On-street car parking should be permanently removed from Sydney Road and replaced with platform tram stops, wider footpaths and separated bike lanes, the RACV says.

The influential transport group has put forward the case for the street's radical makeover in its March edition of RoyalAuto magazine, which has a circulation of 1.4 million copies.

A cyclist makes his way along Sydney Road in Brunswick. Credit:Joe Armao

The RACV argues the "troubled thoroughfare" fails all road users – motorists and tram passengers suffer the slowest off-peak travel times in Melbourne and the street is unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians – and will only get worse unless traffic priority shifts away from the car.

"Something must be done to reduce the conflict between pedestrians, riders and vehicles, to speed up trams and provide a street environment that will enable Sydney Road to thrive as a shopping precinct," the RACV said.