With today’s promise by ALP lord mayoral candidate Ray Smith of $2 million to investigate a new pedestrian/cycle bridge, a key question is where the new bridge should go.
The options identified in Mr Smith’s policy are:
- Toowong to West End
- Norman Park to New Farm
- CBD to Kangaroo Point
- Kangaroo Point to New Farm
Another frequently proposed option (left out of the new policy) is a bridge from Newstead to Bulimba, and another that’s come up a few times is Bulimba to Hamilton.
So, where do you think the next pedestrian/cycle bridge should go? Choose from one of the options below, or add your own suggestions (and/or reasons) in the comments.
Where should Brisbane's next ped/cycle bridge be?
- CBD to Kangaroo Point (5%, 5 Votes)
- Kangaroo Point to New Farm (5%, 5 Votes)
- New Farm to Norman Park (25%, 25 Votes)
- Newstead to Bulimba (30%, 30 Votes)
- Bulimba to Hamilton (4%, 4 Votes)
- Toowong to West End (31%, 30 Votes)
Total Voters: 99
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Update: we left out the Bulimba to Hamilton option when we first posted this, so the others have a bit of a head start.
Following close on last weekend’s promise by LNP Lord Mayor Graham Quirk to spend $120m on Brisbane’s bikeways over the next four years, ALP lord mayoral candidate Ray Smith today promised a range of initiatives:
- $100m for bikeway infrastructure,
- establishment of a formal BUG steering committee
- $600k for a roving team to address minor bikeway maintenance issues,
- $2m (of the $100m) to investigate one green bridge, and
- $280k for installation of bikeway facilities such as electronic bike counters and water fountains
Mr Smith’s policy includes a cycling modeshare target of 3.2% by 2016 (a significant increase above Council’s current projected 2.5%, and double the 2011 modeshare of 1.6%). It also makes positive mention of CityCycle; we hope this signals the end of previous unconstructive criticism of the scheme, and the start of bipartisan support instead.
The guest speaker at today’s meeting was Josh Forrest, who is undertaking a research project on public bike hire schemes (such as CityCycle), and how the public’s perceptions of them affect their use.
Members had plenty to say about perceptions, obstacles, and opportunities to improve the system and its usage, and the discussion could have gone on for quite some time longer. The discussion covered a wide variety of specific topics, ranging from helmets and ease of use to infrastructure, perceptions of safety, and willingness to share the road.
Josh is still keen for more input so if you’d like to contribute your thoughts or observations please send them to him at joshua.forrest@uqconnect.edu.au. While the research he’s undertaking is as part of a University thesis he does also happen to work at Council, so we expect his findings will not be overlooked.
Of course, it’d also be worth communicating your ideas directly to CityCycle, and we’d like to hear about them too.
The Brisbane City Council election has been largely overshadowed by the Queensland Government election, with the media and pundits only now actually turning their attention to this contest.
The LNP announced only yesterday that they will increase the four year $100 million commitment made by Campbell Newman in 2008, to $120 million over the next four year term. Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data on the costs of building infrastructure this additional $20 million equates to an increase of almost 10% in real terms.
Importantly, at the time of this announcement Cr Quirk said he wanted to develop a ‘bikeway commuter network’ in eight high-employment areas rather than in established ‘recreation’ areas. It is essential for BCC expenditure to be directed primarily to enabling commuter/utility bike riding. This is because focusing on weekend/recreational cycling will ensure bike riding remains an irregular activity for a minority of people, rather than a normal and everyday means of transport for the mainstream population.
Another announcement made at the same time by Premier Campbell Newman was that his government would link the BCC CityCycle scheme to the Go Card network as long as “the costs are not excessive” and “once technological and cost issues are resolved”.
The Queensland Greens mayoralty candidate Andrew Bartlett has welcomed the LNP’s announcement regarding increased cycling expenditure, along with stating “both Liberal and Labor must also recognise that many of the existing bikelanes on roads are simply not safe for many cylists to use” and “every Green elected to Brisbane City Council will support any moves to expand and connect bikeways, but we also need to make sure existing bikeways are of decent quality and all bikelanes on roads are safe for cyclists to use.”
The ALP is expected to hold its BCC campaign launch on Sunday 22 April 2011, after which the CBD BUG will provide further analysis.
In yet another sign of building owners’ and tenants’ recognition of the need to cater for the increasing popularity of bike commuting in Brisbane the owners of Northbank Plaza at 69 Ann Street Brisbane (Charter Hall) have enhanced their end-of-trip facilities by introducing a free towel service and user pays laundry service for their change room users.
FreshLocker provides a free towel and a laundry/dry cleaning service. The building owners pay for the towel service.
Users receive a personal laundry bag and can have laundry and dry cleaning picked up and delivered back to the change room, typically within 24–48 hours.
The benefits —
- Provides convenience and value for change room users.
- Promotes active transport use and a healthy lifestyle.
- Enhances status under National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) – a performance-based rating system for existing buildings.
- Enables employers / tenants to more easily to attract and retain staff while increasing staff wellness and productivity.
The April general meeting will be held at 12.30pm this Wednesday, 18 April in the usual tiered theatrette in the BCC library on the ground floor of Brisbane Square, 266 George Street. All members are welcome, and new members can join at the meeting. This is one week earlier than usual because the last Wednesday of April 2012 is Anzac Day.
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BCC advises it is about to undertake work to widen the narrow pathway between the Lanham Park bikeway (between Kedron Brook Bikeway and the Grange Library) and the corner of Uxbridge Street and Ferres Street, Grange. Work will commence this Thursday, 19 April, and is scheduled to finish on the following Thursday, 26 April, subject to weather. BCC advises that cyclists will need to exercise caution when riding through the area.
BCC advises that Transcity will be undertaking minor trench and pipe laying work beside the bikeway through Anzac Park in Toowong, from Dean Street to the Western Freeway. The work is expected to commence on 30 April and continue for up to two months.
There may be some disruption in non-peak hours to allow equipment and materials to be transported to the site as it progresses along the bikeway. Cyclists and pedestrians are advised to exercise caution when using the pathways.
For further information, please call Legacy Way on 1800 778 772.
Lazy Sunday Cycle, Brisbane’s monthly casual cycle group, is looking for some people to fill volunteer positions:
- Charity Bike Ride Events Manager
- Graphic Designer
- Social Media Manager
- Ride Leaders
They’re also looking for some sponsorship, if any community-minded, sustainable transport friendly businesses out there are looking for some exposure.
If you’re interested, email Amy and Rachel at lazysundaycycle@live.com.au. More information is available on the Lazy Sunday Cycle site.
Needless to say, CBD BUG is always looking for volunteers for these and similar tasks too. If you have some spare time and/or skills please get in touch and let us know!
Transcity advises there will be work undertaken on the Western Freeway bikeway at Toowong for the next two weekends, from around 9 pm Friday to around 4 am Monday. The work will be occurring in the section between Anzac Park, Toowong, and Equinox Street, Taringa.
Map of the closure and alternate route.
(Click for the full version on Transcity's web site)
From late Friday, 13 April to early Monday, 16 April the bikeway will be open but there will be traffic control in place and possible minor delays.
From late Friday, 20 April to early Monday, 23 April the bikeway will be fully closed.
An alternate route through the back streets of Toowong (see map to right) will be signed with maps and directional signage.
The Western Freeway pedestrian/cyclist overpass will not be affected by these works. It will still be possible to access the bridge from the Anzac Park side of the closure.
The closures are as part of work to relocate a water main located under the Western Freeway at Toowong. The water main relocation is required to enable the excavation of Legacy Way’s entrance and exit lanes. The next stage of work involves installing the new pipe underneath the Western Freeway and bike path.
For more information see Transcity’s web page, or call its community relations team on 1800 778 772.
