Melbourne electorate
Ellen SANDELL (Melbourne) (15:13): (356) My question is to the new Minister for Public and Active Transport. Harrison Watt is a local who has recently launched a petition for protected bike lanes on Johnston Street, a major road connecting Kew to Carlton in my electorate. Harrison’s petition has amassed over 1000 signatures in just a few weeks, because although Labor have flagged Johnston Street as a strategic cycling corridor in their principal bicycle network, it is incredibly dangerous and there are no dedicated bike lanes. Instead this busy road has multiple speed limits, inconsistent clearways, a really high risk of people riding their bikes being doored by cars and a high risk of accidents with buses. One of the petition signers told us, ‘The only two bike accidents I have ever had have both been on Johnston Street, and I ended up in hospital for one of them.’ So my question is: will the minister meet with Harrison to discuss his petition and the ask to create separated bike lanes and safe bike lanes on Johnston Street?