Ministerial Statement: Tour de France win a boost for cycling

[ozbob]

Transport and Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk
25/07/2011

Tour de France win a boost for cycling

Cadel Evans' win of the Tour de France will bolster the already booming cycling culture of Queensland and augur well for the Asia Pacific Cycle Congress in Brisbane in September, Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk today.

"I want to offer Cadel congratulations on behalf of every Queensland cyclist," she said.

"It was a stunning achievement that will boost cycling in this state more than any other single event.

"The interest in the tour this year has been phenomenal and will reinvigorate plans to double cycling to work trips by 2021 and triple by 2031."

Ms Palaszczuk said promoting cycling would be a key feature of the first Asia-Pacific Cycle Congress, being held in Brisbane 18-21 September.

"While the congress will be a major forum for cycle planning, we'll be working with Bicycle Queensland and other groups to make sure efforts go into boosting cycling as well," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"Let's face it - there's no better place in Australia to cycle than Queensland.

"Today in Melbourne, the predicted maximum temperature is 14 degrees. In Brisbane it's 23.

"There is opportunity galore throughout Queensland to enjoy the great outdoors through cycling. It doesn't have to be the 3400km of the Tour de France.

"Bicycles are often quicker than cars over short distances of up to five kilometres. They're better for your health and they're better for the environment too."

Ms Palaszczuk said the State Government has greatly increased funding to develop the cycle network in South East Queensland.

"In this year's budget alone more than 40 projects would be funded by the state government to design and expand the south east Queensland cycle network," she said.

"These major projects will contribute to delivering a network of cycle routes and supporting facilities to form a cycle network stretching from Noosa down the Sunshine Coast through the Greater Brisbane and Ipswich Regions to the Gold Coast and extending out to Toowoomba," Ms Palaszczuk said.
More than 400 delegates are expected to attend the inaugural Asia-Pacific Cycle Congress in September at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank.

For more details on Congress registrations, sponsorship and events, visit the Asia-Pacific Cycle Congress website: www.cyclecongress.com.

[Jonno]

Watching the final stage last night with great pride I did chuckle to myself when the commentators commented that " the bus lanes and cycle lanes on all major roads had transformed the city"

[colinw]

That press release is a load of utter tosh.  Take a completely unrelated sporting triumph, and try to associate the Government's 3rd rate crap with it.

Not buying it, not impressed.

[#Metro]

"Let's face it - there's no better place in Australia to cycle than Queensland.

Seriously. This government is totally delusional. Best public transport (what with worst class rail?), best this and that.

Meaningless...

[Stillwater]

You watch, Cadel Evans will get an inviation to tea and muffins with the PM, with the media on hand.  Julia Gillard will be hoping that some of his charisma will transfer to her.  In vain hope they will gain innocence, politicians hug and kiss babies, and they sometimes kneel to be on the same level as a child when engaging them in conversation.  However, the pollies seem to have a problem with adults who actually vote for them.  Hell, if Julie put some of the carbon tax revenue into public transport (which is disadvantaged under the proposed tax rules), i'd hug and kiss her (if her security team allowed it and didn't shoot me first).

[tomato]

Transport and Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk
25/07/2011

Tour de France win a boost for cycling

Cadel Evans' win of the Tour de France will bolster the already booming cycling culture of Queensland and augur well for the Asia Pacific Cycle Congress in Brisbane in September, Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk today..............


Ms Palaszczuk said the State Government has greatly increased funding to develop the cycle network in South East Queensland.

"In this year's budget alone more than 40 projects would be funded by the state government to design and expand the south east Queensland cycle network," she said.

"These major projects will contribute to delivering a network of cycle routes and supporting facilities to form a cycle network stretching from Noosa down the Sunshine Coast through the Greater Brisbane and Ipswich Regions to the Gold Coast and extending out to Toowoomba," Ms Palaszczuk said.

my italics...and extending out to Toowoomba....

I am aware of the Brisbane Rail trail project but haven't heard of a link ..cycle network ..to Toowoomba.

There have been a moderate amount of bike lanes marked in the last couple of years around Toowoomba ...except when it comes to a tight/narrow intersection the bike lane often disappears ....

[somebody]

"Let's face it - there's no better place in Australia to cycle than Queensland.

This part might have some truth.  I can tell you that the bike lanes in SEQ are far better than Sydney.  And in every other state you aren't allowed to cycle on the footpath.