Does a two-way bike lane on Collins Street make sense?
Hobart City Council is installing a bike lane along Collins Street - this will consist of one-way bike lanes on each side of Collins Street. But is there any merit to a 'two-way' bike lane on one side only?
This post explains why a two-way bike lane would be ineffective and unsafe.
A two-way bike-lane increases risk at junctions
Cyclists and pedestrians are already vulnerable at junctions.
Installing a 'two-way' bike lane without significant infrastructure will increase the risk to cyclists and pedestrians.
Unfamiliar drivers will not expect bike riders to be travelling on the "wrong" side of the road. A two-way bike lane increases the risk of the driver unintentionally failing to give-way and causing a collision. In addition to this, a car/truck/bus going in the opposite direction, can block the driver's view of the cyclist.
To improve safety there would need to be a 'bike-only' phase of the traffic lights, but this would reduce the number of cars getting through the junction and increase congestion.
On-street parking will not increase with a two-way bike lane
A typical safe and comfortable one-way bike lane is about 2m wide - this includes a buffer-zone for cars or car-doors.
- Option A: x2 one-way bike lanes = approximately 4m
- Option B: x1 two-way bike lane = approximately 3.6m (3m bike lane +0.6m car buffer zone)
Choosing a two-way bike lane only creates 0.4m of additional width - i.e. it will not create sufficient space for additional car parking.
Collins Street junctions are too narrow to include 'counter-flow' cycling
There is already insufficient space in junctions to have continuous bike lanes due a narrowing at the pedestrian crossings. Therefore, there is not enough space for 'counter-flow' cycling through junctions Collins Street.
A two-way bike-lane would require a person to cycle into oncoming traffic at the narrowest and most complex part of the road.
Hobart City Council's options assessment
Hobart City Council provided a summary of this option in September 2024 and this is shown below.
