Active transport is simply getting around using your own energy, instead of a car.

It includes things like:

• Walking
• Riding a bike
• Running or jogging
• Using a wheelchair, mobility scooter (in active/manual mode), or other wheeled devices
• Walking with a pram
• Skateboarding or riding a scooter

People often use active transport for everyday trips, like getting to school, work, the shops, or to public transport.

It’s a great option because it:

• Provides an opportunity for exercise, which supports physical and mental health and wellbeing
• Reduces traffic on local roads
• Is better for the environment by reducing carbon emissions and air pollution
• Is an easy, low-cost way to get around, especially for short trips (under 3 km).

This Masterplan is guided by a number of Council and regional strategies, including:

The Banyule Plan 2025–2029
This is Council’s main plan for the next four years. It sets out key priorities. One focus is creating a well-built city, including encouraging walking and cycling, and making sure paths are safe and well connected.

Supporting people to walk and ride more is also a priority in these plans:

• Banyule Integrated Transport Plan – encourages walking and cycling for short trips (under 5km)
• Active Banyule Plan 2025–2030 – focuses on improving places and spaces
• Banyule Public Open Space Plan 2016–2031 – supports better access and connections

The Banyule Bicycle Strategy and Action Plan 2022–2027 highlights that there are not enough high-quality bike paths in the Ivanhoe area. It calls for safer, continuous and easy-to-follow bike routes that better connect key places like train stations, schools and open spaces.

At a regional level, the Northern Trails Strategy 2022 supports better connections along the Hurstbridge railway line. This includes improving links between Ivanhoe and Heidelberg, and connecting to the State Government’s planned cycling network.

This strategy supports a more connected path network across the north, helping people rely less on cars and making it easier to get to key destinations.

During previous consultations, the community shared valuable insights about the area:

Walking and bike riding engagement – 2024
Comments highlighted the need for safer and better-connected cycling routes.

• ‘A cycling connection to Wingrove Street across a bridge is very much needed to improve uptake of active transport.’
• Norman Street – ‘The road has been artificially narrowed here - presumably to enhance the safety of the pedestrian crossing. However this kind of design eliminates any space for cars to pass cyclists safely. Creating artificial choke points makes it more dangerous for cyclists as we have to merge back into the path of cars and bloated SUVs coming up behind us and pray that the drivers are paying attention and are patient enough to slow down instead of passing dangerously close, especially if they are rushing to get through the level crossing.’

Project: BikeSpot – 2023
Feedback identified safety concerns at key locations:

• Norman Street – ‘Drivers attempt to overtake here when travelling towards Ivanhoe Station into the pinch point corner. Cyclists need to take the lane to be safe but this is dangerous and causes driver irritation. Bike priority light at previous intersection would help with this.’
• Heidelberg Road / Lower Heidelberg Road intersection – ‘The bike lane ends on a super busy part of the road and just starts again further up the road? Its ok going down the hill (towards city) but in the other direction (going uphill in traffic) its terrifying.’

Project: Hurstbridge Rail Feasibility Study – Darebin to Ivanhoe
Community feedback focused on improving connections and restoring streetscapes:

• Salisbury Avenue was a beautiful tree lined Street in Ivanhoe that has recently had the large poplar trees on its eastern side removed due to powerline maintenance issues. Investment by council in this is area is a required as a priority to repair the damage streetscape. I have seen some of the plans and imagery in the feasibility study showing a SUP and vegetation surrounding the SUP and this is exactly what Salisbury avenue needs!
• ‘A pedestrian bridge across Darebin Creek connecting Salisbury Ave and Wingrove Street with the Darebin Creek Trail would improve connections for a lot of residents in the area and for the SUP’

Our bicycle network should accommodate a range of rider experience and skill levels. In some instances it may be warranted to provide more than one cycling facility on the same route to allow for differing skill levels.

Sharrows

Sharrows (short for “shared lane arrows”) are road markings that show where people riding bikes should position themselves on a street that is shared with cars. They look like a bike symbol with two arrows above it.

Sharrows help make streets safer by:

• Showing riders the safest position on the road
• Reminding drivers to expect cyclists and give them space
• Reducing unsafe passing and the risk of car doors opening into riders
• Supporting cycling where there isn’t space for a bike lane or separate path

Sharrows work best on quieter streets with lower speeds (40km/h or less) and less traffic.

View an artist drawing of proposed sharrows on Sherwood Road.

Shared path

A shared path is used by both people walking and people riding bikes or scooters. Everyone shares the same space and needs to be mindful of others.

Shared paths provide safe, off-road routes, especially for:

• School students
• Beginner riders
• People who feel less confident riding on roads

For these users, being away from traffic is more important than travelling quickly.

Shared paths are useful where there isn’t enough space for separate walking and cycling paths. In busy areas with lots of pedestrians, separate paths are still recommended.

In Banyule, shared paths make up most of the off-road bike network, including along the Hurstbridge rail corridor.

View an artist drawing of a proposed shared user path (SUP) on Salisbury Avenue.

Protected bike lanes

Protected bike lanes are on-road bike lanes that are physically separated from cars. This can be done using kerbs, bollards, parked cars or raised edges.

Protected bike lanes help by:

• Giving riders their own dedicated space
• Reducing the risk of crashes with cars
• Improving safety for pedestrians in busy areas
• Creating clearer, more organised roads

They are most important on busier roads (over 2,000 vehicles a day) or higher speed roads (over 40km/h), where sharing space with traffic can feel unsafe.

View an artist drawing of proposed road and separated bike lanes on Norman Street.

Ivanhoe Station is difficult for many people to use.

Every day, lots of people walk through the area. This includes people going to bus stops, nearby schools, shops in Ivanhoe, and Marshall Street.

Right now, the only way to move between the two train platforms is by using a steep footbridge. This can be difficult or unsafe for some people.

People who use wheelchairs, mobility scooters or prams cannot use the bridge. Instead, they need to take a much longer route. This means crossing at railway line at Marshall Street and walking through the station car park.

Council is asking the State Government to improve the station. This includes:

• removing the Marshall Street level crossing
• upgrading the station so it meets accessibility standards under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)

Council is also advocating on behalf of the community by:

• meeting with transport and accessibility organisations
• creating a video about access issues on the Hurstbridge Line
• speaking with State Government representatives
• supporting local residents to contact their local MPs and raise concerns.

You can learn more on the Ivanhoe Station advocacy page.

We’ve heard from the community that better, safer connections are important.

Many people want a new walking and cycling crossing over Darebin Creek. This would link Salisbury Avenue to Wingrove Street and make it easier to get to places outside Banyule.

Right now, people often need to take longer or less safe routes, like:

• Rockbeare Grove and Abercorn Avenue
• Heidelberg Road

A new crossing would be more direct and comfortable for users.

This crossing was not part of the original Hurstbridge Feasibility Study. However, this project has looked at some early ideas for how it could work.

These ideas include:

• a wider shared path bridge near the existing rail bridge
• a simpler crossing that follows an informal walking track

You can find more detail in the Masterplan (Appendix A).