partnership, Winward Structures, LAB Architecture Studio, MGS Architects, Aurecon and GTA Consultants.
Consortium member Grant O'Donnell is seeking $480,000 from the Melbourne City Council and state government for a full feasibility study. "$25 million may seem like a lot of money but in the grand scheme of things it is a tiny, minnow of a PPP or infrastructure project and you need a certain amount of scale to attract financing partners," Mr O'Donnell said.
"The health benefits can be quantified on a per kilometre basis, there are savings in greenhouse gasses, some of those returns to the state can be measured," he said.
Mike Potter, another member of the consortium, said elevated bikeways exist or were being considered in cities such as London, Copenhagen and Auckland and the Veloway would provide an iconic tourist attraction.
"Visitors could ride from the Botanic Gardens, along the Yarra River, past Birrarung Marr, up a gentle gradient looking across to Southbank and along the river before dropping down to take a look at the Docklands," Mr Potter said.
"It avoids commuters navigating their way through the labyrinth of streets, super stops, taxis and having businessmen clipped by riders in the city."