Source: Australian Planner, 47: 85-93

Authors: Alison Lee, Alan March

Commentary by Rona Macniven, Cluster for Physical Activity and Health (CPAH), University of Sydney

This case study, written by Alison Lee and Alan March of the University of Melbourne and published in the Australian Planner presents a robust argument for increasing provision for space for bike parking in inner cities.

Countries such as Australia have a strong motor culture, yet alternative travel modes and the development of a high quality environment for pedestrians and the community are increasingly at the forefront of urban modifications. However, in retail and other business areas, concerns regarding economic prosperity of traders are often used as arguments to oppose reducing car parking in mixed use areas.

Visitor intercept surveys in Lygon Street, a shopping strip with both a regional and local catchment, and a desktop analysis of public space uses in the street, were used to estimate visitor spending. In the intercept survey, 1,023 respondents were asked about their residential post code, mode of transport used to travel to the street, their expenditure and predicted expenditure, time spent in the area and main reason for the trip. In addition, aerial photography and GIS measurement were used to calculate space allocated to various transport modes and land uses, such as bike tracks and car parking.

The case study found that whilst car users averaged more overall spending per hour than bike riders, the smaller area of public space required for bike parking meant each square metre allocated to bike parking generated $31 per hour, compared to only $6 generated for each square metre used for a car parking space. This overwhelmingly demonstrates the worth of incrementally increasing bike provision in urban planning developments.

In the City of Sydney, there is currently conflict around the local government’s introduction of an inner-city bike lane network, with local retailers claiming negative economic impacts as a result of the developments. This case study should help assuage such concerns and provide useful evidence for transport and urban planners to advocate for the creation of increased provision for bicycles in inner city areas across Australia.

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