"I support their ideas but not protests like this," she said. "I'm going to be very late for work."
A taxi driver stuck on Spencer Street said he was on his way home to take medication when the blockade started.
He said people had a right to protest, but not when it inconvenienced others.
Extinction Rebellion protester Sienna Hyland said the demonstrations throughout the city were about "drawing attention to the fact that we are in a climate emergency", and that disruptions to commuters were necessary.
"We would like to let those people know we are acting to halt climate change for the future of our children and their children as well," Ms Hyland said. "We are doing this for our entire world."
By Thursday afternoon, 110 protesters had ben arrested so far in Melbourne for their part in three days of demonstrations that have taken place across the country in a campaign dubbed the 'Spring Rebellion'.
"Twenty-two people have received penalty notices for failing to abide by a traffic direction made by police," Victoria Police said in a statement.
"Nineteen people have been charged with intentionally obstructing an emergency worker."
Of the 19 charged, six people have been bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court in March, another four were released on unconditional bail and a 17-year-old faced the Children's Court on Thursday afternoon. And a further eight people were released by police on unconditional bail.
Victoria Police North West Commander Tim Hansen said on Wednesday said climate protesters' refusal to let authorities know what they were planning had forced Victoria Police to suspend proactive campaigns around crime prevention.
"So whilst we're satisfied we have a minimum service delivery model out there that can match calls for assistance, what we have had to stop are those proactive police operations – those operations around robberies and carjackings, those operations around illicit drug consumption," Mr Hansen said.
"They've all had to be put on hold while we've been dragged into the CBD because of the unknown."
Rachael is a reporter at The Age. Contact me at rachaelhoulihan@theage.com.au
Sumeyya is a reporter for The Age.
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