Alicia Weiderman

Early on Sunday morning Alicia Weiderman, Labor candidate for Coorparoo, and Matt from Brisbane Labor joined Paul, Mary and John from Brisbane South BUG for a ride around Coorparoo, East Brisbane and Stones Corner/Greenslopes to check out a few of the challenges experienced by people trying to get about by bike. Alicia admitted that it had been a couple of months since she had last ridden but she really appreciated being able to experience the local issues in her ward while on a bike.

The crew encountered narrow or no footpaths in residential streets, roads hostile to walkers and riders trying to cross at Turbo Drive and Deshon Street, and dark and dirty tunnels that flood at the drop of a hat. Alicia appreciated that paths built alongside creeks might be safer and shadier but are exposed to regular flooding and are not considered safe when unlit and full of debris. An on road alternative ideally needs to be direct and segregated so that everyone, including kids, can get to where they need to go without being in danger from impatient motorists doing the wrong thing.

Alicia had already commented on the disappearing bike lane out the front of South City Square on Logan Road despite the width of Logan Rd being able to cater for bike lanes along this section down to Stones Corner. Logan Rd is a flat alternative to the V1 and also has businesses along its length that people could visit by bike if it felt safe to do so.

The BUG convenors discussed the concept plans for Kingfisher Creek issued by the current council and the feedback received to date. Everyone recognised that this series of paths will always be used by walkers and bike riders so final plans need to cater for higher volumes of users into the future.

As the tour de bicycle came to an end, the need for traffic calming through Stones Corner village to remove rat runners and to create a more pleasant high street feel that is pedestrian and cycle friendly was highlighted. Alicia understood the value in this and Council’s role in ensuring that the needs of local residents and businesses are considered when assessing large scale developments proposed for this street.

Thanks for taking the time to ride with us Alicia. We’d love to see the bike racks at City Hall full after the March 16 election!