Greens - safer roads for bicycles

[ozbob]

Safer CBD Roads > http://itsyourbrisbane.com/commitments/safer-cbd-roads/

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Greens proposed segregated bike lanes for Brisbane CBD

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th December 2015

Candidate Ben Penning's CBD Separated Bicycle Lanes Proposal

RAIL Back on Track welcomes Lord Mayoral candidate Ben Pennings (GRN)'s proposal for separated bicycle lanes
within the Brisbane CBD.

A 2012 research study by QUT academics found that safety was a major barrier to CityCycle use:

"All groups considered safety a major barrier to CityCycle, with limited bicycle infrastructure frequently cited."

A lack of safety is also reflected in the deaths of cyclists, particularly on Annerley Road, Wooloongabba, and the
low proportion of women that are cycling.

Where separated cycling lanes have been rolled out overseas, cyclist numbers have increased.

The Canadian city of Calgary has rolled out a CAD $7.5 million (AUD $7.6 million) no-frills pilot trial of protected
cycling lanes within the Calgary CBD. The trial program avoided high-expense engineering works, so a greater area was
covered by the network.

Calgary isn't known as a cycling mecca, however the trial has had impressive results. After just 3 months opening,
daily weekday bicycle trips along the network increased by 95% on average. The proportion of women cycling also increased, suggesting that cyclists are valuing the higher level of safety separation offers them.

RAIL Back on Track also welcomes closer integration of the CityCycle scheme with Go Card or future public transport
payments system.

We hope the Greens consider other policies for improving transport for Brisbane, such as our New Bus Network Proposal,
our BulimbaGlider and CentenaryGlider proposals.

RAIL Back on Track is a politically neutral organisation. We are happy to consider any policy statements forwarded to us by
any candidate on its merit.

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

References:

Calgary Cycle



Image: Cycle Track Pilot Fast Facts. City of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TP/PublishingImages/cycle-track-infographic-dec2015.jpg

Greens proposed segregated bike lanes for Brisbane CBD
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/greens-proposed-segregated-bike-lanes-for-brisbane-cbd-20151216-gloqoq.html

Calgary rolls out a downtown protected bike lane network all at once
http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/calgary-rolls-out-a-downtown-protected-bike-lane-network-all-at-once

City of Calgary - Cycle Track
http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TP/Pages/Cycling/Cycling-Route-Improvements/Cycle-Track-Network---History-and-Background.aspx

Is Brisbane CityCycle 'designed' to fail?
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2012/10/02/is-brisbanes-citycycle-designed-to-fail/

Barriers and facilitators to public bicycle scheme use: A qualitative approach
Fishman, Elliot, Washington, Simon, & Haworth, Narelle L.
(2012)

Barriers and facilitators to public bicycle scheme use : a qualitative approach.
Transportation Research Part F : Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 15(6),
pp. 686-698.
http://eprints.qut.edu.au/53329/1/Focus_group_paper_on_barriers_and_facilitators_to_PBSS_use_Revision_2_29.06.12_V3

[verbatim9]

Do you think after the council elections they will do a bus review with Translink? BCC then will be in for 4 years and by the fourth year all the hysteria of some services being replaced by others would of been forgotten.

Plus all for dedicated segregated cycle ways. A couple are needed through the CBD and valley.

[ozbob]

I would hope so.  All parties are yet to indicate any real public transport policies as such.  I expect that will not happen until closer to the actual election.

[James]

Do you think after the council elections they will do a bus review with Translink? BCC then will be in for 4 years and by the fourth year all the hysteria of some services being replaced by others would of been forgotten.

Given the way both sides acted in BCC when bus network reform was proposed in 2013, I highly doubt either side in BCC has much interest. Quirk obviously isn't listening, whether Harding will is another question altogether. Both sides in state parliament appear to have no interest.

I hope someone in George St or City Hall can prove me wrong.

[hU0N]

I like the Greens bikeway proposal. Enough to make a difference, without being over the top.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Opinion: Brisbane is a world-class city that deserves a long-term plan

[ozbob]

The Greens --> Fixing CityCycle

Fixing CityCycle

It's no secret that Brisbane's bike sharing system is broken. It's been under-utilised from day one, an embarrassment to Brisbane. Fixing CityCycle and adding basic cycling infrastructure would:

    Reduce traffic congestion in the inner city
    Reduce fear, conflict and collisions on CBD roads
    Promote healthy transport and save health costs
    Reduce spending on disruptive inner city road maintenance
    Support our tourism industry

The Greens have committed to provide great infrastructure to make riding bikes in the CBD so much safer. Now we commit to making CityCycle so much easier to use by:

    Scrapping all registration fees for using CityCycle
    Allowing people to use Credit or Debit Cards to access bikes rather than register. Just tap and go!
    Extending the free riding time from 30 to 45 minutes
    Establishing new CityCycle stations close to train, ferry and busway stations so commuters can continue their journey on a CityCycle bike
    A $10 fare allowing CityCycle users to ride home after 8pm from inner-city train, ferry and busway stations, returning the bike by 8am on weekdays or 10am on weekends
    Extending call centre support from the current 8:30am-5:30pm to 6:30am-8:30pm

The Greens' plan would be fully paid through scrapping Brisbane City Council's $2.4 million executive bonus scheme. Highly paid executives should not be given big bonuses just for doing their jobs.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Top council salaries should go on bikes: Greens