Moreland Council has rejected a plan to paint a new "anti-dooring" bike lane beside the tram tracks on Sydney Road, voting instead to lobby the state government to investigate building fully separated "Copenhagen" bike lanes along the congested street.

The council wants a study to see if separated bike lanes could be installed when new disability-accessible platform tram stops are built along Sydney Road.

Trading parking and speed for safety, a cyclist rides on Sydney Road, Coburg. Credit:Jason South

Yarra Trams has told the council it has no short-term plans to build platform stops on Sydney Road, meaning the push to transform the streetscape into a more bike-friendly shape may take several years.

The proposed changes to Sydney Road would involve the removal of hundreds of on-street car parks, combined with boosts to nearby off-street parking and wider footpaths.