Brisbane City Council receives calls to close some CBD streets to traffic to improve safety

CARS could be banned from parts of the Brisbane CBD if the city council takes action over thousands of responses to a plan to improve pedestrian safety. But motorists aren’t the only ones in the firing line, with alfresco dining facing possible reductions, too.

ROAD closures, reducing alfresco dining and widening footpaths are among the hundreds of suggestions submitted to Brisbane City Council to improve pedestrian safety in the city’s CBD.

There were calls among for the closure of Albert Street between Elizabeth and/or Charlotte and Mary Street on the Brisbane City Council’s Move Safe survey to improve pedestrian safety.

Overall, there were 3544 pedestrian respondents across the council’s region with the CBD topping the chart with 417 suggestions while there 156 for Southbank and 129 for Stones Corner.

The CBD intersection that attracted a high number of respondents (19) was the corner of Ann and Creek streets while corner of George and Elizabeth streets (18) was also of concern.

Motoring lobby group the RACQ said it’s only a matter of time before road closures occur and the CBD is pedestrianised.

The corner of Adelaide and Edward streets has been flagged as a concern over pedestrian safety. Picture: AAP image, John Gass

RACQ spokesman Paul Turner said there will be a major transformation of the CBD in favour of pedestrians when several projects are complete, not the least the Cross River Rail station in Albert Street

“When the Cross River Rail opens on Albert Street this will significantly change our usage around that area,” Mr Turner said.

“It’s not just on the cards (Albert Street will close), it will happen and motorists need to understand access to the CBD will change … and we will see the pedestrianisation of the streets.

“It doesn’t do anyone any good for motorists to say ‘it should stay the way it should’ it’s just not going to.’

He said scramble crossing, that allow pedestrians to cross in all directions at once, will soon become more prevalent although they will slow traffic movements.

Besides closing Albert Street, respondents to the BCC’s survey wanted outdoor dining to be removed or cut back along while the widening of footpaths was another want.

The survey comes at a time when pedestrian safety has hit a crisis point in Brisbane.

An alarming number of pedestrian and injuries and deaths on Queensland’s roads has prompted a safety campaign.

Queensland Police superintendent Ivan Sikorsky said on Tuesday that the campaign is targeting at distracted pedestrians.

“Pedestrians share the road with vehicles, but have no protection in an impact,” he said.

Councillor Amanda Cooper, who heads the council’s infrastructure committee, said they were looking at the data from their survey to determine why incidents were occurring and what can be done to stop them.

“Over the four week survey, close to 6,400 pins were added across Brisbane, highlighting road safety concerns,” Cr Cooper said.

“Council is now reviewing all responses, which will inform its Pedestrian Safety Review and a number of practical changes to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety across Brisbane.

“Motorists turning across a pedestrian crossing was a major concern for pedestrians, nominating 622 locations where this was compromising safety.”

CBD HOT SPOTS

19 comments: Cnr Ann St & Creek St

18 comments: Cnr George St & Elizabeth St

18 comments: Cnr Edward St & Adelaide Street.