BQ’s advocacy priorities for Barrambin precinct

Bicycle Queensland is collaborating with Brisbane-based bicycle user groups (BUGs) on a co-ordinated approach to ensuring best outcomes for the Barrambin/Victoria Park precinct, both in the lead-up the Olympics and then into the future. 

The Brisbane Games construction authority (GIICA) has released a draft precinct plan, which shows plenty of positive aspects for cycling and walking. However, many of the details around path widths, the separation of bikeways from pedestrian and motorised traffic, and bike parking at the stadium itself, is hard to determine. BQ met with all the local BUGs to workshop the issues and what collectively we should be fighting for.  

The North Brisbane Bikeway is now proposed as a separated facility alongside Gregory Terrace and Bowen Bridge Rd, before continuing as it currently does through Bowen Park. BQ and the BUGs are particularly concerned about the width available for a bikeway between Bowen Bridge Rd and the Old Museum, and on the bridge crossing the railway line, along this new alignment.  

The Gregory Terrace route should be helpful considering the disruption that stadium construction and the Olympics will cause to the bikeway’s current location through Yorks Hollow and beside Gilchrist Ave. However, cycling advocates are keen to pursue building both routes, to add resilience into the bikeway network, and to also connect with Herston Rd and Aberleigh Rd towards Enoggera Creek. 

The draft plan makes no clear reference to bike parking at the new stadium. BQ CEO Dr Matt Burke said: “International best-practice design for a modern stadium includes a secure bike parking facility for at least 500 bikes”.  

Paris had bike parking at their main stadiums, so did London. Many of the US World Cup stadiums provided it. It’s an essential part of downtown stadium design in the 21^st century.  

Other topline areas that BQ and the BUGs will push for include: 

• Ensuring that bikeways built through these precincts are separated facilities. 

• Ensuring a quality active transport connection towards Fortitude Valley along Brunswick St or a parallel corridor. The athlete’s village’s placement at the Ekka grounds means that other railway stations, including Fortitude Valley, will need to carry massive numbers of stadium patrons. 

• The North Brisbane Bikeway’s long-term alignment should move away from the heritage-listed trees of Bowen Park and be re-aligned along the edge of the Ekka grounds, as part of the Athlete’s Village planning. 

Dr Burke said: “We will be approaching our advocacy to GIICA as a unified cycling community, speaking as one voice with the Brisbane-area bicycle user groups. We’re all here to work constructively to find good solutions.”