Bus drivers operating along Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway and Victoria Parade corridors will see a change in lane usage, with motorcycles now permanently allowed in selected bus lanes following a successful trial.
The Victorian government confirmed the move this week after an evaluation showed the change had no impact on bus travel times or service reliability.
The updated access applies to three specific corridors – on the Eastern Freeway westbound between Chandler Highway and Hoddle Street, on Victoria Parade westbound between Hoddle Street and Nicholson Street and also eastbound between Nicholson Street and Hoddle Street.
Despite concerns that additional vehicles in bus lanes could compromise priority flow, the evaluation found no measurable delays to services operating through these sections.
This means drivers can continue to rely on these lanes to maintain schedules, even as access is expanded to include motorcycles.
The trial also identified indirect benefits for bus operations, particularly in terms of safety and predictability in traffic conditions.
Motorcyclists using general traffic lanes are often forced to weave between vehicles in congested traffic, creating unpredictable movements around larger vehicles such as buses. By allowing motorcycles into designated bus lanes, the policy aims to reduce this behaviour. The state government says fewer erratic lane changes and blind spot interactions may contribute to a more stable operating environment, particularly during peak periods.
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Clear signage will now be installed across the affected corridors to ensure both riders and bus drivers understand where shared access applies.
The government says the trial showed motorcyclists are now more likely to use these routes and report greater confidence when travelling, without compromising bus operations.
Victorian roads and road safety minister Ros Spence says the change is focused on practical safety improvements.
“Motorcyclists are some of our most vulnerable road users, and we’re making practical changes to help them stay safer on our roads,” Spence says.
“This is about helping riders avoid traffic, travel more safely and get to their destination sooner.”
The initiative forms part of Victoria’s broader road safety strategy, which aims to reduce fatalities and serious injuries by 2030. Motorcyclists currently account for a disproportionate share of road trauma, representing 21 per cent of deaths despite making up less than four per cent of registered vehicles.
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