St Kilda Rd bike lanes

• Existing lanes are poor quality: too narrow and squeezed between parked cars and two lanes of fast-moving traffic.
• Council wants to upgrade but State Government said it would prevent this¹.  To their credit, Council voted to go ahead with a study. 
  
• Council has stated: "The section of St Kilda Road, south of Southbank Boulevard is an arterial road under the care and management of vicRoads.  Any changes to the road cross-section are aimed at improving cycling amenity and require approval fromVicRoads.  The St Kilda Road Master Plan is on hold however, we will continue to meet with VicRoads until a satisfactory concept, aceptable to all stakeholders, is developed." The Victorian Government has blocked the City of Melbourne master plan for St Kilda Road for over two years.  The day the City announced their intention to install kerb-side lanes, the Victorian Government minister for roads (Tim Pallas) said "My job ...  is to fix congestion, not to cause it." He thinks that cars take up less space than bicycles maybe?
  
• Specific zone: around Princes Bridge.  Black spot for bicycle collisions.  Buses park in on-road bike lane.  Taxis all over bike lanes.  Very narrow (ridiculous!) lanes over the bridge on road, and on-footpath lanes infringed by pedestrians with no enforcement.  On footpath markings south of Princes Bridge on East side are incorrect and don't match signage.  Council has informed City Cyclist that.  "We are currently developing a concept plan to improve bicycle facilities on St Kilda Road, between Princes Bridge and Southbank Boulevard."