Burnside Council dumps plan to build designated bicycle routes into the CBD

A CYCLING plan designed to get cars off the road, reduce accidents and encourage children to ride to schools across Adelaide’s east has been scrapped — because it failed to meet any of those targets.

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A CYCLING plan designed to get cars off the road, reduce accidents and encourage children to ride to schools across Burnside has been scrapped – because it failed to meet any of those targets.

Burnside Council last week voted unanimously to slam the brakes on the bike plan it endorsed five years ago.

The council is blaming plummeting participation rates, community opposition to separated bikeways and the “reality” that cycling is dangerous.

But the brains behind the strategy says Burnside should have done more to promote the plan, while Bike SA has described the move as a “new low for Adelaide councils”.

The council unveiled the $680,000 bike strategy in 2012 as the key to reaching long-term goals of reducing traffic crashes and increasing activity around its shopping and recreation precincts.

The plan was centred on the creation of four “super routes” – designated bikeways that linked the district’s suburbs and schools to the CBD.

The bikeways – with extra signage, bike parking and some separated lanes – were designed to be suitable for “eight to 80 year olds”, making them a safe travel option.

But the wheels began to fall off in 2014 when the council abandoned plans for the first super route through Rose Park and Toorak Gardens after a backlash from local residents.

None of the other routes were subsequently pursued.

A staff report to last week’s meeting showed the council had struggled to implement any aspects of the plan, and had failed to reach – or even get close – to any of its targets.

Total traffic crashes rose by 100 per cent and car volumes remained steady, or in some areas increased, in the five years since the plan was endorsed, according to the report.

The report also highlighted a national cycling survey which found the number of bike trips in SA had dropped by 47 per cent from 2011-2015.

Cr Peter Ford, who led calls for the plan to be scrapped, said the strategy’s failure was a reflection of the “unfortunate reality” of cycling in Adelaide.

“I think the reality is that … safety issues have overwhelmed most parents in regards to their children cycling to school,” Cr Ford told the meeting.

“I think, as well, many adults have indicated that they would like to cycle but again they fear the safety issues.”

Cr Di Wilkins agreed, saying she was “absolutely delighted” the vision had been dumped.

But Bicycle Institute of SA chair Fay Patterson – whose firm Hub Traffic and Transport created Burnside’s cycling strategy – said the council’s decision was “very, very disappointing”.

Ms Patterson said the council had for too long “sat on its hands”, accusing them of lacking the “internal will” to invest in cycling infrastructure in the face of resistance from residents.

“The problem is that they have these broad motherhood statements, but then they just do not do anything about it,” Ms Patterson said.

Bike SA chief executive Christian Haag said the council was failing its resident by scrapping the cycling plan.

“This sets a new low for a Adelaide metropolitan council,” Mr Haag said.

“They are abrogating their responsibility to provide their residents with equitable and safe access to multi-modal transport options.”

Burnside chief executive Paul Deb would not comment on what – if any – aspects of the strategy had been implemented, but said the council had contributed $110,000 towards a plan to create a designated bicycle route on Beulah Rd, between Fullarton and Glynburn roads.

Mr Deb said another $30,000 on signs and line marking around the district.

He said the council had and would continue to work with schools to “promote and encourage” cycling – but did not provide specific details.