September 26, 2021eastbug

26 Sep 2021

Brisbane Metro works on Adelaide St

If you’ve been in the CBD this week you may have discovered that the Brisbane Metro construction works at the intersection of Adelaide St and North Quay have not only included removing the signalised crossing across Adelaide St (which we expected) but also the signals on the crossing across North Quay – which we didn’t expect. You may have found yourself waiting for an almost continuous stream of traffic or vehicles blocking the crossing point, and had to wait until some friendly driver (usually a bus driver) waved you across.

We have to admit that we had seen the draft plans for this intersection, but had not realised that the crossing here would no longer be signalised. Although this lane is only intended for local traffic, there is a lot of car parking and drop-off zones in this block of the CBD which includes the new Brisbane Quarter, W Hotel, and a Wilson Parking garage. Even once people figure out the new configuration, we expect that the level of traffic will remain high, and we consider it unsatisfactory to remove a signalised crossing in the CBD. At the very least, this should be a raised (wombat) crossing, giving clear priority to people walking and cycling.

Also in the CBD, a warning: If you’re riding on-road on Adelaide St towards the river and Victoria Bridge, don’t use the bike lane; it’s a trap!

As you approach George St, there’s a painted bike lane with a wide lane to your right for buses heading to Victoria Bridge, cars heading towards Elizabeth St, and (potentially) trucks heading to Queens Wharf. But on the other side of the intersection you converge into the same narrow lane. If someone’s not paying attention, that has potential to go horribly wrong.

Then at the corner of North Quay, the bike lane gets squeezed into the kerb. Again, potentially disastrous.

Cycling on the footpath is not a great option either, as there is construction work impinging on the paths as well, and at the George St intersection, the ramp is often blocked by people waiting to cross.

North Brisbane Bikeway

Just north of the CBD, yes, we’re impatient for the North Brisbane Bikeway to finally reopen between O’Connell Tce and Campbell St, Bowen Hills. We assume this is waiting for the building works to be certified on the new Wren Street Medical Precinct, but we are frustrated this is holding up the bikeway reinstatement. The detour has now been in place for more than 18 months!

Edgar St, Windsor

On a happier note, this week we noticed there’s now a ramp from the shared path to the corner of Edgar St and Victoria St, Windsor (near the Northey Street Market). This (roughly) connects the Enoggera Creek Bikeway to the Bowen Bridge Rd path to the RBWH, and to the North Brisbane Bikeway (via Campbell St).
This little piece was always oddly missing.

(Speaking of odd: the map on the nearby sign is a bit confusing because it doesn’t capture the 3-dimensional nature of the infrastructure in this area!)

Old Cleveland Rd, Coorparoo

Turning to the eastern suburbs: we can’t see any reason for this new build-out which narrows the kerbside lane on Old Cleveland Rd, Coorparoo just before the junction with Nicklin St / Pembroke Rd.

The build-out pushes anyone on a bicycle to the right, and reduces the space available for drivers to overtake. Old Cleveland Rd is on the principal cycle network, and is a major active transport arterial from the eastern suburbs. Just because it’s missing cycling facilities now shouldn’t be justification for any changes that make conditions even more hostile for cycling.

Wynnum Rd, Morningside

Speaking of hostile for cycling: maybe there’s something about the condition of these bollards ‘protecting’ the bike lane on Wynnum Road which doesn’t inspire confidence. Some people still seem to prefer riding on the skinny little footpath instead of ‘sharing’ the road… 🤔

Lytton Rd, Morningside

This is frustrating: Lytton Road through Morningside and Balmoral has just been resurfaced – which should have been the perfect opportunity to reconfigure the lanes, moving the bike lanes to the kerb where there is more shade, and where people naturally want to ride away from the busy stream of cars and trucks. Instead it looks like the bike lanes will be repainted hard up against the general traffic lanes as before, with the kerbside space allocated to parking – even though it is very sparsely used between Perrin Creek and Taylor St.

We proposed protected kerb-side bike lanes for Lytton Road to Council back in 2016, and gathered support from the Bulimba State School and Balmoral State High School Communities. But it seems Council are intent on sticking with the status quo.

What a wasted opportunity.

Hanlon Park, Stones Corner

On a brighter note, EaST BUG report that stage 2 of the Hanlon Park transformation is looking great. But we’re most excited that the channel under the Logan Road bridge was diverted last week, because that means that work on the bikeway underpass can finally begin!

It’s also good to see that the low-visibility bollard at the path entry opposite Regina St has been replaced with a yellow bollard that will be less of a trip hazard.

Bike parking at Cannon Hill Station

We’re finally getting a secure bike parking cage at an east-side train station! This is being delivered as part of the Cannon Hill Station accessibility upgrade. Until now, the only secure bike parking cage on the Cleveland line was at the end of the line at Cleveland Station. Now there are also plans for a facility at Manly Station, and (eventually) at Morningside. Unfortunately there are still no plans for Murarrie, which missed out during the multi-million dollar carpark expansion there a couple of years ago.

Counting the riders

There seemed to be a big jump in the number of trips recorded past the bikeway counter on Lytton Road, East Brisbane this week. Previously this had shown around 700 to 800 trips per day during the week. Perhaps it has been adjusted to now count scooters? (Is that enough to explain the difference?) Or perhaps it was a glitch? Or did hundreds more people start cycling this week??

(Photos taken around 6pm and then 9pm on Thursday)

Petition time!

If you haven’t already, please add your signature to the petition calling for safe, physically separated bike lanes on King Arthur Terrace. This is a vitally important east-west connection between the southside (Annerley, Fairfield, Moorooka, Yeerongpilly) and the Sherwood/Graceville/Chelmer peninsula.

King Arthur Terrace is a popular commuter cycling route, part of the River Loop and a Secondary Cycle Route according to City Plan. But at the moment it is dangerous and intimidating for inexperienced riders and children. There is plenty of room here to reconfigure the space so it’s more comfortable and functional for everyone!

World Car Free Day

Wednesday this week was World Car Free Day. This international event is celebrated in cities around the globe every September 22. People are encouraged to get around without driving alone in cars and instead ride a train, bus, bicycle, scooter, carpool, or walk. The event highlights the numerous benefits of going car-free to citizens—including reduced air pollution and the promotion of walking and cycling in a safer environment.

So what’s happening in Australia? While the discussion around transport emissions here has been largely framed around electric vehicles, other countries are instead focussed on how to provide a high level of mobility to urban residents without relying on private automobiles. For example, walking and cycling is the first action area for Britain’s decarbonising transport strategy.

How can we help to change the conversation in Australia?