Sydney Cycleways - Getting busier

The City of Sydney via a media release has once again confirmed that cycling in Sydney is increasing. This is inspit of the fact that no further segments of the planned network have opened in the last six months. It has to be said that this very encouraging and also not much of a surprise. It is quite common for peoples travel patterns to change slowly as they get use to a new service or facility. The same thing happens on any new road or Bus/rail service.
Some commentators point out that the counts have been paid for by the City of Sydney. There is no real difference between the City of Sydney paying for it or a State Government counting cars on a new road it has just built. Both have an interest in promoting what they have just built. It certainly has less self interest then a motoring body releasing figures on car usage.
The standout figure in my mind is these ones

Taylor Square, Oxford Street and Bourke Street intersection (1,923 trips up from 1,728 in March); and

Liverpool Street, College Street and Oxford Street (1,876 trips up from 1,795 in March).

Oxford street is one nasty street, for a lack of a better term, yet more people are crossing and riding down it. It is also where two of the cycleways hit, the Bourke St Cycleway & the Collage St Cycleway. Increasing numbers hitting this road show more people would like to be able to a ride a bike, there just needs to be the safe infrastructure.

Here is the channel 10 news report on it.

Gold Coast Bulleton - Stupidity from the South Coast

In an opinion piece that was published yesterday in the Gold Coast Bulletin it would appear that one of there so called Senior Journalists Danial Meers has no sence of the law or the facts. This piece of trash writing is a follow on from another equally ignorant piece he wrote about the Gold Linq Light Rail project that is currently under construction. So to do give a rebuff I thought I would pick some inanely stupid bits out and tear it to shreads.

THE time has come to declare war on cyclists.

Oh yes like being a cyclists is like being a soldier that is now means we are at war. What does this mean? Does he propose that a person riding a bike should be run down and killed. Should a five year old child should be now considered the enemy and have a target placed upon them? What a stupid remark to start with.

Book them when they hog half the road and motorists can't get past. Book them when they cut motorists off at roundabouts. Book them if they are outside the bike lanes and book them for having a pack mentality.

This shows a clear lack of understanding of the Road rules. First off we are allowed to occupy a lane if required. We can be fined if you ride outside a bike lane if it is free of obstruction. And what Book us for what, Pack mentality oh yes because a small group of people riding there bikes is so much more of a threat to the peace then a group of drunken men yelling and screaming at the general public as they walk from one pub to another

Police and the State Government love giving themselves pats on the back for statewide traffic operations. Stopping speeding and drink-driving and lowering the road toll, but nobody ever mentions a word about cyclists.

Obviously this man is ignorant of the blitz that Queensland police do on the bikeways of Brisbane each winter!

Nobody, I repeat, nobody shares the arrogance that cyclists have.

All I can say to the this one is if I am arrogance it is nothing compared to your ignorance of the law and/or the facts!

 Each morning I go running. OK, some of the power walkers overtake me running, but I still run.
I meet a friend at her place every morning which is about a 3km drive from my home.
It takes me a good five minutes to get there.

 Why exactly are you driving to go for a run? That is as about as smart as driving to go to the gym to jump on a treadmill. Oh what ever happened to common sence?

Because at 5am the streets of Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise are filled with cyclists. They ride in packs, big packs of 20 and they take up the whole road in their lycra gear.
I'm stuck sitting on 30km while they ride.

First up it's 5am when would you prefer them to ride in groups, during peak hour perhaps! Second, I am yet to find a group that is not able to exceed 30kmph, more likely they are riding at 40kmph and you despise the fact that you have to drive a whopping 10km less than the speed limit.

They know I'm behind them, yet they make no attempt to move.

Perhaps because it is not safe, or that they are possibly travelling alot faster then you disclose and you have an inferiority complex about being behind a person on a bike compared with your ultimate is display of Australian masculinity your car?

There's a rogue peloton of cyclists abusing fellow road users and screaming to wake sleeping residents as it barrels through Surfers Paradise every morning at 5.
Woken residents who return fire with yells of "shadup!" are subjected to tirades of abuse from riders as they blast along narrow Garfield Terrace.

There is no way that I condone noise at that hour. If they can't talk at a reasonable level indeed shut up but wait "Barrels Through" I thought you said they were only doing "I'm stuck sitting on 30km while they ride." Questions time?

Now, the cyclists will argue there aren't enough bike lanes on the Gold Coast. Council and government don't provide them with the facilities to ride.
There's a reason for that -- you wouldn't use them anyway.
It would be a waste of money building more cycling lanes because cyclists think they should be running the roads.

First off bike lanes are generally designed for single file destination riding not group training rides. Next, last time I checked bike lanes were on the road, fool!

Bicycles are just as big a danger to road safety as some of the other driving crimes which contribute to serious accidents.

Oh yes because how many cyclists have killed people compared with drink driving? What a load of rot.

Enough is enough. Motorists need to start manning up and being vocal about the issue.

Yes because people riding bikes don't already yet verbally abused and threatened with physically violence already!

Roads are for cars, not bikes.

Once again ignorant of the road rules

Make some noise people, win the roads back before something really bad happens.

And believe me, it will.

 Because the hundreds that die on Australian roads each year because they are forced to drive through poor bicycle infrastructure and poor public transport services is not already bad enough.

Honestly how is it that people with so little knowledge of the Law and of simple facts can get a job as a reporter!
No wonder Journalism students on ther first day in eithics classes get told they wont need them in most firms!

 

Riverwalk - Design Work Finished, tenders early next year

In both the Brisbane Times & The Courier (trash) Mail there were articles regarding the replacement Riverwalk today. This time it is to announce that the design work is complete and tenders for it's construction will be called early next year. This has to be said is a welcome development.

The above image is the most current of what the replacement will look like. As I have said before the replacement is to fixed and segregated meaning that it will have high capacity during peak hour & be a stable structure to travel along unlike the previous.

The CBD BUG recently had a presentation by the project team for riverwalk and the feedback is that they were exceedingly happy with what they were presented with. Now as the CBD BUG is mostly about commuter & utility cycling it would seam that the project team have done there work. Current projections for completion still remain late 2014

Centenary Bikeway Axed - E-partition

The disgust that is within the "cycling community" regarding the axing of the Centenary Bikeway from the Centenary Transport Corridor has certainly not gone away. This morning a E-petitions appeared on the Queensland Parliaments Website calling for the reinstatement of the bikeway in the project. Naturally it has been sponsored by the local member (member of the opersition) but not the Opersition Leader whos seat also is effected by it's axing.

E-petitions are official in Queensland and therefore will be tabled in Parliament. I and many others have already signed it. I would urge you if you live in Queensland  to sign it because decisions like the axing of this bikeway set a presedent on other project that may have bicycle provisions removed or downgraded.

Vehicles left turn on red light - Trial

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/gold-coast-to-trial-left-turns-on-red-lights-in-bid-to-reduce-congestion/story-e6freoof-1226512740308

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2012/11/8/left-on-red-trial-keeps-traffic-flowing

The State Government has announced that there is to be a trial where on indicated traffic lights vehicles can make a left turn thought them on a red light. This would in effect for a left turning vehicle change selected lights from lights to basically stop signs.

The truth is I am currently less then comfortable with this idea. While I know that this rules exists in some European countries (right turn in those countries) for cyclists I am less comfortable for it to be also applied to motor vehicles as well. As it stands with cyclists being in the minority on Australia roads the concern of a car pulling out in front of you are very real. As it was, many of us that ride have our heart in our mouth when we descend thought unlighted intersections. This will mean that we now also have to be on edge when we are also passing thought selected lighted intersections as well.

In short I do not like the idea, and as Governments almost never do trails without already knowing the outcome it is more than likely it will be introduced throughout the state.

“When the trial begins, if a driver approaches a red light from the left hand lane at one of the trial intersections, they must fully stop first and then scan the entire intersection ensuring the path is clear of any other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.

“Only then are drivers able to continue their journey and safely turn left.

All I can say is to many people have enough trouble stopping at the stop lines at lighted intersections and not the pedestrian crossing line so how likely is this instruction to be truly adhered to?

https://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=car+red+light+stop+line&hl=en&ll=-27.449819,153.041965&spn=0.000005,0.002068&hq=car+red+light+stop+line&hnear=Brisbane+Queensland&t=m&fll=-27.455722,153.037357&fspn=0.001478,0.002068&z=19&layer=c&cbll=-27.449787,153.041725&panoid=mwwkTo0XcRgRU07y0YzPUA&cbp=12,309.66,,0,12.14

Magpies - black & white terrors from the sky

The Australian Magpie is one of the most loved animals in Australia and one of the most hated by people that ride bikes. While the Magpie does have a beautiful song it does have the nasty habit of being overprotective of it's young and it's attacks are viscous.

I have to admit when I was a kid I liked Magpies. They were just a bird that I saw out in the country side and it is not hard to see why I liked them. They are intelligent carnivorous birds that hang around picnic grounds where the hope to be and are feed by us humans. This connection of us feeding them makes us think they are our friends and we like that. They are also a very attractive medium sized bird with glossy black and white plumage. All this endears them to most people, but then again most people do not walk or ride a bike. The fact is while the magpie can feel like a friend, to many people that walk or ride a bike they are the black and white terrors from the sky.

According to the Queensland Department of Environment only a small amount of magpies swoop. I have to say this does not make the threat any less terrifying. You may think the word terrifying is an exaggeration but when you are riding along at 25kmph plus and you have a bird trying to take out your eye it is exactly that "TERRIFYING". Why does this happen well during the latter part of the year magpies begin to breed and like any animal there hormones start to race. This means in most cases the male will become aggressive however sometimes the female will also join in (myself "Enjoying" one of these male female tag team attacks and figuratively sh**ting myself in the process). Some people say there not that bad but I would love to question those said individuals "do you drive most of the time?" The fact is Magpies can be extremely dangerous with cases where people have lost there eye sight.

While I am a great lover of nature, when Human Safety is put at risk I will go straight to human safety. This is generally the same stance that Governments will take, which made it astonding when I went to the Department of Environment to report a dangerous Magpie that targetted my otherhalf's eyes and drew blood, the form was gone. I know there was form to fill out but it seams that the government has pulled it from the website which is highly disappointing. It seams that the government may be trying to aviod litigation under the "if we don't know we can't be held responsible"!

What can be done is the main point here. Well personally if this behaviour is hormonal and only a small amount of bird swoop maybe the removal of these birds is required. Artifical selection has worked on other spieces why not on the magpie. It is just a shame that the govenrment would rather let us get swooped and have blood drawn. Then there is the fact that the Magpie is a open woodland bird. The planting of more trees would reduce the occurance of swooping. I am yet to be swooped in an area with heavey tree cover and reasonably low foliage. It is just not a place where a magpie can get a run up which is part of there attack.

As far as I am concerned problem birds need to be removed and paths need to be protected from attacks. Magpie attack scare thousands of people each year and must surely contribute to people not riding.

Oh and here is you tube clip showing all the ways people try to get around these horrible black & white terriors.

Citycycle - Courier Mail Opinion piece



Image sourced from www.couriermail.com.au

Today the Courier (trash) Mail ran this unusually level headed opinion piece about Citycycle. It was a shock for me but then again is what written by a "PhD candidate at the Centre for Urban & Regional Studies School of Environmental & Life Sciences, University of Newcastle". Ah now it makes sense. The article points to four key restrictions in the Citycycle system.

1. Helmets
2. Sign Up system
3. Restricted Operating Hours
4. Infrastructure

Helmets. It is a no brainier to understand that mandatory helmets laws are holding usage back. While having the laws repelled would help it is not going to happen unless some government believed it was a key election issue. Citycycle have done there best with providing free shared helmets and that has helped but as I pointed out in a previous post there sharing has been in question. There is also the fact that not everyone is willing to place on there head a helmet that has been used by another stranger.

Sign Up System. The piece claims the sign up system is lengthy, to this I disagree but in an age where everything is NOW NOW NOW I do understand it could be holding the system back. A way that this could at lease be partly fixed is by allowing registered "Go Card" users to access Citycycle. While not a complete fix it would allow tens of thousands (potentially 100 000s) of residents instant access without even having to think about it. Not having to think about it ahead of time is the key to these systems working.

Restricted Operating Hours. Now I have to fully agree with this one & it defies logic for me. Currently you are only able to take a bike out of a station between the hours of 5am to 10pm. Now to it is my understanding this was to prevent "Anti-social" behaviour with the bikes however how much of likely hood was this really when everyone has to be registered? If the system allowed anyone to access it, these restricted hours would make sense but it doesn't. The fact is Velib the system that we copied does not have restricted hours of use, it is 24hour 7 day a week system, and so should Citycycle. I personally have almost been caught out with the closing down time and at the time all I could think at the time was the BUZ services run until 11pm why is citycycle shutting down at 10pm! Citycycle should be 24-7!

Infrastructure. This is a complete no brainier. When New Farm lost it's Floating walkway (the main cycle link) during the Floods of 2011 Citycycle usage to and from New Farm literally fell of the Howard Smith Wharf cliffs. To get people to ride they need to feel safe & comfortable and that is why there needs to be bicycle infrastructure. Riding a bike and being overtaken by a car/bus/truck is not comfortable it is even more unnerving when you are on a bike that is flat out at 25kmph. There needs to be more infrastructure and especially in the CBD with a East - West spine & a North - South Spine.

There is no doubt the system is being held back, and it was good that for once there was a level headed piece published. Things need to be done and fast to make the system work better. Currently what was "Citycycle central" New Farm is still missing it's link to the CBD with it's replacement Riverwalk not set to be finished before late 2014. The other things could be changed a bit quicker. While restricted operating hours and helmets I have no word on, access through "Go Card" is slowly progressing. The current LNP State Government promised they would look at it and they have said that it is currently being "investigated". There seams to be some problems with the way the Go Card works but lets hope they can get around that. Making things easy to access make them far more appealing.

Northern Cycleway & National Ride to work day

Yesterday was National Ride 2 Work Day. By all accounts it was a great success. There are currently two ride to work days each year in Queensland now, BQ's Ride to Work Day and Bicycle Networks "National Ride 2 Work" day. The national day has the advantage of getting people onto bikes just after the winter chill. While not as big as BQ's even in Queensland yet, it is building. There was certainly more people out on bikes and that was consensus from all over Brisbane. One person said that there were strings of bikes on the Western Bikeway.

As always National Ride 2 Work day is the perfect time to bring to light issues facing people that wish to use the bicycle as a form of transport. This year thanks to the CBD BUG and one of it's members the need for the Northern Cycleway was brought to light again. While the online article is quite lite in detail and need for the cycleway, it is still good that it is getting coverage. What is also encouraging is the fact that both BQ and the local councillors both backed up the calls. This was better then hearing the current councillor that heads active transport sprouting on about how the council is spending money on bikeways, leaving out the fact they have used the same line for the past decade and how there is still no safe way for people of Brisbane's North to access the CBD safely.

There was also an article comparing 4 different commutes from the North. All are of a similar distance. What is most telling is they are all of a similar duration. Now conventional wisdom is that riding the bike would be the standout taking the most time but once again conventional wisdom is flawed when comparing travel times and bikes.

I will leave it this time with a You Tube clip by Bicycle Network on Ride to work day 2012, footage is from Melbourne

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.

 

Centenary Bikeway axed - State Gov

image sourced from www.couriermail.com.au

In a move that has not surprised me but has still caused me to hit the roof the Transport minister has announced in his media release that-

“As part of our review of all spending, we were able to remove Labor’s gold plating and deliver greater benefits to the community for the same money,” Mr Emerson said.
 

apparently this includes

The proposed seven kilometres of pathway/bikepath and lowering the Springfield Link Bridge will no longer be delivered as part of this project.
 

 Of all the short sighted bull**it I have heard over the years I have never once thought of a Queensland bikeway as goldplating, and when you compare it with what they get in the Netherlands it ain't gold plated hell this isn't even chrome plated. It's a bit of flipping concrete that is only 100mm thick placed on bare earth what the hell is so dame gold plated about that.

The fact is the Springfield area of the great Brisbane region is one of the most car dependant. It has poor public transport options and bicycle infrastructure is next to nothing when you try to use it to access real destinations. What is the result, ofcourse more cars! hello CHICKEN & THE EGG.

This bikeway would of allowed this cycle to be slowly undone but ofcourse that will not be so now, because it was "gold plating". If and I repeat if the department does try to go back in later years and trys to fit in bicycle infrastructure it will be at far greater expense and will surely be up to the same standard that would of originally been planned. Why do I say that, well unless the bridges are designed now to be retro fitted it is more than likely ever crossing of the roads will be road level resulting a ridiculously slow travel.

This is a stupid short sighted decision based on politics and not good common sense. This is a distressing movement when there has been no announcement regarding the Northern Cycleway yet.

PS here is the courier mail article on it, try not to read the comments they will just depress you.

Citycycle, Crickey- designed to fail?

Image souce www.couriermail.com.au

Alan Davis the Urabanist for the online News site Cricky has written an article where the head line is "Is Brisbane CityCycle ‘designed’ to fail? ". In my opinion it is a resounding NO but I do agree with his sentiment in the second last paragraph,

It seems the objective was just to get a bikeshare scheme; but no one cared if it actually worked.
 

This statement I do fully agree with. It was an election pledge by our then Mayor now Premier that we would have a Public Bike hire scheme. As an election pledge they had to be installed and they were if not a bit ad-hoc with some stations being installed but not turned on. Other stations built at the end of the network while their nearby sister stations taking months before they were turned on. This resulted in less of a network of roots running out more like someone had just thrown seeds on the ground hoping it would in the end link up. This did nothing to fuel conference at the beginning.

There has been alot of focus on mandatory helmet laws but I prefer to look at what else needs to be done then bang my head into that brick wall. Alan Davis points to infrastructure principally the fact that he saw to people riding them on the footpath when the CBD street they were in was empty of cars. Infrastructure is one area the BCC has hopeless failed at in encouraging Citycycle. While the BCC did drop the CBD speed limit to 40kmph this is not much help when you are on a bike that is flat out at 25kmph and you have a bus on your ass, there needs to be infrastructure. This is the reason why those said individual were on the footpath. There needs to be two cycling spines through the CBD one down George St & one Down Ann St. This would allow Citycycles to be used in the City with conference and comfort. Honestly what is the point of it being called Citycycle when you don't want to use it in the City.

Alan also mentions the access problems. While as an out of towner I can sympathise he should try being a local. Currently the Citycycle does not work with GO Card. This is a major annoyance for locals such as myself as I do not use Citycycle enough to justify a membership but still want to be use it say once a month. This means each time I use Citycycle I have to log on and sign up for a One day membership. This is currently limiting it's usage because it means people that are outside the areas network don't use it because it may only be a once in a blue moon thing. "Once a blue moon things" need to be easily accessible, integrating with Go Card so the Registered Go Card Users had access would solve that problem.

There is not doubt that Citycycle is failing at the moment but I don't think it was designed to. I think this has got more to do with politicians not having the guts to install essential CBD cycling infrastructure & to work with there political foes to make an integrated public transport (& bike hire) system.

Queensland is FAT - We know that

image sourceed from http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/fast-food/

I would like to first preface this posting with the statement "I am no Adonis, but I do look after myself."

According to this article in the Courier/Sunday Mail on Sunday Queensland is now the fattest state in what is the second fattest nation if not the fattest nation in the first world. I have to say this is no great surprise to me, or for that matter most people I know. I have watched my own extended family slowly get fatter and fatter.

Like most articles in the Courier (trash) Mail they have chosen to blame someone else without putting part of the blame back on the person gaining weight themselves. Don't get me wrong Fast Food outlets have a lot to answer for but not all the blame can be levelled at them alot can be levelled at ourselves. The basic reason, energy in has to equal energy out otherwise we gain weight. The reason why this is happening is what most people would call an inconvenient truth, THE CAR. The fact is the car is used for so many trips for it's perceived convenience that people have got fat and lazy.

Case Study - My Unit Block.
I live around 500m from my local supermarket. It is a flat easy walk that takes around 7 minutes to walk at a comfortable pace. Our grocery shopping takes around 10mins to do and we are set off home with our clothe shopping bags completely full. This will normally last us for 3 to 4 days before we do the next shop. The only difference between our shop and someone that might drive a car is we do not buy soft drink. It only takes 30minutes from the time we leave home to the time we get back. It is a simple task that is not hard to do or time consuming but people still drive to the shops. The sad fact is they do this mostly out of laziness but also out of perception. Perception that it saves them so much time when infact it doesn't because there are multiple little tasks with using a car eg getting in and out of the carpark. The fact is over short distances (less than 1km) the car save very little if non compared to walking when tasks need to be done.

Lack of physical activity is the main reason why adults are getting fatter and we need to admit it. Being physically active to transport ourselves makes far more sense then driving to a gym to use a treadmill. Australia has to admit they use cars far to much.

SMOG - a reason to ride, a reason to advocate

As I sit typing this posting I look out over the CBD of Brisbane and all I see is a disgusting browny grey haze. For anyone that is not Australian this is what we call smog. Smog is a no go word in Australia it is something that other countries suffer from. How could we suffer from that we are the "wide brown land" we have vast open spaces but the sad fact is that we do suffer from it and it is disgusting. What is more disgusting is that we cover it up with words like "haze" or "fog" but the sad fact is the past two days Brisbane has woken up to SMOG. Don't get me wrong we do get fog but this is not fog it is SMOG. Most of the time all we need is a little scrub fire on the city outskirts to show just how dirty our air is but I don't think that is the case this time. I have been unable to find any reference to scrub fires for past two days.

Like most cities Brisbane suffers from smog because of the overuse of the motor vehicle. In the 2006 census over 80% of all trips in South East Queensland of which Brisbane sits were made by motor vehicle. Then there is the fact that over 50% of all private motor vehicle trips in Brisbane are less then 5kms. It is so disgusting that on certain mornings you can see from vantage points the smog rising up over the arterial roads leading into Brisbane. This is one of the reasons why I ride, and why I whinge my head off to Council and Government. I hate smog and what it does to people's health. It is part of the reason why I ride, I don't want to add to that. Smog is disgusting stuff but the fact is you will breath less of it in by riding a bike then by being in a car.

The fact is if there was more high quality cycling infrastructure in Brisbane there would be more people on bikes and less people in motor vehicles creating less SMOG. SMOG is just a reminder to me that Brisbane needs to break it's reliance on roads and turn to high quality bicycle infrastructure and public transport.
OH and why I continue to annoy council!

CPF - Canberra Transport Photo

Image sourced from http://www.geo.sunysb.edu/bicycle-muenster/traffic.jpg

 Image souced from https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-33BQZUFMESA/UFbhHXz8j0I/AAAAAAAADCw/H7OLJLuXHww/s1024/Canberra%2520Transport%2520Photo_x3_2400px_logo.jpg

 

The Cycling Promotion Fund of Australia has just recreated the now famous Munster transport photo from over twenty years. The original is the top photo while the Canberra is the lower one. It is a excellent demonstration why private car travel is not the smartest why to get about in an urban environment. As the press release states

“In the space it takes to accommodate 60 cars, cities can accommodate around sixteen buses or more than 600 bikes.”
 

This is very valid point but I would push it a little bit further as they are talking about area, not traffic lane length. The Bus used was a Standard 12m rigid, and the average car is 5m long, so if you times 60 cars by 5m you get a queue of 300m of cars. Then divide that by the 12m Bus and you get 24 buses in a single lane that only 60 cars would take, not including the space between each vehicle. If you include the metre that you would have between each vehicle you would fit in another bus, so that is now 25 buses.

I have to say the 600 bike claim I find a bit of a stretch as they would have to be very closely parked. That said most racks that are around the place do allow for that kind of density of bicycle parking. Traffic lane length on this one is a little harder, as multiple bikes can ride alongside each other in a single traffic lane where that is not the same for car/bus scenario. With that it could be assumed that 3 bikes across could fit into a typical 3.5m traffic lane and each bike is 2m long with a meter gap between each bike. There is 69 bikes, three across so 69 divided by three times by 3m (length of bike plus gap) equals 69m of bicycle traffic. Therefore 300m of car traffic divided by 69m of bicycle traffic times by 69 riders. I know this is all long winded but the point is, In traffic you could fit 300 bicycle riders into the a single traffic lane that it takes 60 cars to occupy.

Ofcourse this is all getting very technical and the dynamics of all these figures change once they start to move and area is also relative to speeds but the point is. Cars take up to much space in an urban environment and most sensible thing to do is to encourage people to ride a bike and to use public transport where riding a bike is not practical or possible.

I will leave it with the youtube clip from the photo shoot

QLD State Budget - 2nd day after

In today's Brisbane Times article it lists key projects that are part of this years budget. to my dismay it only lists one project for cycling, the South East Bikeway/V1 cycleway stage C. I have to say the Government had not much option but to fund this, as it is already under construction and needs to be completed. I can only hope that this funding includes the bridge that is meant to fly over Birdwood Road at Holland Park. According to NearMap aerial photo maps I can not see any work yet to begin on that part of the project. I have to say this is highly disappointing. That said there does seam to be pylons constructed for the bridge that is to fly over Lewisham St that will form the next part of the upgrade with Stage D. However Stage D was to get funding in this years budget but that now seams to of been dashed.

Today I will leave you with an image from Transport's project newsletter.  This is not the correct image for the V1/South East Bikeway. First off as can be seen on the Counts that have been reported here the majority of people that use the South East Bikeway are not on Road Bikes. Next the Lycra, then there is the fact these blokes are out for a ride hence why they are over the centerline hogging the bikeway. The South East Bikeway is a Commuter Bikeway and it should be promoted and viewed as such! This sort of image is just plain wrong and may be part of the reason why there is so little funding for bicycle infrastructure in this budget! Cycling is transport not just recreation.

QLD State Budget - day after

I would first like to disclose that I find reading State Government Budget Papers very difficult.

According to the Governments own Media Release there is to be "$102 million Cycle network grants and capital programs" This looks all very encouraging until you start to wonder what the "and" is there for and weather or not capital programs are cycle programs or something other. I have looked in the Budget Paper 3 - Capital Statements for this $102 million and I can't find it. In fact the word cycle only appears twice in that document & only once when referring to bicycle infrastructure where it states "$16.4 million to for the development of regional cycle networks in South East Queensland". I am confused. groannnnnnnnn

Then there is the Transport & Main Roads Papers which state that last year 45kms of bikeway infrastructure was to be delivered but in fact only 20kms was put down. Then it states that this financial year they expect to lay 35kms. Now if you subtract the 25kms that was missing from last year that only means 10kms is to be laid ontop of what is a backlog from last year. This is not very much when you consider the distance between Brisbane and Cairns is near 1600kms.

This is all on top of the fact that 1 in 6 Transport and Main roads staff are to be dismissed from that department. According to the CBD BUG website twitter feed this includes staff in the cycling programs area.

On top of this according to the Courier Mail the worlds largest travel pattern change program Travelsmart is to be canned. This program informed people on how they could get about without using a car and was accepted to be successful at this. It is true it did give away backpacks which the now Government says was the only thing it was successful at. I would really like to understand how it failed because the graphs I was shown years ago said that it was working and working well.

With all the talk by the Government about how the they had to tighten the budget some how the Roads budget has yet again increased. I have to say I am less then impressed.

All in all I am less then impressed. Finding detail is very hard and the details I have found fill me with very little, for the coming year. The project I was most looking for was the Northern Cycleway but I am yet to find the word "Cycleway" anywhere in the documents. Another year another Road focused budget. Time to roll over and pretend it isn't happening.

To make me feel better here is a link to what maybe some of us will have resort to.
http://yehudamoon.com/20080319/

 

Sydney Cycleways set to continue

In what was a welcome development the City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has been re-elected. I must say the people of Sydney that ride bikes or would like to ride bikes must be breathing a sigh of relief. Some Mayoral candidates were openly hostile to the concept of riding bikes and the cycleways. That said it was not much of a contest with Clover Moore getting back in on her primary vote alone. This is indeed a feat as most politicians in Australia rely on preferences. While it can be said Clover's vote was slightly down by 4.9% she still got in with a primary vote of 51.6%.
Congratulations Clover and keep up the great work with the cycleways. More than Just Sydney is watching.

Image sourced from http://cycle-space.com
King Street cycleway during peak hour

http://www.nationaltimes.com.au/photogallery/opinion/cartoons/alan-moir-20090907-fdxk.html

Citycycle & the Free Helmets

The Brisbane Times this morning ran a story about how out of 1500 free helmets that were put out onto citycycle bikes only around 650 were still left sitting on bikes. I have to say this is no surprise to me given the number of times I ride past someone on there own bike with a what looks like one of the free Citycycle helmets.

Australia is the only place in the world where I understand bike share has been implemented with compulsory helmet laws for adults. For this reason bike share systems were always going to have there issues in both Brisbane & Melbourne where they have been introduced so far. Having to carry a helmet just in case you needed to ride some where was always going to cause issues. For this reason both Brisbane & Melbourne introduced ways to get helmets. Melbourne went with discounted helmets and vending machines, but Brisbane went the whole way and offered free helmets to be shared as with the bikes.

Why have so many helmets gone missing comes down to two Simple Practises that BCC and Citycycle have failed at-

1. Helmets are not clearly & permanently Marked as citycycle Helmets
2. Helmets are not always locked to the bikes.

As you see in the above Image the helmets are not clearly & boldly marked as a shared helmet. There is simply a small label that outlines safety issues and a bit of text that says it is for shared use. This label can easily be pulled off and quickly you have your own helmet free of charge. In my opinion the text "CITYCYLE" should of been boldly etched into the helmet's casing so that it could not be removed. This would mean only the very bold or desperate would of take one. As it stands yellow helmets are not unheard of and many people probably think no one will notice if the label is taken off.

Alot of the thief of helmets has probably accrued due to the helmets not being locked correctly back to the bikes. I personally have found a helmet in a garden bed and taken it back and locked it in with a bike. The above image correctly shows how it is to be locked to the bike. The straps are to be threaded over the bikes locking arm before the bike is docked into a station. Doing this means you have to destroy the helmet to get it off. The problem is this does not always occur.It is very easy to do, docking the bike and forgetting to lock the helmet in place, I have done it myself. In most cases people then just leave it in the basket but some people like me dummy lock it so it looks like it is locked in place. That said the lack of locking of helmets is also due to Citycycle Staff no correcting this behaviour themselves. There has been many times I have gone past a station after some staff have been to it and there are helmets in the baskets! Considering the staff are able to put bikes in and out you would think that they would correct any incorrectly placed helmets from the baskets & lock them over the docking arm. This would re enforce the idea in everyone that the helmets have to be locked in place. The fact that alot of helmets just sit in the baskets instead of being locked in place means that anyone can walk past & can score themselves a free helmet.

Ofcourse the ultimate solution to the problem of helmets is to have the laws repealed completely, or partially for citycycle but that is highly unlikely in a country that is risk adverse. More clear and permanent labelling combined with better enforcement of the helmets being locked to the bikes is the only way that Citycycle helmet thief will be reduced. Personally I am for the free helmets but the two points I have outlined have to be adhered to.

Daily Commute Whats Faster - 7 News story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMchfBrIhj8&feature=youtu.be


I have to say instead of a negative TV media story a good one for a change this time from the commercial station Channel 7. It was the typical Car vs bike vs Public Transport in this case the bus. The starting point was in Yeronga down near the river and the End point was Bike (cbd) Car (Bowen Hills) and Bus (CBD).

In no great surprise the Bus lost out. This is because the route 107 is a needlessly windy route that has stops within 50 meters of themselves within Yeronga itself. This would make any bus route overly painful and slow. Stops so close to each other that you can throw a rock between them are stupid and wasteful. This is a route that needs to be fixed in the Bus Review that is about to happen. Luckily this route does use the Busway system but the damage was done, travel time over 50 mins

The car came next. In no great surprise it got caught in traffic. But of course this traffic was created due to so many people using there car for trips that could of been done by other means. Travel time came in at 25 but it did have to travel a fit further.

In what would be common sense from such a close suburb the Bike won and won by a long shot. Travel time came in at 15 minutes. I have to say this was quite a good time but it did go straight to the stereotype of male in Lycra on a road bike. That said the route used would of been along Annerley road, a road that has a bike lane all be it a doggy one at times. You can see in the footage him racing up the beside cars in the bike lane. If the bloke wearing Lycra was not enough of stereotype him saying it took "some effort" was enough for me to slap my head with a thud. I have never seen riding as an effort but that is me. That said it was still good to see the bike beat the car.

I have to say for my inner city cross town commute riding a bike is faster then the Bus even with it being mostly Busway. My normal Travel time for the bike is 28 mins, where the Bus even with perfect connections comes in at 35mins plus. As for the Car I have been told by a college that lives near by it is usually 20mins, mind you that is not including the walk he has t do after finding a place to park.

PS I with correctly like the Video in place as soon as you tube search function works properly.
All in all a welcome story about how bikes can make a very quick trip into work. Now only if they do the same story but with a woman on a city bike coming in from Toowong. I can wish.

Sydney Cycleways - SBS interview

The Free to air channel SBS has a show called Cycling Central. Normally I do not watch this program mainly due to it's airing time. However this week they interviewed the Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore regarding the cycleways. I have to say it is a welcome distraction that was the load of manure that ACA put out on last Thursday.

What I noticed first out was the number of bikes that road past in the 10 minute interview. With my limited knowledge of Sydney I can only assume that it was shot on the Bourke St cycleway. So much for that serial Youtuber pain posting false claims that no one uses it. Next was the type of bikes & people that road past. I only really saw one Lycra warrior in the footage.
Besides that there are some simple points that the interview brings up

• Each path is part of a boarder network
• Only 20% of the separated network has been built so far
• Each path is signed off by the State Government Department
• cycling is up 82% in the City of Sydney
• All the path funding is from the Council itself
• cycleways/bikeways are not the solution but part of the solution
• People need the option of cycling by providing the infrastructure
• Helmets need to be discussed

I have to say it was an interesting interview and I hope that Clover Moore gets back in this Saturday. Her plan and cycleways are something that Brisbane bicycle riders are watching very carefully. The better the results down south the more weight we have up here to get things improved.

Kickstand Comics reply to ACA story

Kickstand comic an excellent comic strip that deals with with cycling has come out with three excellent strips in response to the ACA crap that was aired on Thursday Night

I have to say they are so very true, and the best one is this one
http://yehudamoon.com/comics/2012-08-29.gif

 

Futher kickstand comics can be found here http://yehudamoon.com/
They are both funny and insightful at the same time. You will get more truth in 4 drawn pictures then what Australia concieves as "A current Affairs" programing.

It is sad when a comic is more truthful then a so-called news program!

"too risky" ACA beat up featuring cyclist harassment

Last week on the Sydney Cyclist web forum a mother posted this disturbing story. I have to say this creeped me out at the time. Being filmed by a stranger is never a comfortable experience but to be chased and filmed as you ride along with your child is just plain creepy.
Well Last night we found who was filming her, Ben Fordham from the anti cycling radio station itself 2GB Sydney. This only came to light because his footage was used in this ACA report titled "Too Risky?".
I would like to state straight out I do not watch this crap normally and only found it because of the discussion on the online Australian Cycling community. As soon as read the descriptions I had a disgusted feeling that it seamed so familiar that I had read it and I was right. As I watched the footage all I could think what is wrong here. She is riding here bike by all the laws. She has added big white flags to the trailer to add to the visibility of the trailer. All I could think there is nothing wrong here and this is a beatup aimed at the lowest common denominator.
That was until they introduced Ian Luff  as a "motoring expert" demanding that bicycle trailers should be banned. According to his own website he is

He has worked with 7 Australian world champions, is a qualified mechanical engineer, has an extensive background in sales and marketing, and he is seen regularly on television and in the media.

This begs the question what qualifications does he have to demand that bicycle trailers should be banned? I say nothing. Then they do a demo where he runs down a test Bicycle child trailer.
When he does this two things stand out straight away.

1. the trailer largely stood up to the impact
2. the trailer seamed not to be attached to the demo bike.

I have to say I was quote happily surprised that the trailer stood up so well to a 60kmph impact speed. But what I think was done is the seemingly non attachment of the demo trailer to the demo bike. I say this as when you watch the footage the bike does move more than a slight sway. If this was done on purpose it begs the question why?

Ian has now posted further footage of the Demonstration and to me it does not look like the trailer was attached! Was this done possibly to make it look like the mother was putting all the so called risk on the child and not herself.

All in all I am disgusted with this report and am disgusted with the fact that stalking a Mother and child is acceptable in a station desperate grab for ratings.

All I have to say to the Mother in question is your were doing nothing wrong and ACA is disgusting!

Riverwalk (former floating walkway) - Preliminary Design Released

Image sourced from www.brisbanetimes.com.au

To may great surprise last week the Brisbane City Council released it's preliminary design for the replacement to the former floating walkway now just being given the title of Riverwalk. According to council the preliminary designs offers

 

• a more flood-resilient structure, designed to last for 100 years
• a rotating opening span to allow for the passage of vessels to and from moorings
• a new alignment that will take users further out into the river for the majority of the walkway, to improve the river experience and increase privacy for residents
• a segregated pedestrian and cycle path, 2.5m and 3.5m wide respectively
• shaded rest and viewing areas at various locations along the walkway

There must be little doubt that a fixed structure would be more flood resistant.
One interesting change from the concept drawings is the swing section to allow for vessels to access property moorings. This was originally to be a lift bridge but I have to say I personally prefer the swing design. It will be a bit more dramatic and interesting when a boat is moved in or out (a once a year event if your lucky). I am particularly interested how the joins between the swing and permanent sections will be treated.

I have to say when it comes to the structure being further out in the river, I don't care! I would have to say this would be more than likely the opinion of most of the people who will use it day in day out in there commute. This movement out has more to do with the privacy of residences then "improved river experience". That said the Zig Zaging at the Howard Smith end of the structure is a little strange. Corners are not a bike riders friend I do hope these are eased into bends.

THANK YOU! Common sense has prevailed and the replacement structure is to be designated as pedestrian one side and cyclist the other. At 2.5m to pedestrians and 3.5m to cyclists there should be little conflict if everyone behaves themselves. This will make the path a total of 6m wide only 1m wider then the previous shared path at 5m wide. This will make a world of difference as the old path was becoming quite uncomfortable for all concerned during peak usage times. Breaking the modes apart will mean that the carrying capacity of path will hopefully exceed what will ever be required of it.

Shade Rest Areas I have to say are welcome additions. The former floating structure had some rest areas however they were not shaded resulting in no one really using them. It was more like a roasting area in summer then a rest area. Adding shading will mean people will truly be able to rest.

Both Brisbane Times & The Courier Mail had articles to read. Thankfully the Courier had it's comments bar turned off meaning that every out of town bogan was denied the chance to stir the pot.

That all said it does not look to bad but more detailed drawings need to be provided so we really know what we are looking at and getting.

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/roads-infrastructure-bikeways/bikeway-and-pathway-projects/Riverwalk-replacement/index.htm

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/roads-infrastructure-bikeways/bikeway-and-pathway-projects/Riverwalk-replacement/index.htm

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/downloads/traffic_transport/roads_infrastructure_bikeways/riverwalk_preliminary_project_plan_opening_span.pdf

Sydney Cycleways - Article day after

I have always found it funny how some Politicians just cannot admit they are wrong. Following on from yesterdays article of how internal Government documents did say the cycleways were in the right locations, were doing what they were spose to be doing and were guided by the roads department (RTA) the Minister just can't admit he is wrong. In todays article he is still claiming that the then RTA had no imput but if the Sydney Morning Herald is to be believed the RTA's own documents state-

''The RTA is participating in the route selection, design, delivery, operation and performance of the cycleway network project

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/gay-denial-but-record-has-rta-in-cycle-loop-20120820-24imm.html#ixzz24ASUUAyx

Um well yes sure the RTA had nothing to do with it. It should also be pointed out that the Lord Mayor of Sydney City has always claimed that the routes were always selected in consultation with the then RTA of New South Wales.

To top it all off there was also this very interesting editorial as well today.

I wonder if this is the reason why cycling policy has been removed from the Roads Minister and moved to the Transport Minister?

NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay
image souced from SMH.com.au

Sydney cycleways - Are working! - article

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/bike-path-rage-rides-counter-to-expert-opinion-20120819-24go2.html

Just a quick post today. This article appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald this morning and I have to say I am very pleased that it did. Basically the article is an investigation into internal Government documents regarding the cycleways as to whether they are doing what they are spose to do and to wheather they are placed in the correct corridors. In no great surprise to me or the people that ride bikes in Sydney the documents say on both counts they are a correct. There has been alot of misinformation around the Sydney Cycleways including a serial You Tuber pest that posts clip after clip. These deceives the average person into thinking the Cycleways are a waste and are not being used. There has also been the Minister for Roads making claims thet no one uses them.

One Cycleway that has been highlighted as a waste but was thankfully defended by the investigation documents was the Collage Street Cycleway. Now the above image was taken back in 2011 when during peak hour I wondered up from my hotel to see how it was going. This was the view I got every change of lights. Group of riders after, group of riders heading into work. Naturally now when I hear an individual say the College St Cycleway is not used and is incorrectly located, my ears pick up and question really what that person is saying because in 2012 when I chose to visit the cycleway again I saw similar scenes of groups of riders descending from Oxford St Intersection.

On that note I say trust the official Council figures of usage and footage that has clearly been taken during peak hour as otherwise you will be deceived. These paths are being used and will only increase as the network expands.

Past Week in Brisbane's Media

After the terrible reporting from the Courier (trash) Mail on Thursday past about how cyclists are red light runners, they tried to butter us up with this article on Sunday. To make sure it buttered us up they turned of the comment bar on the article so that they typical mis-informed rego whingers didn't get on there soap box. In all honesty it wasn't a bad article but it did avoid one very simple fact. Your first bike once you get back into riding a bike will quickly replaced, normally within 2 years. Mine was downgraded to the spouses bike within 18 months. This is very important as it means you should not spend to much as it really is the bike that you work out what you want a bike is. That said it did point out two very important things, avoid supermarket bikes if you intend on riding often and all helmets sold in Australia offer the same amount of protection (or non protection depending on which side of the debate you sit on) it is just there appearance and shape that differs.

The Next article was from the Brisbane Times on Tuesday with this. While not a very big article it did hold some gems of info. The best was this breakdown from the website itself.

Bikeway projects to start this term include:

• Bicentennial bikeway stage 3 - between Lang Parade and Park Road as a continuation of the Bicentennial Bikeway upgrade. Cost: $7.1m (2012-13).
• Bicentennial bikeway stage 4 - from Land Street to west of the Regatta Ferry Terminal as a continuation of the Bicentennial Bikeway upgrade. Cost: $8.1m (2012-13 and 2013-14).
• Gateway North Connections - Schultz Canal - connects with the Kedron Brook bikeway, Brisbane Airport, the Gateway bikeway and further northside. Cost: $7.5m (2012-13 and 2013-14).
• Nicholson Street bikeway, Greenslopes - will improve connectivity from the Greenslopes Hospital to Transport and Main Roads' new V1 Bikeway along the M1 Pacific Motorway. Cost: $1.6m (2012-13).
• Cabbage Tree Creek - Stage 3 - completes the final link in the Cabbage Tree bikeway. Cost: $1.8m (2012-13)
• Cubberla Creek bikeway - will link Kenmore with Moggill Road and Chapel Hill Primary School. Cost: $1.6m (2012-13 and 2013-14).
• Zillman Waterholes - will complete a missing off-road link in the local bike network at Zillman by linking Robinson Road West with Murphy Road. Cost: $1.05m (2012-13 and 2013-14).

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbanes-next-bikeways-revealed-20120813-244ou.html#ixzz23h2B9QKU

All I can say is thank you Brisbane Times and there reporter Katherine Feeney as this years Brisbane city budget papers were very hard to work out where this work was to occur. The stand out was of course the Bicentennial bikeway funding but another is the funding for the Gateway connection to the airport  from Kedron Brook Bikeway. Getting to the airport by bike at the moment is a bit hair raising going through a very complicated intersection. This connection will remove that bit. It will not make it perfect but it will make that little bit easier.

On top of those articles there has been others in the Brisbane Times talking about making the CBD less of the drive through and more of a destination with increased shopping and pedestrianisation which may also translate to more bicycle infrastructure. This is on talk that the CBD Master plan is again being overhauled.

all in all not a bad time in the media we just need an announcement from the State Government about the Northern Bikeway. I can dream!

Brisbanes Next Big Project - article

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/is-brisbanes-next-big-project-a-bicycle-superhighway-20120809-23wtg.html


This is the title of an article in the Brisbane Times about increasing bicycle trips in Brisbane. I have to say it is an interesting article. It also points to the reason why I read fairfax media over murdock media.  Points raised in it include

• segregating bicycle riders from cars
• the need for the Northern Cycleway, (see previous post)
• Investing in bicycle infrastructure over Car Infrastructure
• Concept of normalising riding a bike.

I have to say these are all points I fully agree on.
What I have to say I found interesting is the concept of more floating walkways/bikeways using old plastic. Considering the former floating walkway floated away during the floods of 2011 I would question the long levity of such a piece of infrastructure, mind you if placed further down river on a wider part maybe it would be suitable.

The concept of normalising cycling that is raised is one I just wish would occur a bit faster and like the article says it needs segregated facilities. To often in Brisbane people assume you where Lycra , umm no. On that not I will leave with a photo linked from the Internet from the recent style over speed ride.

Oh I will add that this is how this bloke normally rides on the same bike, I have seen him a fair bit on the bikeways.

Running Red Lights - Crap Courier Mail

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/cameras-catch-cyclists-running-red-light-gauntlet-but-very-few-get-fined/story-e6freoof-1226446296016

The above image is taken from the article that ran today in the Courier(trash) Mail. In the article it is claimed that 220 incidences a year are recorded where a cyclist is fined for running a red light but then claims that it occurs "much more frequently" then that but provides no number. Why, because the paper does not know and cares not to investigate.  This is very usual for the bike riders of Brisbane to be targeted by this tabloid paper, we are a very easy target. The truth is we are getting sick to death of this.

As well not mentioning how many times people on bikes go through red lights they also leave out another important figure, how many motor vehicles in Queensland run red lights each year. According to this article in Brisbane Times from 2009  26,800 fines for running red lights were issued. This figure brings things into context because by going by official figures with cyclists making up around 1 to 2% of all traffic in Queensland but are accounting for less then 1% of all fines for running red lights. You may ask why I am using official figures, well just like cyclists running red lights not every motor vehicle that runs a red light is caught either. Not every set of traffic lights has a camera so official figures are the only way to really compare.

The other thing that is heavily depressing is the comments that are posted by the public, and the misinformation that is within them. The most common is the typical "Rego demand" is an excellent example that the person commenting has a very misinformed mind.

The fact is in Brisbane the Courier (trash) Mail hates cyclists and when reading any of there reports you need to do your own investigations on what the (so called) facts are telling you. While this report was missing the venom that we have seen in pervious years reports it was still missing valid comparasons to put things into context.

Shared Paths/Bikeways - Wider is not always better

I have previously posted about a shared path that does not work, the Pyrmont Bridge in Sydney. At the time I point out it failed on three points I consider important for a shared path to work.

• a daily usage somewhere below 4000 movements a day
• a path where it is not generally wider then 4 meters
• low tourist numbers
• clear understanding of keep left rule
• equal split between bicycles and pedestrians

Most of the time shared paths are rather narrow (around 3 metres) and have a lower usage. This make there purpose as shared suitable. Often after a certain amount of time usage does increase and the logical solution is to simply widen the path. I have to say this is logical and does work to some extent but the problem is human behaviour is not always to the same logic. The photos below show why making the path wider to increase capacity does not always work. The below photo was not taken at a busy time but it does show some peoples bahavour.

Both photos are of the same three women walking along the Shared Riverwalk Path in New Farm Brisbane. The first is on the new section where the clear width is around 6 meters. The second is on the older section where it is around 4 meters clear. Both photos show how the logic of widening a shared path past a certain point fails. People logically when given extra space just spread out even when there is clear signage saying not to block the path and keep left. On both the 6 meter section and the 4 meter section the three women's walking position is almost identical it is just the space between each individual that has changed. This is when segregation comes into importance, because given the space (approximately 5 meters) , no amount of widening will change the way some people act and they will just spread out. Ofcourse putting down a dividing line does help to some point but is really just band aid when segregation is the most sensible option where space permits.

Thankfully most people that use this path do not act like this but it is not uncommon. This path is heavily used and the short sighted option of making it shared and to narrow (just) to allow segregation to occur has resulted in a congested environment, mostly on the weekends.  While shared paths are always an option and a good option, there ability to be widened and upgraded to segregate needs to be considered and and considered very carefully because for some people no amount of signage will help the situation.