Campaigns
Regional planning and projects
Regional Queensland has some of the highest cycling rates in Australia - a behaviour that needs to be maintained in the face of strong regional traffic growth and changes in city business districts.
BQ supports pro-active integration of cycling projects in Main Roads corridors, and the development of regional cycling plans in advance to have an identified blueprint for cycling in advance of the rapid growth of roads which has often previously left cycling in its wake. Regional projects are completed or underway in the Far North, Mackay, Fitzroy and the Wide Bay regions; definite steps in the right direction.
Main Roads
BQ is pleased with growing recognition of the needs for cycling in road upgrades, as per the 2004 Cycling on State Controlled Roads policy paper of the Department of Transport and Main Roads. However, consistent recognition and implementation of this government policy by regional TMR offices is still an area of inconsistency, and therefore concern.
Regional Qld particularly has many state controlled roads as their main streets, the major links in their communities. Often these haven't provided for safe cycling. BQ encourages members and BUGs in regional Qld to watch for opportunities where roads owned by the state government are being upgraded particularly, so that provision for cycling can be included.
Railtrails
BQ strongly supports and lobbies for suitable disused rail corridors to be converted to rail-trails, for use by cyclists, hikers and horse riders.
Regional Queensland offers fantastic opportunities for recreational trails. The Brisbane Valley Railtrail (Ipswich to Yarraman) is developing as a major recreational and tourist attraction with current state government support of $6m, but needs federal, state and council combined funding.
Consultation is underway for the Bethania to Beaudesert section, as is Boonah to Ipswich. Many others are sitting in the wings: Caboolture to Wamuran corridor; Coolum to Nambour; Hervey Bay to Maryborough; Atherton Tablelands (Tolga to Yungaburra with potential to extend to Millaa Millaa) and the Capricorn Coast Railtrail Rockhampton to Yeppoon.
BQ supports rail trails, and of a quality surface; i.e. sealed pavement, especially when within five kilometres of towns where a significant cycling for transport option exists.
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