Bicycle Parking - Princess Alaxandria Hospital

Being able to park ones bike at Queensland Government buildings and facilities has long been a bug bare of mine. I have always found it to be hypercritical for a Government at one time to be claiming they want more people to ride bikes as a form of transport but yet to provide no parking. Now honestly would anyone really drive a car if there is no place for them to park there car when they reach there destination. The answer is a resounding NO so why is it expected that people riding bicycles would do that!
Early in 2011 it come to light within the Brisbane cycling community there was no bicycle parking at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. The PA (as it is better know) is the second biggest hospital in the Brisbane and is therefore a major trip destination. While some sat on their hands and whinged the cause was taken up, and in late 2011 some parking was provided. It is understood that in the email it was clearly stated the most logical location for the parking would be near the main entry. This is not what occurred.

In the above image a RED B in a circle indicates where the bike parking has been provided, a GREEN B indicates where it should of been provided. Where they have provided the parking, it breaks three of the four guidelines provided within the Queensland Governments own notes for the placement of bicycle parking.

• It is not near the main entrance
• It is not easily visible, in fact unless you are looking for it you would easily miss it.
• It is in an out of the way location

The only thing that it is not breaking is it not being sprayed on by irrigation systems.

Here is some photos I took when I was last at the PA hospital, it should be noted that they have only provided enough space for four bikes but on the day in question there was 6 bikes on the site as you will see from the pictures

The bike parking partly hiding under a pedestrian overpass. Bike 1 & 2

Locked to a railing near the main entrance. Bike 3

Locked to a pole near the main entrance, beside the walkway to the Carparks & Busway Station. Bike 4

Locked on the opposite side of the walkway to the other bike. Bike 5

Locked to a railing in the walkway between the Hospital & the Busway Station. Bike 6

It should be pointed out that I had to add where the bike parking is to the PA Hospital map myself, in the six months since the parking was added the map and the website have not been updated to reflect what has happened. What is also disappointing is the Hospital thinks that it is suitable to provide bicycle parking in a spot that is out of the way reflects on how they view people that ride bikes. The PA Hospital and in fact Queensland Health should be promoting people riding there bikes to a hospital, after all is Heart Disease not one of the major killers in Australia!

Bicycle Parking at Public Transport

I have long been the throne in the side of council and State Government when it comes to bicycle parking. One thing I hate is when new buildings are put in but no parking is provided this includes Rail and Busway Stations. The "Connecting SEQ 2031" document stats on page 52 that it is intended by 2031 an average of 250 bicycle parking spaces will be provided at each train station. This is a noble aim but one that is destined to fail as I highly doubt the Government would be willing to take away car spaces for Bicycles and there is the security factor. A solution is the automated underground bicycle parking station. This has been developed in Japan and could solve some of the problems in the fact that on could possible use there Go Card to swipe your bike in then swipe your bike out. While yes there are some problems with this idea I would have to say this is far better then a Bicycle cage where anyone can look at your bike and other users could nick off with the lights off your bike.