Holdfast Bay Council to consider banning bikes from footpaths on Jetty Rd, Glenelg

CYCLISTS would be banned from riding on the footpaths of one of Adelaide’s busiest shopping strips if a local councillor gets her way.

Holdfast Bay resident and cyclist Wade Matheson supports adult cyclists riding on the Jetty Rd footpaths. Picture: Keryn Stevens.

• Bikes on footpaths could be banned near main roads in Adelaide’s northeast
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• Parking and up-market shops and restaurants will help Glenelg continue to thrive

BIKES would be banned from Jetty Rd footpaths if a local councillor gets her way.

Holdfast Bay councillor Amanda Wilson said the Glenelg shopping strip was too “narrow and crowded” for cyclists to ride on and there were already “too many near misses and accidents”.

“On one occasion a bike was travelling quickly down the western end of Jetty Rd, in front of the cafes, and narrowly missed a pram,” Cr Wilson said.

“Residents and businesses have raised it as a safety issue.”

She will push for the ban at next week’s council meeting.

The State Government in October introduced laws to allow all cyclists to ride on footpaths.

Somerton Ward councillor Amanda Wilson. Picture: Calum Robertson.

Councils can choose to nominate certain areas where bikes are not allowed. If the Holdfast Bay proposal is supported, it would be the first bikes on footpath ban in Adelaide.

Adelaide City Council has separate powers to ban cyclists from places such as Rundle Mall.

Holdfast Bay would simply have to put up signs on Jetty Rd’s footpaths saying bikes were banned.

Jetty Rd forms the final section of the Mike Turtur Bikeway from the city to Moseley Square.

Rather than being funnelled onto Jetty Rd, Cr Wilson said cyclists could be encouraged to instead use Augusta St – where there were already bike lanes – to get to the beach.

“There needs to be a designated bike path to link the two bikeways,” she said.

“Perhaps the footpath on Brighton Rd to Augusta St can be shared and then a designated green bike path (installed) down Augusta St.

“Alternatively, now that the buses are out of High St, there could be a designated bike lane there.

“This could encourage more kids to ride to the school.”

Somerton Park resident Wade Matheson, who runs a Facebook page called Safer Adelaide Cycling did not believe it was appropriate for adult cyclists to ride on the footpaths on Jetty Rd.

“It’s just not appropriate for cyclists to ride up and down (the footpaths in that) precinct, especially with the number of pedestrians roaming around,” Mr Matheson said.

He said however, that he understood parents allowing their children to do so for safety reasons.

Extreme Boardriders shop manager Gareth Williams, who last month raised the issue of cyclists crashing after getting their wheels stuck in the Jetty Rd tram tracks, said the council should speak to cyclists before banning them on footpaths.

Jetty Rd shoppers supported the idea.

Clare Knight, 53, said elderly people were “freaked out” by cyclists on footpaths.

“Jetty Rd is for ambling, stopping and looking,” she said.

“I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder all the time and we like to walk our dogs.”

Bev Taylor, 67, said it was a “great idea”.

“They’re just riding too fast and they ding their bell and it doesn’t register there’s a cyclist coming up behind,” she said.

What do you think of the idea of banning bikes from the footpaths on Jetty Rd, Glenelg? Leave your comment below.