Unfortunately, someone has chosen to deliberately sabotage some of Melbourne’s newest bicycle lanes in the City of Port Phillip pop-up bike lane project, in the process causing frustration and costs for Melbourne’s bike riders and casting undeserved doubt on Victoria’s best performing bike lane surface.
OmniGrip Direct’s surfacing system has been using glass for bike lanes for nearly twenty years, and Australian recycled-glass for about ten years. And there’s been no complaints about a surface that has better skid-resistance, better colour retention and a longer-life than other short-lived surfaces. OmniGrip Direct’s safety surfaces are in widespread use by Councils and Transport Departments for bike lanes and bike paths across Australia.
Following investigation by OmniGrip Direct and the Victorian Department of Transport, glass shards have been found spread across the new bike lane surfaces in multiple locations along one of Melbourne’s premier riding routes. We are confident that the glass found on site is not from our manufacturing process, which is designed to screen out glass particles like that found on site.
To us, this anti-rider action is similar to the irresponsible spreading of tacks along Yarra Boulevard for several years that was widely condemned by the community. We will cooperate with Victoria Police, the Department of Transport and the City of Port Phillip to ensure riders get the safe surfaces they deserve.
Read more in the Bicycle Network Newsroom (free) and in the Herald Sun (paywall).