How to Revitalise Sydney Road

The campaign to create a street for everybody

In 2015, all around Melbourne tram stops were being upgraded for accessible trams. Revitalise Sydney Road is a campaign to use this once in a generation opportunity to swap car parking for bike lanes, outdoor dining, and more greenery on the street.

The Revitalise Sydney Road campaign started after the death of Alberto Paulon in 2015 caused by car parking on Sydney Road. Thousands of cyclists turned out to a protest in Alberto’s honour, and soon after “Revitalise Sydney Road” was born.

In the period leading up to the 2018 election Revitalise Sydney Road put out a policy position paper that showed just how poorly space was being allocated on the street. We organised countless media article advocating for change. We showed just how dysfunctional the street is currently by racing a jogger with the tram from the top to bottom of the street (The jogger easily won!). We even conducted polling of the Brunswick electorate which showed that only a minority of Brunswick voters opposed protected bike lanes on the street.

In the end, the government conducted a consutlation where the majority of the community supported removing car parking. The local traders association ended up supporting a compromise option where there are accessible tram stops and peak hour bicycle lanes, with parking maintained during shop opening hours.

Since COVID the process of making Melbourne’s trams stops accessible has ground to a halt. But when the building starts back up again plans for a better Sydney Road are ready to go.