Albert Park local accuses Bicycle Network of ‘cult-like’ bike lane push

A war of words has erupted over a state government decision not to go ahead with planned bike lanes in Albert Park.

Port Phillip Resident Gary Edwards says the plan for pop-up bike lanes on Kerferd Road was withdrawn after “a huge resident uprising”, with a petition from locals sent to Health Minister Martin Foley and Transport Minister Ben Carroll.

But now, a new community petition is calling for the plan to be reinstated.

The push to reintroduce the plan is backed by Bicycle Network Victoria, which has taken aim at the “squawking” locals who opposed the plan.

“A planned bike route is not something you decide not to proceed with if a few people start squawking to the local member via Facebook,” the network said on its website.

Mr Edwards accused Bicycle Network Victoria of having “a disproportionate influence in local government and state government”.

“Bicycle Network Victoria seems to be working with the City of Port Phillip to apply pressure on the Kerferd Road residents to buckle,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“Kerferd Road … is a major distributor road for traffic from the city down to the south-eastern suburbs, so it’s an important road and to reduce it to one lane in either direction for the sake of the bike lanes is just ridiculous.

“They are cult-like in their singlemindedness about all this.”

Press PLAY below to hear more about the dispute