Cyclists hit back after mayor labels them a ‘Greens mouthpiece’

Brisbane City Council should not lash volunteers with “outrageous” criticism, but show respect, the convenor of a cycling group has told the city’s leaders.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner stunned many cyclists in May when he described the “bicycle user groups”, known as BUGs, as mouthpieces for the Greens.

His comment was triggered by Greens councillor Trina Massey’s questioning of the LNP council about dedicated bike lanes on Nudgee Road, where 12 months earlier, a rider was killed in a crash with a truck.

Mary Doolan says Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner should not have used National Volunteer Week to criticise the work of her volunteer organisation.

Shortly after Schrinner’s speech, BUG members asked for a right of reply. On Tuesday, Mary Doolan, co-convenor of the Brisbane CBD and Brisbane South BUGs and a member of Bicycle Queensland, was given the opportunity to respond in council chambers.

A public servant for more than 30 years, Doolan said it was offensive to hear her groups derided as political mouthpieces, and to hear Schrinner say the BUGs had lost their credibility.

“As a long-term former public servant, I have always been apolitical, and I have carried that on into my work as a volunteer,” Doolan told this masthead before speaking to councillors.

“I never show any disrespect towards any politicians or anyone working in government. To be honest, to be labelled like that was just incredibly offensive.

“And I think all the people volunteering for the BUGs found the comments outrageous.”

Brisbane’s BUGs sit under a broader commuter group called Space for Cycling Brisbane.

Doolan said none of the Brisbane BUG convenors were members of political parties, but they lobbied politicians of all types for cycling improvements.

“If someone has a good idea, we will support it. If they don’t, or they’re doing nothing, we have to call that out as well,” she said.

“And we do that respectfully and robustly. All we want is some respect back.

“The fact is, we are all volunteers … we do this because we are passionate about making sure people have somewhere safe to ride.”

After Doolan addressed the council, transport committee chair Ryan Murphy praised her recent meetings with Deputy Mayor Krista Adams to make cycling improvements around Brisbane.

However, he said some BUG members had been making “party-political” comments.

“We have been accused of being corrupt or shady, when bikeways are not supported by residents in [some] communities,” Murphy said.

“We’ve been accused of having blood on our hands every time a cyclist is tragically killed on our roads.”

Murphy said he welcomed robust debate but criticised name-calling on social media while police investigations were ongoing.

“We do think some BUG groups have lost credibility because of the tone and the tenor of their advocacy, not the advocacy itself,” he said.

“The experience you have with Cr Adams is not the experience all councillors have with BUG groups. We will take the feedback on board, but I hope you will also convey our feedback to some of your members.”