New buildings must be bike-friendly

Large new commercial and residential buildings will have to include facilities for cyclists following regulatory changes announced by Planning Minister Mary Delahunty yesterday. Space for bicycle parking as well as showers, changerooms and lockers will be required for new buildings larger than 1000 square metres, Ms Delahunty said. Victoria is the first state in Australia to introduce such requirements, which are intended to encourage Melburnians to embrace pedal power.

The new provisions will come into effect immediately.

'Cycling currently accounts for around 2 per cent of all trips in Melbourne but its potential is enormous,' she said. 'It is a clean and healthy travel choice. But lack of bike parking and end-of-trip facilities is a significant barrier to people cycling more.' The regulations will also apply to buildings undergoing a change of use and to extensions. Most large new buildings will be affected by the change, including offices, retail spaces, hospitals and apartment buildings."