The introduction of pop-up bike lanes has been suggested by Queensland’s peak cycling lobby group to help locals get around during the pandemic.
In a detailed proposal, the lobby group has urged Brisbane City Council and the state government to follow many other cities in introducing bikes lanes on busy inner-city streets.
The proposal outlines several streets where lanes could be introduced to keep cyclists away from cars and other heavy vehicles.
George street and Mary street have been recognised as some of the most unsafe streets for cyclists in the CBD. They have been recommended to be some of the first streets to introduce pop-up lanes to ease public safety concerns and get more people riding around the city.
The bikeway along Mary Street would run from George to Edward street and would require some on-street parking to be removed. The group suggested that roads most affected by major construction would be targeted first.
Rebecca Randazza, Bicycle Queensland chief executive has endorsed the plan. She observed that for people returning to work in the city, public transport had become a problematic commute as social distancing remains a key strategy in keeping the states COVID-19 cases down.
Randazza also commented on the lanes improving not only the safety of cycling in the city but also the convenience of not sitting in traffic for hours going to and from work.
Public feedback on the bike lanes has questioned why they were not implemented earlier during the height of the pandemic when the city was quiet do to the lockdown.
Ryan Murphy, public and active transport committee chairman said that the council had not missed their opportunity to implement the lanes. He also added that during the height of the pandemic in Queensland, the main focus was the health of the community.
Now that the state looks to have cases controlled, the council’s focus can look to expanding active transport in the CBD.
Overall the public has welcomed the introduction to the idea of safer bike lanes in the city, with some cyclists saying they would ride to work if roads in the CBD were not as hazardous.
With the overall use of bicycles around the CBD at the highest, it’s an initiative the community is eager to see introduced sooner than later.
With the city out of lockdown, the traffic is reported to be almost back at the same volume it was before the pandemic.
Cr Murphy says the plans for the bike lanes have been communicated to bicycle user groups and other relevant committees for feedback. They are now in the process of reviewing the plans which will determine how and where the lanes will be placed throughout the city.
