It was a small announcement about a bike track, made by the Andrews government just minutes before the nation learnt the results of the same-sex marriage postal survey.

In Labor's marginal seat of Northcote though – which heads to the polls for a by-election this Saturday – the announcement delighted frustrated Alphington cyclists.

Ted Thyer rides on the Darebin-Yarra Trail, an $18m bike trail that will now have an entrance in Alphington. Credit:Darrian Traynor

The government has funded an $18 million bike path running along rivers and creeks in Ivanhoe, Alphington and Kew. Construction started last year and is nearing completion.

Earlier this year it emerged that the path – built after decades of campaigning – was to be inaccessible by the main suburb it passes through, Alphington.