Cyclists want ‘bike express lane’ to get them from Mitcham into Adelaide’s CBD
ADELAIDE bike riders are ramping up calls for a faster and safer cycling route from the Adelaide foothills into the CBD. Here is where they want their “bike express lane”. What’s your view?
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BIKE riders are ramping up calls for a faster and safer cycling route between Mitcham and the city.
They want Mitcham Council to convert part of Rugby St, in Kingswood, into a ‘bike express lane’ that would link with Unley Council’s Rugby and Porter St bikeway.
It would give hills cyclists the option to use backstreets, rather than busy Belair Rd.
In May last year, Mitcham voted to spend $30,000 to investigate potential designs.
The council is expected to be briefed on the project tonight, ahead of making a decision later this month, according to a council spokeswoman.
Coromandel Valley resident and Bicycle Institute SA committee member Paul May said cyclists needed a “better option” for getting in and out of the city.
“(As the route is now) it is tiring and inconvenient and a lot of cyclists are going to use the main road because it is quicker,” Mr May said.
“Sometimes I use Rugby and Porter streets when I have a lot of time, but if I was in a hurry I use Belair Rd.
“The express lane would be more appealing to people … because it would be faster.”
The Mitcham section of the bike lane would run from Cross Rd to North Parade and would cost about $100,000, jointly funded by the council and State Government.
If the plan goes ahead, give way priorities would be changed on Rugby St to give cyclists heading to and from the city a clear run.
Left-hand turns from Cross Rd on to Rugby St would be banned to reduce the number of cars using the street.
Keith Baldry, speaking on behalf of a group of cyclists who commute into the city, said Mitcham needed to give more priority to cycling tracks.
He said although the Rugby St project would not solve all bike safety issues in the hills, it would make the ride safer and smoother.
“The more people you can get to use more dedicated bike routes rather than mixing with traffic, the safer it is,” Ms Baldry said.
“What we should be aiming for is separating (vehicles and bikes) through better infrastructure.”
RAA Road Safety senior manger Charles Mountain said the project would create a “low-stress route” for cyclists.
Mitcham Mayor Glenn Spear said any changes should not inconvenience local residents.
“We still need to be sympathetic to traffic movements because we have residents who also need to be able to get in and out of their homes,” Mr Spear said.
