Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Northbourne bikes set to go off-road
BY EWA KRETOWICZASSEMBLY REPORTER
23 Apr, 2010 08:39 AM

Moving bicycles off-road on to widened footpaths is the first part of an ACT Government proposal that could see buses driving down the middle of Northbourne Avenue.

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said $4.5million would be allocated in next month's budget to improve congestion on the capital's main thoroughfare.

''In the upcoming budget we will fund a design study on the initial set-up of developing a bus-only or transit lane on Northbourne Avenue,'' Mr Stanhope said. ''At this stage we are giving serious consideration to moving the on-road cycle paths on to the pathways, but we would reconstruct the pathways double their width if that is the decision we take.''

He said the funding was part of a sustainable transport action plan, Transport for Canberra, to make bus travel more attractive to commuters.

Currently more than 50,000 people travel on Northbourne Avenue every day.

''The possibilities are closing one of the lanes [going] either way and turning them into a transit lane. The other is to build a dedicated bus lane down the median and adopt a tidal arrangement that buses travel south in the morning and north in the evening.''

Mr Stanhope said Canberrans would be consulted before work began.

''We haven't decided on a final way forward. What we are signalling is that we intend to bite the bullet over the next one to three years ... [to] provide significantly enhanced public transport measures along Northbourne Avenue,'' Mr Stanhope said.

''I don't believe at the moment there is a way around a dedicated lane for buses, whether we build [it] on-road or whether we construct a new bus-only lane on the median.

''At this stage we have funded the design of an off-road dual shared cycleway footpath with a view to then determining how best to achieve either a single busway or an on road transit lane.''

mrgolf wrote:Sharing paths will kill cycling commuting.....and pedestrians who often wander around in the dark drinking VB stubbies. I regularly hit 45kmh along Northbourne.

Rotorburn wrote:Dear John,

I was glad to read in the Canberra Times, 23 April 2010, that there is thought about the way in which cyclists and buses travel Northbourne Avenue.

As you would be aware, the number of trips made by cyclists into Civic increases 64% in the past six years. Since the installation of cycle lanes on Northbourne in 2004, the number of trips on that road increased by 372.5% and riding on the roads is significantly safer for cyclists.

I am sure that your government supports cycling, especially given all the benefits associated with it, including the associated reduction in:
• transport costs - especially petrol;
• greenhouse gas emissions; and
• traffic and parking congestion.

The greatest benefit also being an increase in the health of the general population and a reduction in health problems, especially those related to obesity. Given the recent COAG focus on health reform and maximising the benefits for all Australians from the current health system, this is especially pertinent.

I note that the ACT Government’s Sustainable Transport Plan aims to more than double the proportion of journeys to work by bicycle between 2001 and 2011. A great way to met this target would be make sure that cycling is a competitive and relatively safe alternative to driving. On road cycle lanes aid in this endeavour because roads:
• have a full network coverage;
• are often more direct (and thus, quicker);
• they maintain priority at intersections;
• are lit at night; and
• are often, in better condition than shared pathways and cycle paths.

I would refer you to the ACT Department of Territory and Municipal Services' Ten year Master Plan for Trunk Cycling & Walking Path Infrastructure 2004-14. The report notes that a new off-road path, like that proposed in the Canberra times article, would cost $138,000 per Km, whilst on-road cycle lanes (where there is no widening) costs $20,000 per Km. It seems a waste to construct an new path, that would be more expensive than the current (if it was not already constructed and thus zero cost, also cheaper) alternative. In fact, it seems a double waste of taxpayers' money.

The danger in any proposal that removes on road cycle lanes and widens shared pathways on Northbourne appears to be that cyclists are expected to share a (widened) footpath with pedestrians, rather than having a dedicated lane of their own. Some riders will do this, but others will use the the fastest/most efficient route and stay on the road (where they are currently legally entitled to do), except that now there is no dedicated lane for them and they will be mingling with traffic, including buses directly. It is exactly this situation, riders on the road without dedicated lanes, that made road riding so dangerous. In ten years of 1989-1998 11 cyclists died on our roads. In next ten years that followed, 1999-2008, when on road cycle lanes were much more common, only 2 cyclists died on our roads.

Shared pathways that run along roads can in fact be more dangerous for cyclists than on road cycle lanes, as there are driveways, building entrances and walkers to avoid.

I would like to see the lane on Northbourne Avenue nearest the median being a bus only one, with incorporated stops and safe passages for pedestrians to access them and the retention the current on road dedicated cycle commuting lanes. This seems the most effective, efficient and intelligent solution to ensure that cycling and public transport increasingly become competitive and safe alternative to travelling by cars.

Yours sincerely,

psike wrote: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/lo ... 13377.aspx

I was probably as shocked as you when Mr Stanhope said that he wanted to
ban bikes from Northbourne Avenue. FYI I am a regular Northbourne
Avenue bike commuter using the on-road bike lane. I totally agree with
your comments re shared paths and in fact said that and more (lack of
right of way on drive ways and intersections) in an interview on Win TV
the day Mr Stanhope's announcement came out. Win TV chose not to run
that however.

What the Greens want to see is better bike provision for Northbourne
Avenue. We have suggested one option being a bike path in the median
strip but this would not replace the existing on-road lane.
"Copenhagen" style bike lanes would also be a good idea.

twizzle wrote:

psike wrote: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/lo ... 13377.aspx

Feck! Read the comments.

twizzle wrote:

psike wrote: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/lo ... 13377.aspx

Feck! Read the comments.

twizzle wrote:There have been a number of occasions where I've been moving up the traffic towards a red light when it's gone green and cars have turned across the cycle lane without indicating or looking.

TheSkyMovesSideways wrote:

twizzle wrote:There have been a number of occasions where I've been moving up the traffic towards a red light when it's gone green and cars have turned across the cycle lane without indicating or looking.

If you're coming up behind them and they're turning left, you're obligated to give way to them.

TheSkyMovesSideways wrote:I wouldn't bet on that to prevent a collision, or to protect you if they do turn left.

The road rules (Part 11, Div 3, 141(2)) say, "The rider of a bicycle must not ride past, or overtake, to the left of a vehicle that is turning left and is giving a left change of direction signal." Given that, and the fact that bike lanes are not usually marked through intersection, I don't think it's at all clear that you have right of way.

mrgolf wrote:If they go and it makes it harder for cyclists to commute efficiently, wont it just cause more congestion when cyclists get back in their cars? These idiots should have a think about the consequences of their prejudices.

twizzle wrote:

mrgolf wrote:If they go and it makes it harder for cyclists to commute efficiently, wont it just cause more congestion when cyclists get back in their cars? These idiots should have a think about the consequences of their prejudices.

I had to drive to Fyshwick today. 50 f'in minutes from Spence. I can ride to Hume in 45!

If we decide (cyclists of Canberra, that is) to have a "day of action", we should all drive in to Civic at 6:30am and fill the carparks on London Circuit and then bus-off for the rest of the day. I think people will get the hint when they are short a few hundred parking spaces.

PS - I'm ahead of you again on BJ.

mrgolf wrote:

twizzle wrote:

mrgolf wrote:If they go and it makes it harder for cyclists to commute efficiently, wont it just cause more congestion when cyclists get back in their cars? These idiots should have a think about the consequences of their prejudices.

I had to drive to Fyshwick today. 50 f'in minutes from Spence. I can ride to Hume in 45!

If we decide (cyclists of Canberra, that is) to have a "day of action", we should all drive in to Civic at 6:30am and fill the carparks on London Circuit and then bus-off for the rest of the day. I think people will get the hint when they are short a few hundred parking spaces.

PS - I'm ahead of you again on BJ.

I like the idea.

As for BJ, my roadie is derailleur hanger-less. No fair. Im calling shenanigans. I have been stuck on my MTB which is much harder to cover kms on.