It was a Michael-fest in the Maiwar electorate as Chris from Brisbane West BUG joined fellow western suburbs residents Michael A and Michael B to join Michael Berkman MP, Member for Maiwar for a bike ride around Indooroopilly and Toowong.

MP Michael is no stranger to cycling or advocacy, having arranged two community bike rides to raise community support for installing bike infrastructure along Lambert Road between the Indooroopilly Riverwalk and the high schools along that street. On this day, Michael was due to take delivery of a new electric cargo bike which he plans to use to take his daughter to school and then ride to work – but the bike wasn’t quite ready for delivery so he had a loaner e-bike instead.

Much of this ride was to celebrate the recent grant funding announcements from the State Government to fund designs for the Lambert Road bikeway, Witton Road to Moggill Road and Sylvan Road bike lanes. These Cycling Network Local Government Grants are one way that State and Local government work together to deliver solutions on the principal cycle network – something we need to see much more of as Brisbane heads towards hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032.

Starting at Robertson Park in Indooroopilly, the group headed along Lambert Road to the Indooroopilly Riverwalk and Witton Road, before doubling back and heading up to Ironside State School to pick up Michael A’s daughter Ivy.

It was quite hectic riding along Swann Road at school pickup time and riding through the Gailey Five Ways roundabout. The group came across another school student stuck at the roundabout trying to find an opportunity to cross, and so they shepherded him through and down Indooroopilly Road. That this is the primary cycle route between Indooroopilly and Toowong with minimal infrastructure, fast, busy roads and the Gailey Road roundabout which is challenging to negotiate even for motorists shows how much more there is to do to make cycling a genuine, safe transport option for people of all ages and abilities.

Having dropped Ivy home, the group then proceeded up to the Bicentennial Bikeway to Sylvan Road, where separated cycling facilities are urgently required. The ride ended with a debrief over a cold drink at the Regatta Hotel, where Michael reflected on the mental health benefits of being able to get out on his bike and keep active. “This has been a great afternoon in the office”. We couldn’t agree more!

Thanks for your time and your strong advocacy for active transport, Michael.