Andrew Kidd

On the state election campaign trail in Brisbane’s western suburbs: last weekend Simon, Victoria, Josh and Chris from Brisbane West BUG joined Andrew Kidd – Greens candidate for Moggill and his wife Monica for a ride around the Kenmore area, and to nearest railway station at Indooroopilly. Andrew is a school teacher, and appreciates how making it safer for kids to ride, scoot and walk to school can make have a big effect on reducing and calming local car traffic, as well as benefiting children’s health and social and academic development.

Starting opposite Kenmore Plaza, the group made their way along the busy (and narrow) Cubberla Creek Bikeway to reach the Centenary Bikeway via the super-squeezy footpath on the Fig Tree Pocket Road Bridge. Simon pointed out that a lot of Moggill residents drive with their bikes and park at Cubberla Reserve and then ride into the city. That illustrates how much people appreciate active transport as a way to get exercise and to beat congestion – but only on safe routes like the Centenary Cycleway; people will go to great lengths to avoid cycling on hostile routes like Moggill Road!

From the Centenary Cycleway, the group made their way across the difficult Witton Rd and Kate Street intersection, and then on to Riverwalk and Indooroopilly Station. Andrew was impressed with how easy and appealing it could be to ride to the station if the link to the Riverwalk was completed and the station had adequate secure bike parking.

Chris made the point that while the Queensland Government’s cycling grants program is a positive way local and state governments work together, it could be more efficient to commit to delivering active transport along a corridor, rather than requiring local governments to apply for piecemeal design grants and then again for construction of each section. 3 years after the Indooroopilly Riverwalk was completed we still don’t have a final design – let alone construction date – for the onward connections.

Next it was time to check out some of the steep streets in Chapel Hill, and a few awkward crossings around Kenmore. Andrew and Monica cycled around San Francisco when they lived there some years ago, so they know hilly cities aren’t a barrier to cycling; they just require careful attention to the routes people naturally want to use.

Finally it was time for a debrief at the Olive Grove Cafe at Kenmore Plaza. Thanks Andrew and Monica for exploring the area with us and experiencing some of the challenges and opportunities for making it safer and easier to get around by bike.