BQ Member Profile: Kathryn Good

For Bicycle Queensland member Kathryn Good, bikes have never just been about sport or recreation. They’ve always been part of everyday life.

“I grew up in a riding family,” she says. “My dad would take me to preschool in a trailer on the back of his bike. Me and my brother would be bundled in together, and he’d ride to work afterwards. He was a very keen cyclist, so I definitely grew up seeing bikes as a normal way to get around.”

That early exposure set the tone. Kathryn learned to ride when quite young , including a few inevitable spills along the way, but it wasn’t until university that cycling really became central again.

“When I started uni, I didn’t have a car. I couldn’t afford one,” she says. “So I started riding to and from campus because it was simply the best way to get around. I think anyone who rides regularly in Brisbane probably becomes an advocate by default. You see what’s working, what’s not, and you experience both the freedom and the frustration of riding here.”

Her daily route to the University of Queensland was a mix of suburban backstreets and arterial traffic with little access separated bikeways back then. “I was a headstrong 18- or 19-year-old taking the lane, being assertive about my right to be there,” she laughs. “These days I’m probably a bit more cautious. Preserving my life feels more important!”

That first-hand experience shaped Kathryn’s perspective on cycling advocacy. “You do eventually realise that a lot of people just don’t like you because you’re on a bike – for no other reason,” she says. “But the good news is, I think that’s changing. The rise of e-bikes has made a huge difference. More people are discovering that a bike is just a convenient, affordable way to get around. You don’t have to be a ‘cyclist’ to ride a bike.”

It’s that distinction that Kathryn believes will help move Queensland forward. “Not everyone who gets into a car sees themselves as a motoring enthusiast,” she points out. “They just drive to get around. That’s how it should be for bikes too.”

The opportunities in Brisbane

Kathryn is quick to acknowledge Brisbane’s progress. “We do have some amazing infrastructure. I’m lucky to live right near the Bicentennial Bikeway, which made commuting into the city so easy for years,” she says. “But there are still so many gaps, especially around key destinations like shops, stations, and schools.”

Her wish list? “A network that actually connects where people live to where they want to go. Major roads should have bikeways, the same way they have footpaths. For example, from Toowong to Indooroopilly there’s no direct, safe route by bike. You end up taking massive detours or dealing with narrow overpasses and missing links. It’s that last kilometre that often lets people down.”

Kathryn believes cultural change is just as important as infrastructure. “Lower speed limits, better pedestrian crossings, more driver awareness – those things help everyone, not just people on bikes. It’s not about choosing one mode over another. It’s about designing streets that are safe and comfortable for all users.”

The Story Bridge Bike Bus

Kathryn’s advocacy came into focus during Brisbane’s Story Bridge Bike Bus campaign, a grassroots response to the closure of key cycling access routes across the bridge after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

“The idea was part protest, part practical solution,” she explains. “We wanted to raise awareness, but also to provide a way for people to actually get across safely. Seeing groups of riders using the bridge every day sent a message: people ride here, and we belong here.”

Riding on the Story Bridge traffic deck is completely legal – but not palatable when there are shared paths either side. With those closed, safety in numbers was a core motivation for the Bike Bus. “We had people who’d been crossing alone for weeks, including one older gentleman who carried his golf clubs to Nudgee. He told me he’d been doing it solo until the bike bus started. I just thought if that were my grandfather, I’d want someone riding with him. Even if we only helped one person get across safely, it was worth it.”

That sense of care and of community resonated widely. “We had overwhelmingly positive feedback,” Kathryn says. “Of course there were a few negative Facebook comments, but most people saw the value. And interestingly, there were no crashes during our rides.” Unfortunately the Bike Bus did receive a number of close passes, a reminder of the public education that needs to happen around sharing the road and transport equity.

The project also highlighted something deeper. “When drivers regularly see bikes on the bridge, they start expecting to see them and that makes it safer for everyone.”

Why advocacy matters

Kathryn joined Bicycle Queensland for the same practical reasons many members do – insurance, peace of mind, and connection to a like-minded community. But she sees the real value in BQ’s advocacy work.

“The advocacy side is so important,” she says. “There’s an increasing number of people using bikes for transport who don’t think of themselves as advocates. But the work that Bicycle Queensland does benefits everyone. You shouldn’t have to be a protester to be able to ride safely — but somebody has to do that work.”

“BQ helps communicate what’s needed around safety, infrastructure and the lessons from other cities. We know what works. We just need to apply it here, and we need a voice to keep reminding decision-makers that this matters.”

Brisbane 2032 and beyond

Like many in Brisbane’s active transport community, Kathryn sees the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a defining opportunity.

“The Olympics are a once-in-a-generation chance to transform how people move around Brisbane,” she says. “Cities like London and Paris used major events to deliver lasting change with better public transport, green corridors, cycling infrastructure, and public spaces. We can do the same.”

The funding, she argues, is already there. “What we need now is political will. The legacy of 2032 shouldn’t just be about medals or stadiums. It should be about how Brisbane evolves as a city. If we get this right, the benefits will last for decades.”

“We have a chance to make Brisbane a city where choosing to ride is easy, safe, and normal,” she says. “Let’s not waste it.”

Kathryn Good was BQ’s Individual Advocate of the Year