Bicycle Queensland continues to ask Brisbane City Council (BCC) to immediately implement a safe and equitable solution for cycling and walking across the Story Bridge, as it has done after previous natural events. The current situation in which cycling and walking has been shut down indefinitely, while motor vehicles continue uninhibited across the bridge, is unacceptable in its preference for cars over cyclists and pedestrians. Bicycle Queensland has, and continues to ask, for an interim solution for the Story Bridge that allows safe access for active transport users.
In late Autumn the Story Bridge Active Travel Alliance, led by Kathryn Good, started a bike bus over the Story Bridge.
“A bike bus is basically kind of like a normal bus,” Kathryn explains. “It has a pickup point and a drop-off point, and everyone travels together. But on a bike bus, everybody is cycling. They’re on their bikes instead of being on a physical bus, so it’s about visibility and safety of people cycling together in a group. You know, there’s a lead and a tail rider and everyone rides together, and everyone’s heading to the same destination, just like a bus.”
People could travel safely, and volunteers have been assisting to ‘drive’ the bus. This doesn’t meet the needs for those who need to use the bridge at different times, and of course it is no good for walkers, runners, or anyone not on a bike.’
Story Bridge fashion walk protest on 24th August
Following an announcement that the Kangaroo Point Bridge will be closed for half a day for the Brisbane Fashion Festival on 24th August, the Story Bridge Alliance have announced a protest fashion walk on the Story Bridge to continue raising the issue of the inequity shown to cyclists and pedestrians, in favour of motor vehicles.
“If Council can roll out the red carpet on the Kangaroo Point green bridge for a fashion show, they can certainly make space on the Story Bridge for the thousands of us just trying to get to work. It’s disappointing that Council can swiftly close a major active transport corridor for a fashion show but remains slow to provide practical alternatives for everyday commuters. We’re stepping up to show just how out of step this approach really is.”
Bicycle Queensland has, and will continue to ask, for an interim solution for the Story Bridge that allows safe access for active transport users.