Brisbane Local Government Elections

Cycling has become a top issue in the Brisbane Local Government elections with three major parties and one independent mayoral candidate having released  policy initiatives to support cycling.

 

 Team Quirk (LNP) was first to release their plans and spending on cycling.  Team Quirk promised to increase bikeway funding to $120 million over four years as part of an innovative plan to generate more business in Brisbane’s suburbs.

The Better Bikeways 4 Brisbane program would include:

A safety program targeting cycling blackspots through upgrades to lighting, signage and crossings.

Active community projects to build better bikeway networks to suburban shopping strips and public transport hubs in support of local businesses.

A commuter network targeting the city’s top eight employment areas. These include:

Australia Trade Coast (Brisbane Airport north of the river through to Port of Brisbane south of the river)

Toowong/ Indooroopilly/ St Lucia

North-East Industrial Corridor (Nudgee/ Banyo/ Boondall/ Brisbane Airport)

Chermside

South-West Industrial Corridor (Rocklea/ Darra/ Oxley/ Inala/ Richlands)

CBD/ Valley

Griffith University/ Mt Gravatt

South Brisbane/ Woolloongabba

 You can read the full Team Quirk press release here: http://www.teamquirk.com.au/category/news/

 

Ray Smith (ALP) team followed with their commitment to spend $2 million on an investigation into new bikeway bridges. "It could be between Norman Park and New Farm, it could be between West End and Milton or it could be Kangaroo Point and the CBD," Mr Smith said. "This is about improving (cycling infrastructure) and getting more residents on their bikes." I would like to see the 20,000 trips that are currently undertaken ... doubled."

Under Ray Smith's plan about $10 million would be spent connecting the northern bikeway and $5 million building a missing link of riverside walk connecting Mowbray Park to Cairns Street at Kangaroo Point.

A roving bike maintenance crew would also be established alongside a bike user group steering committee.

You can read Ray Smith’s full policy here:  http://raysmith.com.au/rays-positive-plans/better-brisbane-bikeways-2/

 

The Greens mayoral candidate Andrew Bartlett supports the LNP's cycling initiatives.  You can read Andrew Bartlett's comments here: http://qld.greens.org.au/content/greens-welcome-quirks-bikeways-commitment

Also independent mayoral candidate Chris Carson's wants to end the " Cyclist vs Car War.
To see mayoral candidate Chris Carson's cycling policy see
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chris-Carson-Lord-Mayor-Candidate/147777412014980

Nudgee Rd/ East West Arterial intersection upgrade is a downgrade for cycling.

It is disappointing  that due to recent road ‘upgrades’ for the Airport Roundabout, it is now more difficult to cycle along Nudgee Road than before.

Prior to the 'upgrade' the intersection had a free left turn to the airport with sufficient lane width for both bikes and trucks and plenty of shoulder space on the chevron markings for cyclists proceeding along Nudgee Rd. There were also pedestrian crossings on all 4 sides of the intersection. 

Now the upgrade has removed  the western pedestrian access, removed the free left turn to the airport and removed the road shoulder for cycling.  As an added insult to cyclists riding along Nudgee Rd, the concrete curbing protrudes unnecessarily into the road space at various locations, creating a series of squeeze points.

The lack of provision for cyclists is a mystery considering the policies of the Queensland Government to encourage active transport including cycling and walking outlined in  Connecting SEQ 2031, the Integrated Regional Transport Plan of South East Queensland as well as policies of the Transport and Main Roads Departments to 'positively provide for cycling' all road projects. 

The Nudgee Rd/ East West Arterial Rd  intersection could have easily retained some facility for cyclists with a little consideration of placement of curbs, line marking and traffic light timing. However, it is obvious that no attempt has been made to allow provision for cyclists cycling along Nudgee Road to cross this intersection safely.  Areas of curbing protrude unnecessarily onto the road shoulder where cyclists could otherwise ride and there are also wide areas of gardens which could have been reduced to allow up to a metre more road space for cyclists.  Airport BUG has raised this issue with the Transport and Main Roads department as well as with TJH.

Flooding
Flooding of the Kedron Brook Cycleway, Bicentennial Bikeway and many other cycle and walking paths demonstrates the vunerability of the cycle network to flooding.  Regular cyclists would be aware that even king tides will cause flooding of many bikeways. This is one of the reasons Airport BUG continues to advocate for on-road provision for cyclists.
   















Above: King Tide flooding of Kedron Brook Bikepath at Nudgee Rd ( left) and recent flood water height indicated on wire fence at bikepath through Toombul Shopping Town (right).



Nudgee Road/ East West Arterial Road Intersection

Disappointingly the Brisbane City council has failed to provide  for cyclists at the Nudgee Road/ East West Arterial Drive intersection in the recent road upgraded which was completed as part of works at the Airport Roundabout.

Nudgee Road is used by commuter cyclists to access the airport and other workplaces on Nudgee Road.  This intersection now has less amenity for cyclists than prior to the upgrade.  There are no on-road or off-road cycle facilities and no room for bicycles on the road shoulders.

 Above: No space for cyclists on Nudgee Rd approaching the intersection.  The road needs to be wider and the garden narrower.

 This lack of consideration of cyclists in the road design is surprising and disappointing as Airport BUG has liaised regularly with the Active Transport unit of Brisbane City Council regarding bicycle access to the Brisbane Airport and Trade Coast.   

In the same construction project, the new fast diamond intersection which replaces the airport roundabout incorporates several cycle friendly design elements including: cycle lanterns, traffic signal activation buttons for cyclists, a wide sealed road shoulder and directional signage for cyclists. 

Airport BUG has written to the Brisbane City Council asking why the council has not incorporated cycle friendly design into the Nudgee Road intersection?  Nudgee Road is a major north-south route for cyclists. (Cyclists are not allowed on the Gateway motorway and Sandgate Road is too narrow southbound after Toombul). The use of Nudgee Road by cyclists is recognised by council as Nudgee Road has on-road bicycle lanes north and south of the intersection. In addition, many of the side streets off  Nudgee Road have BAS ( Bicycle Awareness Symbols).

 

 

 Above: On road bicycle lanes south and north of the Nudgee Road/ East West Arterial intersection.

To make the Nudgee Road/ East West Arterial Intersection more cycle friendly Airport BUG has requested the City Council consider the installing the following bicycle infrastructure:

 

·        On-road bicycle lanes in both directions with bicycle storage boxes at the intersection.

·        Bicycle lanterns giving an early start to bicycle riders.

·        An off road shared path southbound allowing a free left turn to the airport.

'All Bicycles' Direction Sign

Airport BUG has written to City North Infrastructure (CNI), the project coordinators of the Airport Roundabout,  congratulating them for incorporating several cycle friendly design elements including: cycle lanterns, traffic signal activation buttons for cyclists, a wide sealed road shoulder and directional signage for cyclists.

We have expressed our members' concerns, however,  with one sign which directs ‘all bicycles’ exiting the fast diamond intersection onto the footpath.

Most Airport BUG members consider this diversion is impractical for cyclists who want to continue straight ahead onto East West Arterial to access Sandgate Road.  Similarly it is also considered impractical for cyclists who wish to turn right onto Nudgee Rd.   Even for cyclists turning left on Nudgee Rd, the footpath only takes them as far as the left turning slip lane where they must enter the roadway again.

Airport BUG understands the requirement for road authorities to 'risk manage' provision for cyclists, however the rule of thumb for cycle infrastructure is that it must provide safe, convenient and direct access.   The footpath may be safe but it is neither convenient nor direct.

Airport BUG appreciates cyclists have been considered in the road design, but we are  concerned that the sign may cause motorists to believe cyclists should not be on the road. This incorrect belief may cause motorists to behave aggressively towards cyclists.    Prior to road works commencing, Airport BUG members reported aggression from motorists who incorrectly believed East West Arterial was a ‘motorway’ and cyclists should not be riding along it.

Airport BUG has requested the sign wording be modified to remove the indication that it is compulsory for cyclists to use the footpath.