East-West bikeway route given approval by Adelaide City Council
UPDATED: A BIKEWAY connecting the East and West of Adelaide’s CBD now has an approved route.
A BIKEWAY connecting the East and West of Adelaide’s CBD has a confirmed route.
A study by the Adelaide City Council found a bikeway along Flinders St to Franklin St would provide a “low stress and comfortable experience” for cyclists, a route which was supported by councillors at the majority of councillors at a meeting on Tuesday night.
$5.5 million has been allocated for the design and construction of a bikeway between Dequetteville Tce and West Tce, in a funding deed between the council and State Government.
However the route would see the removal of car parks, as the bikeway would require changing all angle parking to parallel, is likely to impact on-street dining areas and right turns at intersections without a signal.
Councillor Phil Martin made an amendment to the motion to ensure there is a public consultation “including with adjacent owners and occupiers and other relevant stakeholders in finalising the design” for the bikeway.
He also requested that “administration seeks its (council’s) approval for the recommended final design including associated streetscaping improvements on the Flinders St Franklin St corridor”.
Two other potential routes included Pirie St-Waymouth St, which was deemed not wide enough to accommodate a bikeway, while Grote St-Wakefield St would be restricted by the closure of Victoria Square for events, 20 bus stops and Central Market loading arrangements.
Flinders St to Franklin St boasts half the amount of traffic making it safer for riders, would cater for 12,000 workers along the corridor, and has “more sites with development potential” according to the council report.
Councillors Alex Antic and Anne Moran raised concerns about the council forging ahead with another bikeway before the remediation of the Frome St bikeway, but were told by administration that council could not put the East West bikeway on hold because it had time frames it has to meet under its partnership with the State Government.