Bicycle Queensland supports completion of the Samford Cycle Link

The Samford to Ferny Grove Cycle Link has had two stages built, connecting Ferny Grove Station to Samford via the old rail line corridor on Lanita Ave and McLean Road South. After crossing Camp Mountain Road, the route connects along McLean Road North and into a shared path before meeting the end of Peterson Road. At this point the rail corridor is now privately owned, and the route then climbs two hills on Peterson Road, before turning left atop a crest back onto Camp Mountain Road, with no continous shoulder to the narrow bridge over Oliver’s Crossing, and into Samford via a path and crossing at the roundabout with Samford-Dayboro Road.

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When opened, Bicycle Queensland were disappointed with the final stretch, as it adds distance, hills, and greater exposure with motor vehicles compared to a lot of the route.

The property on the old rail corridor on Peterson Road is now for sale privately, creating an opportunity for Transport and Main Roads to complete to the Samford Cycle Link, or for the City of Moreton Bay to do the same.

Bicycle Queensland’s Director of Advocacy Andrew Demack met with local resident Harry Audus and Brisbane North Bicycle User Group (BUG) President Andrew Methorst to promote the action that is possible for TMR or MBCC.

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‘When this was opened, we thought the first 80% was brilliant, but the last bit into Samford could do with some work,’ said Demack.

‘This is such a fantastic bike way, but Peterson Road as it stands is terrible for anybody except the most fit cyclist, and it is unsafe as the sight lines are poor and the main road further on is not really safe to cycle on,’ Harry Audus told BQ. ‘So this is great, the property is for sale, council could buy it and main roads could use the property to extend the bike way.’

The property leads all the way to Samford Road at the bottom of the range, so a crossing would be required in the 60km/h zone, with access over the bridge and onto Cash Avenue, which leads to the heart of Samford.

At the time of the original project, property resumptions were suggested but justifiably shelved. But this sale presents an excellent opportunity. The current route on Peterson and Camp Mountain road is not a safe route for families, young riders or less experienced riders. A proper bike link would reduce congestion in Samford and solve a missing link in this network. Alternative plans have been suggested around carrying on over Peterson Road to Wights Mountain Road (as on the Principle Cycle Network) or making a separated path all the way along Camp Mountain Road from the end of McLean Road South. However, the direct link to Samford should be the priority route, while these other bikeways can work with the main route to offer better access to Wights Mountain, Samford Valley and Highvale – along with safe connections for Samford State School and Samford Steiner School.

‘On behalf of Brisbane North BUG, Bicycle Queensland members who live in Samford and Bicycle Queensland’s perspective, we would really love to see this link upgraded. The first bit is brilliant, but from Peterson Road to Camp Mountain Road through to Samford is substandard, it is not a good bike way,’ Demack stated.

‘We really need this to be finished, to become a proper cycle link. It would link into Cash Avenue which takes you right into the heart of Samford Village.

‘One of the benefits of following a rail alignment… is that they are flat, more or less,’ added Andrew Methorst. ‘It is a win for everyone who can ride, even if they aren’t as confident they don’t need to ride with traffic, so the old railway alignments are fantastic bike ways.’

Bicycle Queensland encourages both the City of Moreton Bay and Transport and Main Roads to consider completing the Samford Cycle Link, to promote better connectivity within this community and towards Ferny Grove.