By Kade Lengyel
After more than six months of campaigning, Inkerman Street residents and traders had a big win when Councillors voted on 15 May for the bicycle safety option which removes only 14 car parking spaces rather than 114 spaces in the stretch between Hotham Street and St Kilda Road.
Jaz Bradley, the coordinator of the campaign for commonsense said, “This is an overwhelming relief for our community. We’re grateful that most Councillors heard our concerns regarding the impact that removing 114 car spaces would have on access to peoples’ homes, specialist medical and rehab clinics, the police and community youth club, physios, pain management clinics, hydrotherapy, hotels, Kosher butcher, and many other businesses, all of whom rely on vehicular access for their clients”.
Council proposed two design options for the 'Inkerman Street Improvement Project' in October 2023. Option A proposed to remove every car park from the north side of the street in this stretch to make way for kerbside protected bike lanes (with the removal of 114 carparks), and Option B proposed to upgrade and improve the existing on-road buffered bike lanes with the removal of 14 parks from both sides of the street.
About 200 people attended the Council meeting and 50 or so spoke to the Inkerman Street proposal, with most objecting to Option A because parking is already extremely limited in Inkerman Street and the loss of 114 spaces would be devastating for residents, particularly those with mobility issues who could no longer park near their homes, and businesses who would lose customers if they were no longer able to access their services.
Traders and medical professionals were concerned about ambulances, suppliers and customers being unable to park, deliver goods, drop off dry cleaning, go to the gym for a work-out, pull in for takeaway coffee or drop in to pick up a six pack or bottle of wine from the bottle shop on the way home.
Council officers recommended Option B after consultation with 1,742 community members indicated a preference for Option B.
Advocates for Option A seemingly overplayed the safety statistics which indicate that the majority of cycling accidents occurred at intersections, not the street where businesses are located. The installation of a separated bike corridor would have no impact on these (mostly) right turn accidents at these intersections.
Jaz Bradley who tirelessly organised the community’s opposition to Option A, thanked the Councillors who were willing to listen and consult with community members, and the volunteers who worked behind the scenes to raise awareness regarding the issues. “How good is Inkerman Street?” she said, when addressing Councillors at the meeting.
''What a truly fabulous community we have here. Doctors, butchers, publicans, sparkies, mechanics, interior designers, musicians and music teachers, book binders, naturopaths, physios, chiros, dog minders, barbers, cafes, chemists, picture framers, signwriters and theatre producers.But most importantly... our residents. Smart, passionate, creative, funny, weird, determined and altruistic - Inkerman Street delivers the rainbow.Please vote for Option B tonight and allow everyone here to keep the lights on.”
And they did.
The Canal Ward community are grateful and relieved, in equal measure.
Image: 9News reporter Reid Butler with a group of people attending the Council meeting on 15 May
