News
Riding Mt Coot-tha and safety
Mt Coot-tha has long been a popular hill-training ride venue for Brisbane cyclists, and with the state government's construction starting of a new cycle link over Centenary Highway (to avoid the dangerous Mt Coot-tha roundabouts) more people may be venturing up the hill.
BQ supports unrestricted access to Mt Coot-tha, as it is a fantastic scenic asset to Brisbane and cyclists like to train there.
But BQ does advise against descending the hill down the 'back way' - that's clockwise from the ABC and Channel 10 towers down to Simpsons Road.
Why? Here are some reasons:
- It is steep, and hard to stay within the speed limit of 50kph.
- It has blind corners.
- The risk of the unexpected - from rocks to scrub-turkeys on the road - is real.
- With cyclists travelling up the hill at about 10 kph and the narrowness of the road, it is likely that cars overtaking cyclists will be very close to the centre line, so a momentary mistake by a cyclist that puts them on or over the centreline can have dire consequences.
- The risk of brake failure or hand fatigue for less experienced cyclists is a possibility.
- There are walkers on the road - bushwalkers and joggers often can be on the road or either side of the road (whether they should be or not!) It happens.
- There is motor traffic! The road is the access for hundreds of employees of the TV stations, the Summit Restaurant and a host of general park users. Most drive courteously, but mistakes or impatience can happen.
Thus BQ strongly recommends all cyclists:
a. Only climb (don't descend) in an anti-clockwise direction on the 'back' of the Coot-tha (the steep section from Simpsons Rd to Channel 10
and
b. If doing repetitions (multiple "up and backs") or if just doing the Coot-tha for fun, then use the 'front' side - take the first left when coming up from the Botanic Gardens and continue up to the Summit Restaurant or further along the ridge to the official high point just before Channel 10 - but not down from there.
Want to do some riding in NSW? Grab the Escapade
Join Bicycle NSW in the Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley on a cycling adventure from 29 March to 10 April 2008!
They've cooked up a fantastic Escapade for you - with a thrilling downhill, stacks of coffee shops and food stores, some wineries, forests, National Parks ... coastline too! There are three options - so you can choose your own adventure between 29 March and 10 April 2008:
- Great Escapade - Blue Mountains to the Hunter Valley (13 days)
- Great Escapade The Tablelands Way (8 days)
- Grape Escapade Taste the Hunter Valley (5 days)
It's a multi-day, fully supported bike riding holiday, already featuring over 1000 riders, so get on line and book by next Friday (7 March 2008) when ride entries close. For more info jump onto http://www.bv.com.au/great-rides/40354/
Council Elections
Queensland's council elections happen on Saturday 15 March.
BQ suggests people throughout Queensland who care about cycling ask their local council candidates "What will you do for cycling?" and consider their response when you make up your mind in these important elections.
BQ is greatly encouraged by the commitments by some council mayoral candidates. In Brisbane, incumbent Lord Mayor Campbell Newman followed on the Green's earlier pledge of $40m pa with a promise of $100 million over the four year term of the council - up from the current spending of $7m pa. Labor have yet to respond, but BQ is greatly encouraged by these commitments. Safer and easier cycling will be the winner, for all.
Here's the coverage in local news websites:
- The Courier Mail says: Campbell Newman pledges bike path funding boost.
- The Brisbane Times says: On your bikes, Brisbane!
Earlier, the Greens had announced their cycling policy, which also promised a funding boost for cycling infrastructure.
Bike Week events are online!
The new BDO Kendalls Brisbane Coot-tha Challenge is the fabulous new headline event for Bike Week 2008. See our Bike Week event pages for more information. Sign up for the Coot-tha, or do the Great Brisbane Bike Ride. Plus you can participate in the womens' ride, ride to work with a free breakfast in Brisbane's CBD, mountain biking, road racing, leisure rides, a fantastic feature film, and an evening with six-time Tour de France rider Stephen Hodge.
BQ's draft strategic plan
BQ's draft strategic plan (PDF) is presented to members in a simplified form for consideration and comment.
A year-long process has looked at our current strategic plan (1998), plans of similar interstate groups, consulted with stakeholders, the BQ executive, staff and various members, resulting in much analysis of what BQ does and where it is going.
Sustained well-managed growth in BQ has seen it in a strong position with excellent membership growth (currently 7,000 members with 20% growth per annum), a sound financial base with high-profile successful events and a prominent position in government and community. BQ is recognised as the key cycling advocacy organisation in Queensland.
The strategic review process over the last year has been led by BQ's President Bill Loveday and the executive committee of BQ, with direction from an external consultant.
BQ consistently receives feedback from its membership through formal and informal channels, and values member feedback. Members are invited to provide feedback - please email with your comments.
Draft Brisbane Valley Rail Trail plan released
Stirling Hinchliffe, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, said the $3.6 million Brisbane Valley Rail Trail signals a new life for the disused train corridor between Blackbutt and Ipswich.
"The 148 km Brisbane Valley Rail Trail will create a picturesque safe haven away from our busy highways for horse riders, mountain bikers and hikers," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"But before we steam too far down the line we're asking for public feedback on the timing and construction of further stages."
Esk Mayor Graeme Lehmann said his council was proud to be a partner in the creation of a key piece of recreational infrastructure for the Brisbane Valley.
"The Rail Trail will be a wonderful asset for the entire Brisbane Valley community and visitors alike.
"Ultimately it will re-connect towns and villages along the old railway corridor," Cr Lehmann said.
According to the draft plan, the trail will be built in stages, and completed around 2012.
The Rail Trail plan can be downloaded from the State Government's Office of Urban Management website. Comments are requested by 31 January 2008.
Fraser Coast BUG encourages female cyclists
In early 2008 Fraser Coast Bicycle Users Group will run a "Revolutionary Women's Program" to encourage women to get back onto their bikes, and improve their cycling proficiency.
FC BUG president David Jurss emailed BQ with the details. The program concentrates on the fun of cycling. It will be presented by local Level 2 Coach, Jenny Strack who brings her experience and expertise with athletes at all levels of skill and fitness. It will be held over nine weeks beginning on 8 March and will include balance and bike skills; bike set-up; techniques and skill development; care of your bike; and nutrition for increased energy output.
Classes will be held in Hervey Bay and Maryborough and will culminate in a week-end of cycling from the Burrum River to the mouth of the Mary River in mid-May 2008.
Keep an eye on Fraser Coast BUG's website for more details.
47 rides around SEQ in new book
BQ now has stock of the new book "Where to Ride: South East Queensland", at the special members' price of $24. The book covers riding on- and off-road around Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. The book was written by Ian Melvin, now working as a Development Officer for Cycling Queensland, and published by Bicycle Lane, the book-publishing arm of Bicycling Australia magazine. Check it out in the BQ Shop.
What's red and "green" and ridden all over?
The re-opened Logan River Bridge at Logan River Parklands, just next to the M1 north of Beenleigh now provides a good link for cyclists and pedestrians from Loganholme to Beenleigh. Known by all as the "red bridge" it was opened on 29 November. Full story coming in the next Queensland Cyclist. Image courtesy of Gold Coast City Council.
Brisbane Mayor proposes public bike scheme
Free bike rides could become commonplace in Brisbane, under a proposal by Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman.
Public bike hire schemes are already in operation in major European cities and Cr Newman said it was time the concept was explored in Brisbane.
"As we move forward, I see bicycles playing a larger part in our efforts to deal with traffic congestion,'' he said.
"Cycling is not only an easy way to get around, it's also a healthy alternative that doesn't create any greenhouse gases.''
BQ Manager Ben Wilson welcomed the Lord Mayor's bike pool scheme as potentially a great transport and tourism feature for Brisbane. "Creating more options for using bikes is a good idea, and Brisbane will be a better city for this,'' he said.
Text of the full press release. And the Courier-Mail's coverage.
Eagle St riverwalk closure
Brisbane City Council has advised BQ that the riverwalk shared bikeway, between Eagle Street Pier and City Botanic Gardens is closed for repairs and a safety audit. Cyclists and pedestrians will be detoured along the pathways of Charlotte Street and Edward Street. There may be some extra traffic experienced in the surrounding areas with subsequent road closures along Felix, Margaret and Eagle Streets.
Gold Coast boldly goes where no council has gone before
Gold Coast City Council has begun a planning process called "Bold Future". And it needs cyclists to contribute to making the Gold Coast a better place to live and ride.
To quote from the website, "Bold Future is one of the most exciting projects ever undertaken on the Gold Coast, will develop a blueprint for our city until 2037. Bold Future is a 30-year road trip and residents are being handed the wheel." So let's ensure that Gold Coast residents can take their road trips by bicycle as well.
Main Roads policy on the web
The Queensland Government Department for Main Roads has recently revamped its website, and now includes a page titled Information for Cyclists. On that page is a link to the policy document "Cycling on State-Controlled Roads", which sets out Main Roads' stated commitment to growing cycling as a transport mode and making it safer. This is a document which all cycling advocates should download and read.
Announcement: Bicycle Coalition
It is very exciting to be able to announce the birth of the Bicycle Coalition.
For a number of years the member-based bike-riding organisations in Australia have jointly supported the national roll out of the Ride to Work and Ride2School projects. Now the four largest groups have come together to form the Bicycle Coalition in order to advance the number of shared initiatives.
Member groups
The member groups are different: we work in different political contexts and our bike riding peaks are in different months. Organisationally we have different histories; we see different opportunities; we have different strengths and different priorities.
These differences are outweighed, however, by what we share. We share the aim of trying to convince people that Life is better on a bike! We use similar methods - relying on support from members and riders who will pay to come on a ride. We have broadly similar strategies and celebrate the same sort of successes.
Working together
The member groups that make up the Coalition have a combined membership of over 60 000 and are in contact with a quarter of a million bike riders across Australia.
We know that through frequent communication and regular meetings we can establish and extend a base of agreement about bike riding issues; present common positions to government, community and business; develop shared intellectual property and develop shared ventures and initiatives.
We believe that the work of the Coalition will significantly enhance the ability of each group to achieve its purpose.
Initiatives
The Coalition has already identified a number of initiatives that we can unanimously endorse. We have also developed a list of initiatives that we think can be added to that list. These initiatives and potential initiatives are listed, along with the Charter of the coalition on this website which you can reach through www.bicyclecoalition.com.au.
Your views
We would be interested to hear your views. You may want to suggest some issues that would be appropriate to address as a Coalition. Please contact us
Alex Unwin, Bicycle NSW
Ben Wilson, Bicycle Queensland
Christian Haag, Bicycle South Australia
Harry Barber, Bicycle Victoria
When magpies attack ...
Magpie season is here, and BQ has begun to hear about active magpies, particularly in the metro area. We have started to pinpoint the location of these magpies on a Google map. Check it out on the Hazards page of this site. And please let us know of swooping magpies in your area.
The most reported swoopers are in-bound on Kelvin Grove Road at Herston, the Torwood St magpie at Milton, and the corner of Toombul and Nudgee Roads at Nundah. The Herston magpie especially is named as persistently swooping riders who are going up a long slow hill.
Some riders report that a couple of large cable ties pointing up from your helmet prevents the magpies from getting too close to you (if you don't mind the 'My Favourite Martian' look).
Popular cycle route to become a meandering pathway?
BQ supports a world-class bikeway through the proposed park along what is currently known as Riverside Drive at West End. This road will cease to exist in the West End Riverside Parks Masterplan.
The Riverside section also is part of Brisbane's iconic River Ride - the 10, 20 or 30 km loops around Brisbane that showcases the natural beauty of Brisbane and its river. To lose this section significantly diminishes an internationally known cycling route of real class.
BCC's 2006 West End Riverside Parks Masterplan (379kb PDF) recognises the need for a good bikeway and the plan states that a 4 to 5 metre bikeway should be built. BQ argues that with the current usage, and more importantly with the 10,000 extra residents who will be living along this route in the next 10 years - nothing but a quality, direct cycle facility will do to encourage residents to cycle to the city. The Goodwill Bridge for instance is 6.5 metres wide.
BQ believes a quality, direct 6-metre bikeway (half the current road reserve) is the best way forward. It will be used then more safely and connect with other off-road bikeways downstream to Kangaroo Point and New Farm (strengthening the state government's recent Smart Cities proposal.)
BQ does not believe that a narrow or winding bikepath is an acceptable or safer option. In fact evidence shows cyclists are more likely to have accidents in these situations. Effectively closing this section, with a less than adequate facility, will be a retrograde step for cycling and bad for Brisbane's transport equation.
In fact, a 3-metre winding track would simply encourage cyclists to use the relatively straight pedestrian pathway beside the river! A poor outcome.
BQ suggests:
- that a 6 metre bikeway be installed - replacing the current 12.8m road reserve (currently bitumen and gravel)
- the bikeway be coloured concrete (sand or beige) to better blend in to the natural environment
- the bikeway be positioned hard along the eastern property boundaries, which will keep the rest of the parkway for walking, picnics etc.
Thank you to those that provided a submission to Council about the West End Riverside Parks Masterplan. Community feedback submissions closed on 7 September 2007, and the first planning stage for Masterplan Actions will begin in 2008.
For more information, or to download the West End Riverside Parks Masterplan Planning Scheme Policy documents, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search for "West End Parks".
More boardwalk repairs
The timber bridge which connects the Eagle St boardwalk with the Botanical Gardens in Brisbane's CBD was temporarily closed for repairs, Monday 20/8/07 to Saturday 25/8/07. All the wooden planks across the bridge were scheduled to be replaced.
The work happened between 8 am and 4.30pm and the bridge was be open during peak commuting times. While the works were being undertaken, a detour was be in place guiding cyclists from the Eagle St boardwalk along Margaret St and Edward St to the Botanical Gardens.
Aerial photo shows the bridge in question.
ALSO:
Repairs to the City Reach boardwalk were be carried out on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 August 2007.
The location of the works was on the boardwalk adjacent to 145 Eagle Street and 32 Macrossan Street between 8pm and 4am. Enquiries about this work should be directed to the Port of Brisbane on 07 3258 4888.
UK cycling promotion on YouTube
Following on from Governments in Australia promoting cycling as part of the solution to our planet's climate change woes, here's a advertisement that UK cycling groups have produced.
Climate change opens door for cycling
With Governments becoming more aware of climate-change issues in recent times, there is an increase in public profile of cycling for transport. Here are some of the initiatives BQ has noticed just lately:
- The Queensland Government has just launched a website on ClimateSmart Living. Here's a short quote from the 'Your Travel' page of that site: "Most of us have become dependent on a car, but driving less doesn't mean you have to stay at home. Can you walk or cycle instead of driving to the gym, pool or park? Can you travel to weekend sport by car-pooling or using public transport? Can you commute by public transport or car-pooling?"
- The Victorian Government's "Sustainability Victoria" agency funded the new ABC TV series Carbon Cops, which is presently going to air at 8pm on Tuesday evenings. Cycling often features on this show as a major solution in reducing carbon emissions from using motor vehicles to get to work or shops.
- The Queensland Government has released a report from its Smart State Council, titled "Smart Cities: rethinking the city centre" about how to transform Brisbane into a city that is better suited to "active transport" modes, i.e. walking and cycling.
[Posted 19 July 2007]
Single file on Port roads, bunch rides discouraged
The Port of Brisbane Corporation has issued a notice to cyclists that they must "ride only one abreast on all roads within the Port area". We think they mean single file. The designated area starts at the corner of Port Drive and Tanker St, and extends all the way around the Port, including Captain Bishop Bridge.
Also, cyclists must not "undertake speed trials, time trials, road races or any other form of competitive cycling on roads within the Port area". BQ believes this is also aimed at bunch rides, which might be interpreted as competitive, even when proceeding single file.
The Port of Brisbane Corporation advises that failure to comply with this notice is an offence which carries a maximum penalty of $1875. [Posted 22 June 07]
New edition of classic MTB book available
Gillian Duncan and the Gap Creek Trails Alliance have produced the third edition of "Where to Mountain Bike in South-East Queensland". This book is a must-have for anyone who rides off-road in the greater Brisbane area. It shows every legal trail in SEQ (even some in northern NSW) and gives details on who manages the various parks and forests that are open for mountain biking. Available now from Bicycle Queensland ($16/$20), and bike shops that specialise in mountain bike gear.
Eagle has landed
Bicycle Queensland has been advised that cyclists won't be banned from the Eagle St boardwalk, as good sense has prevailed. This is a tight and busy link in the Brisbane bike network, and BQ does urge all riders to go slow and be patient, as the vast majority of considerate users do. We will work to see improvements made to this link - with opportunities taken to remove some obstacles (planter boxes etc) and have this bike link enhanced.
Mt Coot-tha to stay 'as you are'
After consideration by Brisbane City Council and input from many, the popular Mt Coot-tha training loop (Sir Samuel Griffith Drive) will stay "as is". Plans for a one-way system were shelved due to cost, accessibility and safety concerns.
Bicycle Queensland does urge cyclists to respect the need for drivers (especially employees of the television stations) and to be considerate and allow overtaking whenever possible, but also urges drivers to not pass recklessly or be impatient on this popular cycling route. BQ will ask for signage to raise awareness that cyclists are to be expected on this key cycle training route.
Normanby gets a bonus
For ten years BQ has lobbied for the Normanby bike link to Roma Street Parklands under busy College Rd, and it is progressing on schedule for a mid-year opening.
More good news is that a southern link, giving direct passage from the bikeway to the southern side of College Road will go ahead as part of this project. This will improve access for riders leaving the City wanting to get to Petrie Terrace, Red Hill and suburbs beyond. Good work Queensland Transport for delivering this project.
Review of Rules of Association
Progress is being made toward a new set of Rules of Association for BQ. Much work has already been done, and the BQ Management Committee has established a sub-committee to capitalise upon that work and bring it to fruition. [more ...]