BCC Elections - Labor

OK so I have been lazy. The Labor Lord Mayoral Candidate released his cycling policy last Wednesday and I have left it until now to post something about. Part of this has been due to laziness that other part has been due to not knowing what I thought of it.

Unlike the Liberal policy it does list some detail. This detail is both helpful and perplexing.
The first promise that I am most encouraged by is the

$10 million invested in constructing the missing link connecting the Northern

Bikeway,

As you would be aware from a previous post I am strongly for the construction of a Northern Bikeway that would like the CBD to the north, but what exactly is he talking about when he is referring to the missing link?

and then there is this

Identify key cycling routes within a 5km radius of the CBD and construct cycling

infrastructure that will support and enhance the use of the CityCycle Scheme.

 While this is encouraging the fact is most of these are already known just not being built on.

What is also good is

$500,000 to build a separated bikeway at Stanley Street Woolloongabba (near the

Chalk Hotel),

If what they are talking about is similar to what is being built in Sydney it would be used. Currently there is many people coming inbound on Stanley what they do outbound I have no idea as the street is one way.

Now for what I am not that most impressed by

$3 million for the Kedron Brook Bikeway underpass at Shaw Rd Wavell Heights,

While the truth is I do not know how many people use this crossing but for the cost of it I think a area that needs a safe underpass is the Norman Creek Bikeway at Stones Corner where is crosses Logan Road. This crossing would cost far less as there is the potential to use the existing bridge structure and give kids the chance to ride right to there school with no road crossings.

$2 million for the missing link of the Kedron Brook bikeway at Stafford,

 This I can only assume is referring to where there is a short on road section. I am not quite sure why this is so pressing. This road is generally very quite and not that full of twits. Honestly I don't think this is needed and funds could be better spent in other places. If safety is a concern the installation of long travel speed bumps would reduce vehicle speeds and benefit not just cyclists but the residents of the street by making it safer.

I have to say another thing that I am not impressed with is the fact that the next sections of the Bicentennial Bikeway Upgrades are not included. There are still two final sections of upgrades needed but there has been no mention of it in the policy. With this being the busiest active transport corridor in the State this is a pretty big thing to leave out especially when the upgrade has been needed for over ten years.
For a post I though would be not that long it got a bit of length to it quite quickly. For more info see the link below and make up your own mind.

http://raysmith.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Better-Brisbane-Bikeways.pdf