Article: Lord Mayor releases strategy to boost walking and cycling trips

[ozbob]

From Couriermail Quest click here!

Lord Mayor releases strategy to boost walking and cycling trips

Lord Mayor releases strategy to boost walking and cycling trips

    by: Taryn Davis
    From: Quest Newspapers
    November 29, 2011 9:17AM

A trial of mid-journey bicycle commuting facilities including pumps and maintenance stands are part of Brisbane City Council's new strategy to encourage residents to use public and active transport.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has announced a plan to boost walking and cycling trips to 20 per cent of all journeys over the next 15 years in the Brisbane Active Transport Strategy 2012-2026.

The plan also suggests the establishment of model active communities, using neighbourhood plan style consultations to highlight what needs to be done to encourage greater walking and cycling in local communities.

"Encouraging active transport is all part of Council's balanced approach to reducing Brisbane's traffic congestion and is a great way for residents to stay active and healthy," Cr Quirk said.

"Walking trips have increased by 63 per cent on weekends and 30 percent on weekdays between 2004 and 2010 while cycle trips have increased by 96 per cent and weekday cyclists are up by 63 per cent during the same period."

Cr Quirk said 14 per cent of transport journeys in Brisbane were made by cycling or walking, but the Brisbane Active Transport Strategy 2012-2026, released today for community consultation, would help increase this to 20 per cent by 2026.

Walking trips would account for 15 per cent (up from 12.7 per cent) while cyclists would account for 5 per cent (up from 1.6 per cent) of all travel journeys.

"It aims to make active travel in Brisbane safer, more accessible and connected, create walking and cycling-friendly suburbs and provide information through a number of new media initiatives."

Consultation on the draft Brisbane Active Transport Strategy 2012-2026 commences next week and closes in late February.

The strategy will be available next week at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au.

[#Metro]

I'm skeptical of the statistics quoted, walking is also difficult to measure.

Mode share targets are also related to the relative benefit (i.e. speed) that each mode offers and the purpose of the trip (recreation, going to work).

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

George Street - a cyclists' haven?

George Street - a cyclists' haven?
Tony Moore
November 30, 2011 - 3:00AM

George Street in Brisbane's central business district could well have a dedicated cycleway running its full length in the future, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said yesterday.

"Over time we are going to see a more cycling and pedestrian-friendly CBD," Cr Quirk sad.

"One of the initiatives we took a couple of years ago was to reduce the speed limit to 40 kilometres an hour.
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"That was about changing the culture that we are not going to use CBD streets as speed runs."

Cr Quirk said a cycle way down one lane of George Street could be the next initiative.

"There has to be mix of (transport) movements and cycling and pedestrians movements will increase over time," he said.

A small section of George Street, off the Kurilpa Bridge, already has a stretch of cycleway that leads to the cycle parking station under King George Square.

The state government has already installed bike hubs in several CBD office buildings.

Bicycle Queensland last year flagged the idea of a cycleway down George Street and BQ spokesman Ben Wilson welcomed a debate on the issue.

"We've got the first step up the ladder with the green bike lane which runs along George Street between Turbot and Roma Street," he said.

"What it has to do is run all the way along to Parliament House.

"That's when you know that Brisbane will become a world-class cycling city when you see something like that put in."

Cr Quirk said the idea would not rely on state government approval.

"We can already proceed with most of the CBD streets, they are already under Brisbane City Council control," he said.

"But again, it will be an evolution, not an overnight change."

The Taxi Council of Queensland, Main Roads and some courier drivers are understood to oppose the idea

Meanwhile, the council yesterday launched a plan to increase the proportion of people cycling and walking.

Cycling trips increased by 30 per cent on weekdays and by 96 per cent on weekends between 2004 and 2010.

Walking trips to school and to work have increased by 30 per cent during the week and by more than 60 per cent on weekends between 2004 and 2010.

Cr Quirk said he wanted to raise the proportion of people walking and cycling from 14.3 per cent in 2011; to 20 per cent in 2020.

That is the key promise in the council's draft active transport plan which was released yesterday.

"This plan is about expanding the success that we have seen to date," Cr Quirk said.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/george-street--a-cyclists-haven-20111129-1o51j.html

[Jonno]

The Taxi Council of Queensland, Main Roads and some courier drivers are understood to oppose the idea

Now there is a surprise!   Would never have guessed that!  We really do need a sarcasm I on don't we