Bicycle Queensland welcomes new Queensland State Government

Bicycle Queensland congratulates the Hon David Crisafulli MP on becoming the 41st Premier of Queensland. 

We also congratulate the Hon Brent Mickelberg MP on becoming Minister for Transport and Main Roads, and we look forward to working with him.

Riding bikes and scooters is popular with Queenslanders. More than 1.1 million Queenslanders regularly ride, with the potential for many more. The evidence from across Australia and the world is that more people will ride more often if safe facilities are provided. This will reduce traffic congestion, improve the health and wellbeing of our communities, and get us moving towards the sustainability targets that are important for the whole State, as well as for the Brisbane 2032 event that is edging ever nearer.

Bike and scooter riding have an important role to play in the transport system, offering freedom from the constraints of congestion, parking and public transport timetables. E-bikes and e-scooters have been a game changer for many as they make getting around so much easier. All across Queensland we see bikes (and increasingly, scooters) being used for daily transport and utility trips, with the added bonus of that your transport can also be your recreation. 

Nowhere is this more important than with schools. In our urban areas, school traffic can make up a significant proportion (commonly 10%+) of the network traffic load, with more than 70% of students being taken to school by car. Yet a generation ago, the opposite was true, with most students walking and cycling to/from school. In Brisbane and the Gold Coast we have seen Active School Travel programs have been successful in reducing traffic congestion and creating safe routes to school. 

We believe that investment into safe walking and riding paths around schools will not only increase active transport participation, but also help deliver a network that is useful for all journey types.

Compared to other transport modes, cycling and walking are comparatively cheap in terms of infrastructure and, especially, operation. We believe this is good value for government investment, particularly in the context of the Department for Transport and Main Roads’ recently-introduced policy framework of Movement and Place, which, consistent with this policy in other States and overseas, recognises that local streets and public places are environments eminently suitable for riding bikes and scooters and walking.

Also, in a cost-of-living crisis, getting around by bike or scooter is not just convenient, it’s also cheap! The more we make it safer and easier, the more people will ride.

We look forward to working with the new Queensland Government to improve conditions for bike riding and scooter use, making it easier for people to get around, be more active and healthier, and contribute to our communities being better places.

Alton Twine
CEO
Bicycle Queensland