The state government election now less than one week away.
In August and September, Bicycle Queensland met with members, people interested in cycling, communities and candidates across Queensland, advocating for a better deal for cyclists and scooter riders in the forthcoming election. We also wrote to the Minister and Shadow Minister for Transport and Main Roads to support better outcomes for riders through better policy, programs and funding.
The Minister’s letter in response to our CEO cited the current government’s record of achievements in building active transport projects, but did not make any commitments to increased funding in future. The Shadow Minister acknowledged our letter.
Our discussions focused on the 7 key improvements that governments can make. These are:
Aim for 10% of trips by active transport by 2032 and commit 10% of the transport budget to making it happen.
Fill in the missing links in the network.
Maintain what is there already
Improve signage for safety and wayfinding
Look for cycle tourism opportunities
Engage with users
Build more shared paths and bikeways
In an election dominated by issues of youth crime, ambulance ramping, housing supply and the cost of living, cycling hasn’t rated much of a mention. When the major parties do talk about transport issues, its usually around “fixing” the Bruce highway and improving public transport. Big expensive items. Yet bike riding is for everyone everywhere and major improvements can be done for a fraction of the cost.
In the lead up to Saturday, we encourage everyone who has an interest in better outcomes for cycling and riding to contact their local candidates and let them know how important bike riding is to you and to all Queenslanders.
Somerset Regional Council along with Experience Somerset, have just installed a new bike node along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail at Fernvale. Fernvale is a popular stop on the route, and for many riders an ideal turnaround point after a ride from Ipswich, or even a launching point if they have driven out to ride the trail.
The bike node is a free self-service station for bike riders. It has bike repair tools, a tyre pump, water refill station, E-bike battery charging power points and a bike rack. The bike node was installed at the Fernvale Visitor Information Centre on 16 October 2024 and is already receiving positive feedback from the community and visitors to the Somerset region.
Gavin Rook of Auckland, New Zealand and his brother Craig, were among the first to use the bike node, during a three-day ride of Australia’s longest recreational rail trail.
“It’s been fantastic. The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail is nicely maintained, has good signage and nice bridge crossings. It’s been a really smooth ride,” Mr Rook said.
The bike node is available 24/7 and is located at the northern end of the Fernvale Visitor Information Centre.
Somerset Regional Council Mayor Jason Wendt said the bike node is a welcome addition to Fernvale.
“Cycling is a fantastic way to explore our beautiful region, and this bike node enhances the experience for locals and visitors alike,” Cr Wendt said. “It’s an investment by council that makes a big difference in promoting healthy lifestyles and sustainable tourism. By providing these services for cyclists, we’re not just supporting outdoor recreation; we’re also strengthening our community’s commitment to eco-friendly transport and tourism initiatives.”
“We’re proud to see positive feedback already rolling in from users like Gavin and Craig. Their experience highlights the importance of accessibility and convenience for those who choose to ride our trails.”
Bicycle Queensland welcomes this addition, but we recommend all users of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail carry their ride essentials – just as they would on any ride.
In good news, the CityLink Cycleway is set to expand from East Brisbane to West End, resulting in a four-kilometre link using two Brisbane River crossings. The Schrinner Council announced the third stage of the CityLink Cycleway today. This will add two new projects, the first involving a new 1.2-kilometre shared path from Deakin Street at Kangaroo Point to Shafston Avenue at East Brisbane. The Shafston Avenue bikeway will connect to the existing CityLink Cycleway at Kangaroo Point.
This connection will link to the 460-metre Kangaroo Point Bridge, which is due to open on 15 December, and the 200-metre Main and Deakin Street Story Bridge underpass. There is a a second project planned that will also extend the CityLink Cycleway further south to West End.
Brisbane City Council confirmed that works are already underway to construct a bikeway along Melbourne Street between the Victoria Bridge and Cordelia Street as part of the Brisbane Metro project, with completion expected next financial year. Council will further extend this bikeway along Melbourne Street to Boundary Street in West End.
All up, the CityLink Cycleway will provide a four-kilometre cross-town scooter and cycling link once finished, connecting five suburbs and two major crossings of the Brisbane River.
‘CityLink Cycleway was always about creating an inner-city cycling and scooting spine, that we could build out into the suburbs to make it more attractive for residents and visitors to use active transport in Brisbane,’ said Ryan Murphy. ‘The delivery of this project will ensure residents of the eastern suburbs and West End can look forward to using a safe and separated connection to the CBD and beyond.’
‘We know it’s important to grow our active transport network in the lead up to the 2032 Games to ensure residents and visitors can safely and conveniently move between venues and attractions.’
‘This is a very welcome addition to the network of cycleways in Brisbane, allowing better access from West End to East Brisbane,’ said Bicycle Queensland’s CEO Alton Twine. ‘The excellent connections that the Kangaroo Point Bridge will provide, are supported by these new links. The new link down Melbourne Street will be particularly useful into West End and the link to Shafston Avenue sets up future improvements for cycling and scooting into the eastern suburbs. The realisation of safe links to the eastern suburbs continues to be a significant aim for the network.’
The bridge is expected to reduce cycling commute times by up to 50 per cent, cutting travel between Brisbane’s eastern suburbs and the CBD by up to 15 minutes, and by up to 30 minutes for pedestrians.
Bike ways along the Brisbane River between Toowong and New Farm are an essential part of the transport network in Queensland’s capital city. The routes are flat, easy to ride and have had significant upgrades in previous years, with more to come from existing and planned projects.
With construction of another phase of the updated Queen’s Wharf area nearing completion, Queensland’s bike and e-scooter riders have been able to ride the updated amenities along this stretch to Gardens Point.
Coming from Milton, the new area opens up right as the segregated bikeway and walkway end at the ferry stop. A larger shared space expands, with an end of trip facility and café on your left, with access via stairs or a lift to Queen’s Wharf Road. Alternatively, you can keep riding in the shared use area and turn left to ride up Queen’s Wharf Road, which doesn’t have private vehicle access. From here the shared use space goes to a separated bikeway and walkway until just before the Goodwill Bridge.
Approaching the shared use zone.
Bicycle Queensland caught up with Graham Witherspoon from the Destination Brisbane Consortium, on the afternoon before the updated section of the Bicentennial Bikeway opened.
‘It has been years of work and planning, but we have the final stage of the Bicentennial Bikeway open. There is a lot of segregation between pedestrians and cyclists along the kilometre of riverfront. What we have tried to do is make it a place where people are comfortable being.’
This has involved creating very long sight lines, and also extensive plantings and even artworks. The impact resonates, as it is a much friendlier place to be than before, which changes the dynamic from a dark corridor to a shared space for bikes, e-scooters, pedestrians.
‘As you can see there are families and commuters coming through here quite comfortably. We’ve created about 6000sqm of new green public space.’
Some elements still need to be finalised, including the community spaces along the waterfront, and finding a business to setup in the end of trip facilities with a café that sits right on the shared use area. Suggested speed limits may still change as well, once the final construction of the community spaces are finished.
‘By November we will open the Finger Wharves and the terraced seating along the river front, so the whole area should be complete by then.’
Rolling through
During our walk through, we did wonder if the painted bike and pedestrian sections could be extended further through the shared space for additional awareness, especially in peak times.
As of today, signs are still posted suggesting 10km/h, as construction is still ongoing right at the edge of the river. But in the separated bikeway signage suggest 20km/h. Given the sightlines are very good, we expect the area to suit 20km/h, but the shared space will need common sense from users, just as any shared space does.
Our take
Some people have called for a continual bikeway through the public space, however doing so would cut off access to the public space along the river front or remove the permeability of the bikeway at this area. There is very limited room along the waterfront, and Bicycle Queensland welcomes the addition of public space in the area. We do feel that a few amendments to signage may be warranted in the initial period as pedestrians and riders get used to how the space works and where people flow to and from.
‘The Queen’s Wharf upgrade to the Bicentennial Bikeway has delivered an outstanding addition of public space on the Brisbane River,’ said Alton Twine, CEO of Bicycle Queensland. ‘The inclusion of bike parking, rideable access and end of trip facilities means that this is not just a commuting route for avid riders, but a place people can choose to visit easily by bike, e-scooter, on foot or via a ferry trip.’
On a drizzly afternoon, commuters we spoke to were happy with the upgrades, although some suggested a bit more signage may be of use. Bicycle Queensland will be interested to see the public response as the area continues to be finalised. If you have feedback, do be in touch via bqinfo@bq.org.au.
It is with great disappointment that Bicycle Queensland has learnt that the proposed Bundaberg to Gin Gin Rail Trail has been cancelled by Bundaberg Council. We understand that this decision has been made due to a reported $20 million blow-out in costs according to the business case, and financial difficulties in Council that have seen a raft of projects and operational expenditure cut.
We understand that significant funding was provided by the State for this project, which has been handed back by Council.
Whilst Bicycle Queensland appreciates that there are difficult financial circumstances for some Councils that require tough decisions, the axing of this particular project is nevertheless a bitter pill to swallow. Only this week, we have seen the multiple benefits of rail-trails for regional communities highlighted so effectively in the ABC’s Back Roads program featuring the southern end of the Kingaroy to Kilkivan Rail Trail.
With some experience around business cases and rail trails, we have written to Bundaberg Regional Council Mayor Helen Blackburn, expressing our dismay at the decision and expressing our concern at the reported $39.799M cost for the rail trail.
We know that rail trails can be delivered relatively cheaply and can be staged. We see this happening around Queensland, such as the great work being done by communities and Councils for the Boyne Burnett Rail Trail, Fraser Coast and Councillor Watson’s approach to reviving the Pineapple Line as a Rail Trail at Yeppoon. A case in point is the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail which started life humbly and has grown with progressive improvements.
Photo from the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Weekend 2024, supported by Bicycle Queensland. Photo by Element Photo and Video Productions.
Bicycle Queensland urges Bundaberg Regional Council to consider a different approach to the rail trail and to reconsider this opportunity to the region, as they deal with their financial issues and move forward on their vision of “building Australia’s best regional community.”
