Send a email to Melissa Horne MP, Minister for Roads + Gabrielle Williams MP, Minister for Active Transport
The more specific you make the email, the more likely it will receive a response.
* Your preferred email should open on your device, eg, gmail, outlook etc.
For those who prefer to cut & paste: Melissa.Horne@parliament.vic.gov.au, minister.horne@minstaff.vic.gov.au, gabrielle.williams@parliament.vic.gov.au, receptionminwilliams@transport.vic.gov.au
cc: gabrielle.devietri@parliament.vic.gov.au, enquiries@yarrabug.org
Subject line: create your own, eg: Why doesn’t the Victorian Government support it’s own Active Transport Plan? or Why isn’t the Victorian Government protecting bike lanes?
Email 1: Dear Minister Horne,
Dear Minister Horne and Minister Williams,
[Below is suggestions only, please add your personal story about Elizabeth Street]
We write to you in your capacity as the Minister for Road Safety and Minister for Active Transport as Yarra Council has commenced work to degrade the Elizabeth Street bike lanes, the only safe bike lanes in Richmond on Monday 16 March 2026.
In March 2026 with a looming national petrol crisis and crunch time for many household travel budgets, it is an indictment on Victorian Government that neither Minister stepped up to stop demolition of Elizabeth Street protected lanes exactly when people need safe, economical transport options.
These bike lanes form part of the state government’s Strategic Cycling Network and changes proposed are against the Road Management Act.
We also note on Thursday 19 March 2026, Victoria’s Active Transport Plan was released by Department of Transport and Planning.
The plan has a strong emphasis upon Strategic Cycling Corridors, to quote:
“Strategic Cycling Corridors have been mapped across Victoria’s urban areas to provide certainty and guidance as we work with local councils to implement improvements for riders across the State. We will continue to work with local councils to review and update the mapping as appropriate”
In the case of Elizabeth Street, Richmond, a strategic cycling corridor with a long local history, the current Victoria Government has proved it has no faith is it’s own active transport policies.
Kind Regards
[Add your name, contact details, suburb]
Type your name
Add your suburb if applicable
Email 2: Immediate action required: Fix Elizabeth Street, Richmond Safety issues
For those who prefer to cut & paste: info@yarracity.vic.gov.au, sue.wilkinson@yarracity.vic.gov.au
cc: gabrielle.devietri@parliament.vic.gov.au, enquiries@yarrabug.org
Subject line: create your own, eg: Elizabeth Street, Richmond is unsafe to use
Hello Yarra City Council,
(Please add your story, report an incident, time, date and photo if possible)
I want to bring to your attention to ongoing works on Elizabeth St protected bike lanes in Richmond.
– This my daily commute (add details if possible)
– Over 1000 people a day ride and scoot on Elizabeth Street daily but Yarra Council has failed to include their safety in their traffic management plan.
– No adequate signage to alert drivers to be careful of changed conditions and watch for riders.
– Dangerous road hazards in the bike lanes, eg, large machinery parked in the lanes
– The detours advertised on Yarra City Councils website are potentially dangerous – especially with Hoddle Street being noted as a night time detour:
https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/about-us/news-and-media/roadworks-to-begin-elizabeth-street
In March – April 2026 with a looming national petrol crisis and crunch time for many household travel budgets, it is an indictment on Yarra Council decided to proceed demolition of Elizabeth Street protected lanes exactly when people need safe, economical transport options.
Yarra Council has shown poor judgement and a ongoing lack of care in regards to public liability with hastily demolishing the Elizabeth Street protected bike lanes.
Yarra Council must immediately rectify these road safety hazards.
Thank you,
(Please add your name, suburb)
Read more:
- Elizabeth Street protected bike lanes downgrade to start Monday 16 March 2026 (10 March 2026)
- Request to protect Strategic Cycling Corridor from degradation (8 February 2025)
- Our petition “Don’t risk our safety in 2025 – tell Yarra Council not to remove safe cycling lanes” has received over 1100 responses! (7 April 2025)
- Elizabeth Street Protected Bike Lanes: A history: 1993 – 2026
