Brisbane City Council redesigns North Brisbane Bikeway to save parking

UPROAR at the loss of parking along a north Brisbane street for a bikeway has forced Brisbane City Council to redesign the project. But cyclists say the old design is the better option.

The North Brisbane Bikeway has been a controversial issue for months. Picture: Ellen-Maree Elliot

UPROAR at the loss of parking along a north Brisbane street for a controversial bikeway has forced Brisbane City Council to redesign the project.

It is the latest step forward for the North Brisbane Bikeway forward after it was stalled in a political stalemate between the council and state government.

The proposed alternative for the North Brisbane Bikeway’s fifth stage would turn west at Chalk St to connect to the Kedron Brook Bikeway, with a loss of about six parking spaces.

The original went north via Dickson St and Kent Rd and would have required the loss of 100 parking spaces, but cyclists say the original route is still their preferred option.

A map shows where parking would be lost on the original design (blue route) and the new proposal (red route). Picture: Brisbane City Council

Brisbane City Council unveiled its revised plan this morning, which will mostly be a combination of a shared street and two-way cycle track, along Wellington St and Bradshaw St.

Public and Active Transport chairman Adrian Schrinner said parking losses had been “the most controversial thing” when the original plans were revealed to the public.

“It was mainly the parking loss that was the concern both for residents and businesses,” he said.

Public and Active Transport chairman Adrian Schrinner.

The council is responsible for building stage five of the North Brisbane Bikeway, while the State Government has built stage one, and will build stages two, three and four.

Cr Schrinner said the council’s new design would link in with Lutwyche Bus Station and Lutwyche Centro, as well as presenting “significant cost savings” for the State Government.

The potential design options for the new proposed route for stage five of the North Brisbane Bikeway. Picture: Brisbane City Council

North Brisbane Bicycle User Group co-convener Andrew Methorst said the new design would be a good branch of the North Brisbane Bikeway but should not be the main trunk.

“We would like the North Brisbane Bikeway to go north,” he said.

“If you’re from the northwest of Brisbane, it’s a great connection for you but if you’re from the north, it’s not a direct route.”

He said the route did have benefits but that the major bikeway was supposed to connect into Chermside Shopping Centre, not Lutwyche.

“Our suspicion is they got some negative feedback about the number of car parks being lost to stage five, and this would avoid that,” he said.

A map comparing pedestrian conflicts between the two proposed routes. Picture: Brisbane City Council

Airport Bicycle User Group convener Mitchell Bright said the changed route would not assist people who commuted by bike to the airport, trade coast and surrounding industrial estates.

“Dickson St is the route we go down at the moment, it’s a car-door zone - you’re always worried someone’s going to open a car door on you,” he said.

“The older route promised to fix up quite a bit of Dixon St but this one won’t fix any of it and won’t get you any closer to the airport.”

The Department of Main Roads and Transport has been contacted for comment.