Send a email to Ministers + Yarra Council
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: ros.spence@parliament.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: Victorian Government must protect vulnerable road users or A request to Victorian Government to adopt key AusRoads recommendations
Email 1: Dear Minister Spence,
Dear Minister Spence and Minister Williams,
[Below are suggestions only, please add your incident or personal story about Elizabeth Street]
I write to you in your capacity as the Minister for Road Safety and Minister for Active Transport as Yarra Council commenced work to degrade and narrow the Elizabeth Street bike lanes, the only safe bike lanes in Richmond on Monday 16 March 2026.
These bike lanes form part of the state government’s Strategic Cycling Network and changes proposed are against the Road Management Act. I also note in 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”
I request that Victoria State Government amend and protect Strategic Cycling Corridors to match key recommendations made in a recent Austroads report for upgrading cycle lanes as outlined in Guide to Traffic Management (AGTM)
‘Riders in cycle lanes of not less than 2m wide and 1m buffer to general traffic up to a speed of 40kph‘ and ‘Minimum 2m bike lanes with 0.8m – 1.2m buffer alongside kerbside activity‘ included in Appendix A Cycling Level of Service Tool (Pages 71-74).
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.
Kind Regards
[Add your name, contact details, suburb]
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, eg, near miss, pedestrian conflict, car-dooring plus time, date and attach photo if possible)
I want to bring to your attention to dangerous conditions on Elizabeth St protected bike lanes in Richmond. Several Yarra councillors also ignored Road Safety Audits when voting for narrowed protected lanes at several council meetings in 2024-2025.
Yarra Council has shown poor judgement and a ongoing lack of care in regards to public liability with hasty demolition then narrowing Elizabeth Street protected bike lanes especially with a looming national petrol crisis and crunch time for many household travel budgets and it is an indictment that Yarra Council decided to proceed to degrade these protected lanes exactly when people need safe, economical transport options.
Yarra Council must immediately rectify these road safety hazards.
Thank you,
[Add your name, contact details, 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
