Cycling advocate slams state government, Brisbane City Council over intersection where Carolyn Lister died

A cycling advocacy group says the state government’s response to the coroner’s report into the death of Carolyn Lister is “weak and shows lack of leadership” and Brisbane City Council’s response was “disingenuous”.

The state government has been labelled “weak” after its response to the coroner’s report into the death of a Brisbane nurse as she cycled to work.

The coronial inquest into 50-year-old Carolyn Lister’s “tragic and unnecessary” 2020 death revealed a tip-truck driver did not see her cycling in the truck’s blind spot when he hit and killed her.

Brisbane nurse Carolyn Lister was killed while cycling in 2020. Picture: Facebook

She was just metres from her workplace, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, at the intersection of O’Connell Tce and Bowen Bridge Rd, Bowen Hills.

The coroner’s report into Ms Lister’s death came almost 10 years after an inquest into the death of Danish student Rebekka Meyer, who was cycling on Annerley Rd in 2014.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said his department supported safety changes being made by the federal government in the heavy-vehicle sector.

Carolyn Lister was killed instantly when she was hit by a truck on her way to work. The driver did not see her because of a large blind spot.

Cyclist Carolyn Lister was killed just metres from her workplace, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, at the intersection of O’Connell Tce and Bowen Bridge Rd, Bowen Hills.

“Any fatality on our roads is a tragedy … Australian states and territories are moving towards a nationally regulated heavy-vehicle sector, via the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator,” he said.

“The Australian government has recently announced a suite of Australian design rule (ADR) changes that related to safer freight vehicles.”

Space 4 Cycling Brisbane spokesman Mitch Bright said the response from Mr Bailey in following the federal government’s lead on safety showed a “lack of leadership”.

“The first responsibility of government is to protect their citizens … the response that they are waiting for the federal government and regulators to do something is weak,” he said.

A memorial for cyclist Carolyn Lister near the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Picture: Space 4 Cycling Brisbane

“Considering Queensland led the nation on safe passing regulations, it is beyond disappointing that both state and council have done nothing.

“If the government won’t enforce the current truck safety standards, more safety standards are unlikely to help.”

Brisbane City Council Transport chairman Ryan Murphy said council had reviewed the intersection “to better understand any future improvements to safety and accessibility in the area”.

“Carolyn’s death was a tragedy and my heart goes out to her family and loved ones … we take safety of all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians, incredibly seriously,” he said.

Mr Murphy said the responsibility of upgrading the intersections paths and crossings ultimately lay with the state government.

“I am eager to work collaboratively to progress this and better understand how it would work in with plans for the state government-managed priority development area,” he said.

Carolyn Lister was a nurse at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Picture: Facebook

Mr Bright said council’s response that it was unable to progress in making the intersection safer was “disingenuous”.

“The council could by now have budgeted and drawn up plans for a safer intersection design and submitted to the state for funding,” he said.

“Council have drawn up preliminary designs but they do nothing for pedestrian and cyclists safety.”

There are further safety concerns for the busy intersection as construction of the new $750m Queensland Cancer Centre could see an additional roughly 2500 workers and visitors a day.

It is understood there will be no new carparking as part of the development, encouraging people to walk, ride or take public transport to the building.

At this stage, there are no plans for how the intersection will be upgraded to accommodate this development.