• Victoria Bridge separated cycleway is open!
• Still waiting at Sumners Road
• No go on the Go Between Bridge
• Indooroopilly Riverwalk update
• Submissions
• Brisbane Airport updates
• Ipswich Motorway Cycleway
• Vision for a fairer Fairfield Road
• Cycling and the Climate Crisis
• Further benefits of cycling

Victoria Bridge separated cycleway is open!

Something very exciting happened on Monday afternoon: just hours before Brisbane went into a short, sharp lockdown over concern about COVID-19 cases in the community, the Victoria Bridge Cycleway was opened!

Big thanks to the crew from Brisbane City Council and Abergeldie who pulled out all stops to get the cycleway on the bridge and along William St to Elizabeth St open in time. It’s awesome!

Obviously, a lot of people weren’t at work in the CBD this week, and things were quiet over Easter, but if you haven’t had a chance to check out the CityLink Cycleway yet, we highly recommend it. We’re keen for a ribbon-cutting event too, as soon as we’re back out and about.

Still waiting at Sumners Road

Unfortunately the same can’t be said for the Centenary Cycleway tunnel beneath Sumners Rd. That looked like it was ready to ride last the weekend, and in fact people had obviously been sneaking through (which is not hard to understand; we regularly ride paths in far more ‘unfinished’ condition than this).

This week, there was still some landscaping work and painting going on, and as of Friday, there were still barricades blocking entry.

No go on the Go Between Bridge

We can confirm there was plenty of action (and a smell of paint) on Wednesday on the Go Between Bridge. We received the following update from Transurban:

“We have been delayed due to the recent wet weather and now expect works to be completed towards the end of April.
We know the community are eager to see these pathways reopened and our team are working from Monday to Saturday, 7am to 1am, to get the work completed. We thank you for your patience and will keep you updated as works progress.”

Transurban

Unfortunately, since then, Brisbane has experienced more wet weather….

Indooroopilly Riverwalk update

On a happier note, it has been a few weeks since we’ve posted photos of the Indooroopilly Riverwalk, so we must be overdue…

It’s pretty exciting to see the structure emerging from under the Jack Pesch bridge to connect at Witton Barracks Park. Raise your hand if you’ll be happy never to have to negotiate Westminster Rd, Station Rd and Riverview Tce ever again.

It’s also good to see that for the existing footpath on Radnor St, new crash barriers will be between pedestrians and motor vehicles, and present a smooth face to people using the path rather than a series of potential trip/snag hazards.

As far as we know, things are still on track for an early opening in May.

Submissions

Council’s consultation on the proposed green bridges from Toowong to West End and West End to St Lucia closed this week. We support the two bridges, which will help create a better connected city where the healthy and environmentally-friendly travel choice is also the most convenient. You can read our submission on the relative merits of the alternative proposed landing sites here:

We also provided a submission on the Roma Street Proposed Development Scheme (which we wrote about last week). You can read our input here:

Brisbane Airport updates

Thwarted again! Brenda Bones and Digby Graves emerged from their respective closets and pedalled down to Eagle Farm on the weekend, hoping to join an Easter egg hunt. They’d heard that miracles happen at this time of year.

But alas, there’s still no sign of a bikeway connection from Schneider Rd, where Digby found himself stranded, to where Brenda was waiting for him at the end of Viola Place.

(If you’re not familiar with the story of why Brenda and Digby haunt this place, you can read about it here).

Still at Brisbane Airport, Airport BUG are happy to report that the vine which ate the Charlie Earp Bridge pathway at has been vanquished at last. The vine had covered the railings and was was creeping across the half the path. When another person on a bike was approaching, to pass safely you had to ride in the weeds and risk pedal entanglement in the vine. Thank you to those folks who contacted Brisbane Airport Corporation about the issue.

Airport BUG also report that the bump on the path along Lakeside Drive has been fixed for good. The fig tree roots had lifted a slab of the path making a sharp jump on the join. Despite attempts at grinding, the lip remained. A new concrete slab has now been installed. Thanks BAC.

We would really like the bike path along Lomandra Drive to be progressed to Sugarmill Road. This would allow people riding bicycles to avoid riding on the narrow broken shoulder of Lomandra Drive with the cars and trucks. Airport BUG
emailed the Brisbane Airport Corporation on 23 February this year to ask when they plan to complete the path, but so far haven’t had a reply which is not a good sign. We fear no reply likely means they don’t have a plan.

If you would like to see the Lomandra Drive pathway continue to Sugarmill Road it would be great of you could email the Brisbane Airport Corporation at: feedback@bne.com.au and tell them you would love to have the path completed.

Ipswich Motorway Cycleway

In Rocklea, we’re happy to report that at the intersection of Ipswich Rd and Granard Rd, the lights for the cycleway now automatically turn green at [almost] the same time as the adjacent motor vehicle traffic goes. The cycleway light then remains green for the full duration of the main light. The light to cross the service road also activates each cycle. We’re not sure why the signals weren’t set up this way in the first place, but very happy to see it working now.

As part of the Ipswich Motorway Upgrade, Darra to Rocklea Stage 1, we know the northern side of the motorway has a new cycleway. But did you know on the southern side there’s a new road and shared path from Boundary Road to Blunder Road? Come take a spin with Brisbane West BUG to check it out:

Vision for a fairer Fairfield Road

Fairfield Road was looking a little different this Easter weekend, as work on the rail line has taken over the eastern side of the road through Yeronga.

Imagine if our road authorities were really serious about addressing the climate and health challenges posed by our car-dependent transport system… They might decide that Fairfield Road could function permanently with just one lane in each direction (with plenty of room for turning lanes, bus stops, etc), and turn this space into a cycleway and linear park…

Cycling and the Climate Crisis

This week the Australian Academy of Science released a chilling new report – The risks to Australia of a 3°C warmer world – in which Australia’s top climate experts warn that we must take drastic and immediate action to avoid the devastating costs of the climate crisis.

Also this week, the Federal Opposition announced that if Labor wins the next election, they will create incentives for purchasing electric vehicles.

But others have pointed out that cycling is ten times more important than electric cars for reaching net-zero cities.

This is a really interesting article on some of the hidden carbon costs of electric vehicles. As the author points out:

“I Ebike about 50 miles on the charge used to move a Tesla X just 1 mile. Do we really need to move a 4000# car with an additional 1000# of batteries to move one person plus groceries?”

Blogger “Bad Mom, Good Mom”

We agree with her conclusion. If we care about a liveable planet for our future and our children:

“We need to decarbonize transportation using every tool, starting with right-sizing the vehicles for the task.”

Active travel can contribute to tackling the climate emergency earlier than electric vehicles while also providing affordable, reliable, clean, healthy and congestion-busting transportation. We have no time to lose!

Further benefits of cycling

From the The Guardian in the UK: if you want to make the streets safer for women, start with cycling.

“Interventions to get women cycling often focus on building confidence, rather than designing infrastructure differently. While well-intentioned, these initiatives reinforce the narrative that it is women’s behaviour that needs to change – not men’s actions or the way we plan cities, towns and transit routes.”

Kate Jelly, London-based researcher, specialising in gender

We suspect numbers in Brisbane would be very similar to those reported from a survey in the UK: 36% of women who do not cycle would like to start.

Streets that feel safe and comfortable to women are good for everyone. It’s time to step up Brisbane!

And speaking of streets that feel safe; recently, the World Health Organisation launched a campaign to make 30 km/h streets the norm for cities worldwide. They recognise the benefits of 30 km/h streets to protect all who use them, but especially the most vulnerable, like pedestrians, cyclists, children and older people and people with disabilities.

30 km/h streets where people and traffic mix help prevent road traffic deaths and promote physical activity, because when streets are safe, people walk and cycle more.

From New Zealand: the transport system could be contributing to increasing levels of psychological distress.

Heavy car usage leads to busier roads, which is not just stressful for drivers; it can cause anxiety for parents when walking children around busy areas. It also leads to greater background noise and a hypervigilance over injury, which can contribute to anxiety.

Further, “People who live in really heavy traffic neighbourhoods: kids have less friends, and adults have less friends, than people who live in neighbourhoods with less traffic.” So our social connections—which we know are a major factor in mental health—shrink.

We loved everything about this film by Oto Ozols – the plot, the characters, the set design, the subtext. And such a heart-warming conclusion:

Are there some streets in Brisbane that you’d like to see get the same starring role – James Street, Grey Street, Kedron Brook Road, Vulture Street, or somewhere near where you live?