BCC Chair of Transport Cr Ryan Murphy with Richard Buning (BQ Director) and Alton Twine (BQ CEO)
If a piece of infrastructure has been talked about for decades, does that mean it is inevitable that it will eventually be built, or that is so challenging that no authority will ever find the money to do the job?
On Sunday 15 December 2024 Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner opened the new Kangaroo Point walking and cycling bridge, which spans the Brisbane River from the corner of Edward and Alice Streets in the CBD to Scott Street in Kangaroo Point.
As the Council’s Chair of Transport Cr Ryan Murphy (pictured left with BQ board member Richard Buning and BQ CEO Alton Twine) has put it: “Kangaroo Point is now part of the CBD.”
The BQ team was represented at the opening event by CEO Alton Twine.
In his speech at the opening, Lord Mayor Schrinner acknowledged that the Kangaroo Point bridge has been talked about in Brisbane since the 1800s, and the first plans for the bridge from 1890 were now 130 years old.
The key question, the Mayor said, was who would pay for the bridge. The answer turns out that it was funded by Brisbane City Council in partnership with the Federal Government.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King also spoke at the opening and praised BCC’s vision for the bridge project.
Our photo above shows (from left) Cr Ryan Murphy, BQ board member Richard Buning, and BQ CEO Alton Twine on the new Kangaroo Point Bridge. Our video below gives some indication of the massive crowd which welcomed the new bridge.
Bicycle Queensland has started a new partnership with See.Sense, a cycling technology and data company, aimed at enhancing riding safety across the state. This collaboration combines high quality lights with the ability to report incidents and conditions on your bike routes.
See.Sense’s bike lights are equipped with advanced sensors and connectivity features, designed to help riders stay visible and safe in all conditions. The lights use patented technology to react to their environment, flashing brighter and faster at riskier moments. See.Sense lights are also daylight visible and help riders stay seen by motorists, pedestrians, and other riders whether riding day or night.
But what sets these lights apart is their ability to connect with the See.Sense app, enabling riders to report incidents or hazards they encounter on their rides, as well as access connected features like crash and theft alerts and personal stats. The app provides a platform for riders to make reports about any issues encountered on their ride such as a close pass, potholes, obstruction, or other factors that may impact safety.
In time, this feedback will be shown on a data dashboard on the BQ website and will contribute to better-informed advocacy and decision-making when it comes to improving cycling infrastructure, offering a unique opportunity for riders to directly shape their environment. Aggregated and depersonalised data insights will also be accessible to other partners such as TMR and local councils to help improve conditions for cycling. The data sharing is private, and riders can choose whether or not to opt in. Even if you don’t own See.Sense lights, you can use the See.Sense app to report any issues and record your rides.
This partnership is a natural progression for Bicycle Queensland. By collaborating with See.Sense, BQ is taking a proactive role in improving cycling safety through innovation and technology and using our member base to gain input as to conditions faced by people riding, and what facilities need maintenance. It offers a chance for riders to be individual advocates for infrastructure in their local area.
“Safety is at the heart of everything we do,” said Bicycle Queensland CEO, Alton Twine. “By working with See.Sense, we’re not only providing our members with great pricing fora practical tool to improve their safety, but we’re also contributing to a larger effort to gather data that can help shape safer roads and cycling infrastructure for everyone. This partnership will make riding more secure, connected, and enjoyable.”
“At See.Sense we want to enable more people to cycle more often. Through this partnership with BQ, we’re excited to provide insights that will shape safer, smarter roads for everyone. Together, we can create a better cycling experience for Queensland”, says See.Sense CEO, Philip McAleese.
As part of the partnership, BQ members will receive an exclusive 30% discount on See.Sense’s innovative range of smart bike lights, designed to enhance visibility, provide incident reporting, and tailor lighting output to suit varying conditions. These lights are not just about brightening the road ahead and being visible – they are part of a larger effort to make riding safer and smarter. Log in to the BQ Portal to access the discount code.
Photo from the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Weekend 2024, supported by Bicycle Queensland. Photo by Element Photo and Video Productions.
Bicycle Queensland are set to host a thrilling line-up of riding events in 2025, catering to riders of all abilities, from families to seasoned riders alike. The 2025 calendar promises a diverse range of experiences, from scenic, leisurely rides to challenging gravel trails, all designed to foster a sense of community, adventure, and active lifestyles across Queensland.
Event Summary:
Park Pedal & Scoot Family Events: February – June 2025, Minnippi Parklands
Weekend in Wondai: April 25-27, 2025
Her Ride Sunshine Coast: Starting May 25, 2025
Y2W (Brisbane Valley Rail Trail): July 4-6, 2025
Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Weekend: October 3-6, 2025
Park Pedal & Scoot Family Events: February to June 2025
Kicking off the year, Bicycle Queensland presents a series of six Park Pedal and Scoot events at Minnippi Parklands, running from February 2 to June 29. These events are designed with families in mind, offering a fun and supportive environment for bike and scooter riders of all ages.
Whether you’re introducing your kids to riding or enjoying a leisurely ride through picturesque parklands, Park Pedal and Scoot events provide an opportunity for everyone to get on their bikes, socialise, and enjoy the outdoors. You can expect a range of activities and support, with a focus on creating lasting memories and promoting active lifestyles.
From April 25-27, 2025, the Weekend in Wondai promises to be an unforgettable 3-day riding experience. Set against the backdrop of the charming South Burnett region, this event celebrates both the spirit of ANZAC Day and the joys of bike riding. Combining family-friendly rides with more challenging routes for experienced riders, participants will explore scenic attractions, local history, and the natural beauty of the area on and around the South Burnett Rail Trail.
Event entry includes all catering, ride guides, camping, amenities and evening entertainment. The Weekend in Wondai will be an ideal getaway for riding enthusiasts of all levels, ready to ride the gravel roads and rail trails in the South Burnett region.
Her Ride Sunshine Coast: Empowering Women Cyclists
Starting on May 25, 2025, Her Ride Sunshine Coast will offer a series of nine sessions aimed at building cycling skills, safety, and social interactions for women who ride. The sessions are run on Wednesday and Sunday mornings.
These sessions are designed to empower women cyclists by offering a supportive and inclusive environment where participants can improve their confidence, learn valuable skills, and connect with other women who share a passion for cycling. The program focuses on everything from bike handling to group riding techniques, with a strong emphasis on fun and camaraderie.
From July 4-6, 2025, Y2W will take participants on a 3-day, point-to-point adventure along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. This fully catered and supported event offers a unique opportunity to explore one of Queensland’s most scenic gravel riding routes, starting in Yarraman and finishing in Wulkuraka.
Descending the range to Linville on the BVRT
Riders will pass through charming towns, enjoy spectacular rural landscapes, and experience the thrill of long-distance gravel riding. Overnight stays in Linville and Esk will host evening entertainment, with equipped camp villages providing well-deserved rest after each day’s adventure. This event is a must for gravel enthusiasts and gravel-curious riders alike.
The Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Weekend is back in 2025, moving to Mundubbera for October 3-6, 2025. The event offers a 4-day riding experience along parts of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail and other surrounding areas. Participants will enjoy a mix of diverse rides, from relaxed routes to more challenging adventure trails, all set in the historically rich and visually stunning landscape of the region.
Photo from the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Weekend 2024, supported by Bicycle Queensland. Photo by Element Photo and Video Productions.
With plenty of opportunities to explore the local sights, history, and wildlife, this event promises to be a memorable ride for all involved. The diverse terrain, full-service campsites, evening entertainment and catering makes this an event that riders won’t want to miss.
With events that cater to families, women, and seasoned cyclists, Bicycle Queensland’s 2025 event calendar offers something for everyone.
‘Bicycle Queensland has a long history of delivering great value, fun events throughout Queensland, and I’m proud that we are delivering such an extensive calendar for 2025,’ said Alton Twine, CEO of Bicycle Queensland. ‘The Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail event in May 2024 was our first multi-day event in years, and the response was really positive. So while we’ll be going back to Central Queensland in 2025, we are also expanding our events to include more for young families and gravel riders alike.’
‘This event line up is an important step for Bicycle Queensland, and it is a precursor to bringing more great events to many regions of Queensland in the coming years.’
Whether you’re looking for a leisurely weekend getaway or an epic multi-day gravel ride, these events provide the perfect mix of adventure, community, and outdoor exploration. Get ready to saddle up and enjoy the best of Queensland cycling in 2025!
Park Pedal and Scoot, Weekend in Wondai, Her Ride and the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Weekend are all made possible thanks to support from the Queensland Government.
The Sono Lumo lights festival at Star Casino is causing an issue for bike and scooter riders who use the Bicentennial Bikeway. The event organisers had required that riders must dismount from 4-11pm to travel through the Festival area at Queen’s Wharf.
Bicycle Queensland CEO Alton Twine said: “It is unacceptable to require bike riders to dismount on their commute home on Brisbane’s busiest bikeway. The timing applied to date is simply too restrictive. We’ve heard from plenty of members who are having to find other routes to bypass this event.”
There has been also significant protest about this blockage from Brisbane CBD BUG and Space4Cycling.
BQ had earlier spoken to Destination Brisbane Consortium before the festival began, and had offered a solution that would enable commuters to continue to ride through the space (Queen’s Wharf Plaza) which bisects the Bicentennial Bikeway at the new casino, until the end of the evening peak.
Today BQ spoke with organisers of the event and let them know of the concerns of the cycling community, asking for a push-back on the timing that will at least allow for the evening commute to occur without interruption. Star Casino have agreed to not enforce the dismount until it is necessary for safety reasons, and have asked all bike riders to please ride slowly through the event zone. BQ’s understanding is that the requirement to dismount will now be after the evening peak. We remain concerned about this situation and will continue to monitor it until we have an outcome that allows people using this space for active transport to do so safely and conveniently.
At the heart of the issue is the poor design choices made in this area when part of this transport corridor was surrendered to become part of this precinct. The State could have kept the bikeway separate to the multi-use area, but have compromised both the integrity of the corridor and the safety of all users by choosing not to. When an event like Sono Lumo comes along, this failure becomes all too evident.
BQ has also raised with Destination Brisbane Consortium our concern over the rumble strips placed on the bikeway near Queens Wharf Plaza without consultation with any bike groups. We believe that these strips are unnecessary, and a safety concern especially for e-scooter riders. This is an on-going concern and we have no news to report on that matter.
It is clear that Queens Wharf Plaza must have an uninterrupted path for bike riders that can be ridden safely and conveniently 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It is part of the Bicentennial Bikeway, the most popular bike route into Brisbane’s CBD.
