Cop Out

Why oh why do the politics always go for quick fixes and technology. This is a video produced by one of the councils in Sydney. Instead of biting the bullit and admitting that there is to little infrastructure in there council to premit cycling they have gone fore the easy option of saying the fedreal Government should change the law and allow PMDs on the foot path. At this point I would like to point out I am not fore or against this just, why not bite the buillit and admit that your pass decisions as a council has resulted in increased traffic congestion, obesity and care dependence.
And why not build cycling infrastructure? "white collar workers don't want to get sweaty"
What a Cop Out, I ride to work every day and work as a "white collar worker"
This Sydney council is not alone, a similar policy was included in a pass BCC document.

Come on admit it, Build Infrastructure

The Small Things Count

While I complained eariler about the closure of the Ivory Lane path at the Northern End of the Storey Bridge the council was doing a small but important addition at the Southern End of the Bridge. As both sides of the Bridge have shared paths cyclists depending on there travel path will use either side. This seams to be pretty evenly split from what I have observed. That said on the southern end on the Eastern Side where the path joins Deakin St a new Kerb Ramp has been installed. Unlike the old one that still exists this one has no lip to it so that cyclists do not need to hit it at right angles to avoid planting there face into concrete footpath. This allows cyclists to move from the road to path with ease without feeling like they may be hit by a car that has decided not to break.

Sorry for the bad image but like many of my photos it was taken on my Phone camera

Riverwalk Announced

Just on 10 Months since the all important former Floating Walkway floated walkway floated away down the river the replacement has been announced. It seams amazing how reluctant the Council is to build it even though State & fedreal are paying for it's replacement.

The structure they have chosen I have to say was not my perfered option but it did come in second in my vote. There were five options put to the public and in tipical government fashion now the perfered has been chosen the old ones have been pulled down from the website.http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/major-infrastructure-transport-projects/bikeway-and-pathway-projects/Riverwalk-replacement/index.htm

As par usual the Courier Trash (mail) has allowed every anti-riverwalk comment to be posted. But then again what else would a that paper do but to say walking & cycling is waste of money, when they can't get the name of a train right (when it is written on the side in a phote they published)

So what has been chosen, well a fixed, segragated structure that will stand above the king tide line. This is vey important as the old one was shared and I can tell you at some times when I used it I wanted to strangle people they were to rude or igroant to keep to one side. What is most frustrating is the fact that council will not being building the replacement until 2013 and HOPEFULLY finished by 2014. Ofcourse  they could be doing that so in the upcoming election they could bring it forwards and say "we are fasttracking it."

Ivory Lane Path Closure

As what is quite usual in Brisbane an important path is closed with little notice and no explanation of when it will reopen. The closure occurred last week but it has taken until this week for something to be posted up on the Council website to explain what has happened.
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/cycling/bikeway-closures-detours/index.htm
The first organisation to post something on the net was the Brisbane CBD BUG (Bicycle User Group). This seams to of happened within hours of it being closed. Not bad for a group of Volunteers that is made up of full time CBD workers. This was further followed up with photos and a media release a few days later. However like I said it seams to have taken the BCC until the next week for there website to be updated with the closure.
The Ivory Lane Path has become extremely important since the destruction of the former floating walkway. While the path is by no means carrying as many people as the former walkway it has been a lifeblood for those that have been willing to climb up to the path to escape having to deal with the traffic of the Valley. It can only be hoped that the path will be opened within weeks so that New Farm will have some kind of link with the CBD once again.

If I ride

I have recently found this on Youtube.

I have to say I always love simple messages that can be said to children. There is something about it that makes everyone understand if not agree. Now all we need is for more people to ride to truely understand the message

First Post

Evening all. First things first I can't spell.. If you read this blog it will stand out like dogs ba!!s very quickly.

I have been meaning to this for quite some time to start a blog on what it is like being a regular cyclist in Brisbane. I have been trying for quite some time to see if anybody has started a similar blog but I am yet to find one.

I am regular bloke that just happens to ride to work. I have been doing this for many years and I am convinced it is a very smart way to get around. While yes during this time I have had some accidents it has never scared my of riding a bike, it has just further convinced me that things need to improve in Brisbane towards making cycling a option for everyone. Whilst most people either hate or love Bicycle Queensland (http://www.bq.org.au/) there is one statement that needs to be made a reality. "Everyday Cycling Everyday"

Why the Blog name. A few years back a fellow worker gave it to me. You see when I ride to work I ride with no shirt on. (yes even winter)
Why
a. It's bloody hot (it's brisbane)
b. We have no showers at work

What will I be posting about, mostly cycling and Public Transport related issues of Brisbane. I intend to diverge every so often.