Caulfield residents have formed an action group to fight a proposed dedicated bicycle lane long one of its main east-west streets.
The Save Inkerman group comprises residents who fear the bicycle lane will increase traffic congestion, will attract thousands of unwanted stranger-cyclists, will make it unsafe for residents, will decrease the limited sparking for residents on Inkerman Road and Inkerman Street and force it into the side streets.
Save Inkerman members fear it will make it harder for residents to go about their normal daily business, such as attend the several synagogues in and around Inkerman Road, and will reduce the living amenity of Caulfield North in particular. Rates are likely to go up to pay for a dedicated cycle lane.
Caulfield Park and the thousands who use it daily will also be affected.
They say a general loss of amenity will lead to a reduction in property prices, and that there is no demonstrated demand for a dedicated cycle lane through Caulfield North, which has a high percentage of elderly residents and young families. They say the current bicycle lanes are more than adequate for the handful of cyclists who use them.
Some business owners along Inkerman Road believe a cut in parking will be bad for business.
Glen Eira Council wants to promote healthy living by encouraging cyclists to use the Djerring Trail from Dandenong to the CBD along Normanby Road, Inkerman Road and Inkerman Street to Hotham Street, St Kilda East, so it can join dedicated bike lanes along St Kilda Road.
Save Inkerman has called on the council to investigate linking the Djerring Trail to St Kilda Road by using the plantation (tram) reserves along Dandenong Road to Chapel Street and along Wellington Street, St Kilda.
A spokesperson for Save Inkerman said: “We love this area as it is, and that’s why we live here, but don’t want to see it ruined with a council plan that lacks common sense and has not been thought through.
“We have no idea what council plans to do, except that it wants to build a pilot cycle lane around June. We don’t know what shape this lane will take, what it will look like or whether it will be shared or dedicated to cyclists. We believe council wants to barricade it off somehow.
“People in this suburb are not anti-cyclist, but common sense says they will not forsake their cars for bikes to visit parents and friends, take children to school, go shopping or even go to work. The very small minority who might behoves the council to investigate other streets to build a bike lane.
“What about the hundreds who attend shule services in and around Inkerman Road. Caulfield shule is the perfect example.
“We believe the tram reserve along Dandenong Road would be ideal.”
Glen Eira door-knocked and wrote to about 7000 residents inviting them to an information session at Caulfield Pavilion on 27 February. About 200 residents attended.
Save Inkerman says at least 60 main and side streets (and rights-of-way) and about 50 businesses along the Inkerman corridor will be hurt by the building of the cycle lanes.
Save Inkerman has a Facebook page at facebook.com/groups/saveinkerman. As of March 29 there were more than 330 members. Its email address is saveinkerman@gmail.com.
Details on the bike path proposal are at at haveyoursaygleneira.com.au/inkerman-road.
Council has delayed until June announcing the membership of a community reference group that will: • review phase one community engagement findings as well as research and data gathered by council; • ensure development of the draft corridor plan reflects community values and priorities; and • provide feedback and advice on potential issues and opportunities. Its online feedback closes on April 1.
Save Inkerman urges residents to sign its petitions, and protest by writing to council through its website and to ward councillors, members of parliament and support groups such as Friends of Caulfield Park and the Glen Eira Residents Association.
Council’s website states: “Glen Eira City Council is currently planning for the Inkerman Road Safe Cycling Corridor, which will provide a safe, convenient and inviting environment for cyclists of all ages and abilities. Council is calling this a ‘pilot project’ as it is intended to be the first of several cycling corridors that will help address Glen Eira’s increasing congestion and parking shortages caused by a growing population.
“The Inkerman Road Safe Cycling Corridor will connect to the new ‘elevated rail’ shared user path at the Caulfield Station Activity Centre and provide a significant east-west cycling link to St Kilda Road.”
This article was contributed by Gary Mallin, local resident and J-AIR Radio presenter.
[An article on this issue has also appeared in The Age.]