Centenary Bikeway Axed - further condemnation

To the great surprise of many, Bicycle Queensland came out with this statement on Thursday.

BQ seeking meeting with Minister over axed bikeway

11 October 2012

Bicycle Queensland is seeking a meeting with Transport Minister Scott Emerson to discuss the axing of a bikeway from Richlands to Springfield.

Bicycle Queensland Manager Ben Wilson said the deletion of the planned bikeway would lead to more people driving, fewer people cycling and less safety for people riding bicycles.

“We are concerned with the severance of the Springfield community from the existing bikeway network, local and longer destinations including Oxley, Indooroopilly, Toowong and Brisbane CBD due to the loss of a safe crossing of the Logan Motorway,” he said.

A popular Cairns bikeway is also under threat - Bicycle Queensland is dismayed at the unacceptable and retrograde proposal to remove part of the State and Cairns Council funded Aeroglen bikeway for car parking.
 

Why was this surprising? Well in most cases BQ almost never says a bad word against any level of government. The fact that BQ has publicly said something must mean they must be upset.

On top of this "Rail Back on Track" a lobby group for better public transport has also been critical. See this quest article. This has been taken from there media release in which is stated

The planned bicycle/foot path linking Richlands and Springfield has been discarded in favour of a road upgrade. Without the bike-way and with the extra road lanes, the Centenary Highway will reach its capacity more quickly."

"Rather then address the real basis for congestion, too many people travelling in cars, they have chosen to further worsen congestion by also not optimising the railway presently being constructed from Richlands to Springfield."

And this is the truth. Congestion is this area is being caused by to many cars. People have no choice but to drive and fill up the roads.  The original plan of a multi-modal corridor needs to be reinstated where Bike, Road & rail is all built along side each other to give people a real choice.