Meanwhile things have not been so rosy for cycling in Melbourne. The Masters Builders Association (MBA) is protesting about the Melbourne City Council’s bid to build a “Copenhagen style” separate bicycle lane past its office in Albert Street, East Melbourne. The MBA believes the sacrificing of parking spots for the bicycle lane is ludicrous and that the decision is based on “an ideological bent of council rather than a sensible plan.”

The MBA was taking up the issue with the State Roads Minister, Tim Pallas, who caused a stir last year when he stopped a Melbourne City Council proposal to remove a car lane on St Kilda Road to make room for Copenhagen bike lanes. These moves come in the face of Council figures which show that bicycle trips into Melbourne City centre are soaring.