Article: Get on your bike to beat roadworks

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From the Sunday Mail click here!

Get on your bike to beat roadworks

Get on your bike to beat roadworks:

CYCLISTS are urging disgruntled motorists to buy a bike and cycle to work to beat the woes of roadworks.

There will be more cycle opportunities in Brisbane than ever before, with a Paris-style bike-hire scheme starting March 2010 ? Lord Mayor Campbell Newman signed a contract with the service provider on Thursday ? and a record $100 million to be spent on new bikeways by 2012.

Brisbane Bicycle Touring Association vice-president Maurice Quirke has been riding from the inner-city suburb of Bulimba to the northern Brisbane suburb of Stafford for work for the past four years.

Mr Quirke said the 20km-plus ride often proved much quicker than going by car.

"It takes me about 35 minutes," he said.

"It could be an hour and a half (in a car) if there is a traffic accident."

Mr Quirke said as well as gaining valuable exercise while beating traffic jams, the ride was also good for de-stressing after a day's work.

"Coming home, it's very relaxing," he said.

"When there's a traffic jam it's fabulous because you pass them."

Mr Quirke said he was glad he did not have to worry about the record amount of roadworks taking place across the state this year.

He urged other drivers worried about the increasing commute to take his lead and hop on a bike.

"'We always recommend getting on a bike," he said.

"It all depends on where you live and how safe it is."

Mr Quirke said cyclists were often worried about the danger of riding on the road with traffic, but he urged them to give it a go.

"Do the right thing and keep to the side and keep steady ? be a little bit courteous."

Mr Quirke recently came back from a riding holiday in Europe, and said cyclists were accepted as valid road-users there.

He said he hoped as more and more cyclists took to the Brisbane's roads, attitudes would begin to change in the state capital as well.