Bicycle Network: Metro Routes

Bligh promises Qld investment

22 March 2012. Queensland will copy Victoria and invest substantially in rural rail trails if the Labor Government is re-eleted, Premier Anna Bligh has promised.

Grants totalling $20m will be made available to local government to build rail trails and off-road riding and mountain bike facilities.

Ms Bligh said she would also deliver the North Brisbane Cycleway, with $6 million to construct the Bowen Hills to Albion section and $320,000 to undertake detailed planning and develop the business case for remainder of the cycleway from Albion to Kedron Brook.

Another $1.75 million would be available to provide 900 secure bike parking spaces at key rail stations and bus stops.

The Premier said that in the last three years the government had invested more than $190 million integrating cycling routes into new major transport infrastructure projects such as the Gateway Duplication, the Ted Smout Bridge and the Kurilpa Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge between the CBD and GOMA.

“This practical approach extends to new cycleways along the two new rail lines we are building – the Moreton Bay Rail Link and the Darra to Springfield line,” she said.

“We’ve also jointly funded the Cairns to Aeroglen Cycleway, upgraded end-of-trip cycle facility requirements in commercial buildings for commuter cycling, incorporated bike lockers at new and upgraded Translink stations and invested $14 million to upgrade safety and capacity along the popular Bicentennial Bikeway from Toowong to the Brisbane CBD.

“Better access for northside cyclists to the Brisbane CBD and developing regional rail trails along disused rail corridors will build on these efforts to make cycling an even better option for more Queenslanders,” she said

The Premier also promised to create a new offence of dangerous driving which deliberately or recklessly endangers a cyclist.

“The cyclist is much more vulnerable on the road than the motorist and one way of encouraging more people on to their bikes is to offer them more protection on our roads. “

“We will amend the Criminal Code offence of Dangerous Driving to include a specific provision which will increase the penalty if the dangerous driving deliberately or recklessly endangers a cyclist."

“Penalties will increase from a maximum 200 penalty units ($20,000) or 3 years imprisonment to a maximum penalty of 400 penalty units ($40,000) or 5 years imprisonment under the new provision.

“These tougher penalties will reflect the significant risk dangerous driving poses to cyclist and send the message – take care around cyclists,” Ms Bligh said.