Linda Barry

In Morningside Ward, Greens candidate Linda Barry deserves kudos for joining Belinda and Rolf from East BUG on a loop around the ward that included sections along Lytton Rd, Riding Rd, Hawthorne Rd, Wynnum Rd, Baringa St, and Junction Rd. Even on a Sunday morning, those roads are busy, and there are squeeze points where riding on the road places you right next to cars and trucks, but the footpath is either unsuitable for riding, or missing altogether. Some of these roads are marked in Council’s maps as having “on-road bike lanes” but that simply doesn’t match reality; if there are vehicles parked in the space, it’s not a bike lane!

Linda has a nice bike, and is keen to ride to work. But even to get to the pre-poll booth for Morningside Ward, she will need to ride along Lytton Rd, and the major pinch-point at Perrin Creek Bridge where the only footpath is on one side, and it’s precarious and too narrow to allow passing. Linda totally supports the idea of a bridge across Perrin Creek to connect Beelarong St and help create a safe route to school for kids attending Balmoral State High and Cannon Hill Anglican College.

We’ve heard it said that one of the best forms of advocacy can be lending someone your e-bike, and when we swapped bikes so Linda could try an upright-style electric bike, she could easily see why Belinda describes e-bikes as “life-changing” even for someone who’s a keen rider already.

Stopping for coffee at Eclipse, we were fortunate to run into Rachel, who’s always out and about in our area in her powered chair, and is a fantastic advocate for accessible infrastructure.

The March 16 Council election is a chance to elect people who will prioritise safer and more accessible streets and public spaces so everyone in our community can live a good life. Thanks Linda for spending Sunday morning with us exploring our suburbs by bike!