Swanston Street in the City 19/5/2011

On Friday  20th May two things will happen in Swanston st.  Work will start on lowering the tram tracks between Lt Lonsdale and Latrobe Sts, in preparation for the footpath to be extended out to the tram tracks.  It's not going to be a platform stop with the platform forming a safety zone, rather the footpath just goes all the way out.  Along the edge of the platform will be a bike lane marked in contrasting pavement materials.  Some people have told Citycylist that this design is used in Amsterdam, so I asked @amsterdamized for photos of examples.  Here's the correspondence:

me -> @amsterdamized: got any pics of places where bikes ride on same pavement that streetcar passengers alight to? How do they avoid conflict?

@amsterdamized -> me: I don't understand your question: bikes are not on pavement & bike path goes around streetcar stop etc.  Here are two examples, bikes & streetcar stops http://flic.kr/p/9qFndx | http://flic.kr/p/9qFAsc #AMS #infra

me -> @amsterdamized: Thanks 4 photos.  Here (Melbourne, Aust) they want to put cycle path on edge of tracks where passengers get off.  :(

@amsterdamized -> me:  that sounds like they don't want to put too much effort into it... 

me -> @amsterdamized: http://ow.ly/4XgRq has a drawing of what they are building. 

@amsterdamized -> me: I'm not a professional, but that indeed doesn't look like proper design.  Look closely...  in NL you'll have sufficient walking space when getting off, in that pic [from Melbourne] only a high curb of sorts, then straight on to the path.

8/2/2011

Transport Safety Victoria has called in the Swanston St tram stop designs for investigation to determine whether tram passengers will be safe (presumably from collisions with bicycles).  City Cyclist understands that Yarra Trams only referred the new stops to the regulator in December, and as a result, the City of Melbourne has put the project on hold.

The proposed design includes kerb extensions to the tram line to allow disabled access to trams, and places a bicycle lane at footpath grade, alongside the tramline at the stops.  Bicycles are generally required to stop behind a stationary tram (Road Rules 163 & foll).  Pedestrians are required to stay off the bicycle path (road-related area) unless there is a stationary tram, and are required to proceed directly from the tram to the footpath, when alighting (Rule 233).

Pedestrians are unlikely to keep the bike lane clear as required by the road rules, and cyclists are in danger of being bumped off into the "pit", i.e.  the tram tracks, which could be dangerous if a tram runs you over. 

Relying on rules alone to ensure safety and workability is a doubtful concept.  City Cyclist would prefer to see safety zones with a fence to give pedestrians a safe area, and a bike lane on the outside of that, to give cyclists a clear path.  Pedestrians would cross the bike lane at the signalised intersections at each end of the block, and at a zebra crossing in the centre of the block. 

26/9/2010

Council is currently only committed to 4 platform stops, and will then "... [address] the blocks in between the tram stops.  We will make an assessment on exactly what, if any, part of stage three is required once stage two has taken shape, so we can evaluate what is needed to complete the vision."  Two problems with this are (a) the tram stops will have a bike lane next to the tram tracks at footpath grade - it seems unlikely that the pedestrians will stay out of the bike lane while waiting for trams; and (b) the space between the superstops will be unchanged from what we have now until the City assesses "if any part of stage three is required..."

The road closure and platform stop outside the State Library will start construction in January 2011.  The City of Melbourne is currently(26/9/2010) conducting the statutory process to close the other three areas:

• Alongside the City Square (Flinders Lane to Collins Street)
• Bourke Street to Little Bourke Street
• Franklin Street to A'Beckett Street

All going well these three will start construction around June 2011.

c.f.  Swanston St north lanes