RACQ reveals southeast Qld’s most complained-about bikeways, footpaths

The top five southeast Queensland suburbs where people hate their local bikeways and footpaths have been revealed. The RACQ’s first ever “off road’’ survey turned up some surprises. SEE THE LIST

Five suburbs have topped the RACQ’s first “off road’’ survey of problem bikeways and footpaths.

Surprisingly, Tarragindi in Brisbane’s southside topped the list for the most complaints, with 80 people identifying a range of issues.

Toowong, a high-density suburb with many university and school students reliant on bicycles, e-scooters or walking, came in at second place with 29 complaints, particularly about busy Sylvan Rd.

The CBD was third (23 complaints), followed by inner-north Wooloowin (19) and Nerang on the Gold Coast (16).

RACQ Transport Planning and Infrastructure Advisor Tim Mitchell said hundreds of Queenslanders responded to the club’s inaugural pathway survey.

BrisWest Bicycle Users Group co-convenor Chris Cox at the Quinn Rd intersection on Sylvan Rd in Toowong. Picture: Chris Higgins

He said the pathway network surrounding Wellers Hill State School in Tarragindi received more complaints than any other piece of active transport infrastructure in the state.

“One of the biggest concerns identified by Tarragindi residents was a lack of footpaths to

accommodate school traffic on Chamberlain St and pedestrian crossings,” Mr Mitchell said.

“This is a popular local primary school with more than 900 students.

“However, our survey has revealed there is a deficiency in safe and accessible pathways which makes it difficult for parents and children to get around.”

Mr Mitchell said Toowong was also a hotspot for pathway issues, with residents describing on-road bike lanes on Sylvan Rd as “narrow and intimidating”.

Council completed a $45 million over-river bike and pedestrian link next to narrow, winding Twigg St in Indooroopilly a few years ago.

Parri Gregory on the Veloway’s Holland Park stretch when it opened. Picture: Jeff Camden

Transport minister Mark Bailey meanwhile revealed a week ago that consultation had begun for a (potentially) separated bikeway along Moggill Rd from Chapel Hill to Kenmore after a number of high-profile fatalities, including Richard Pollett whose death sparked the 1.5m safe passing distance law.

Mr Bailey, a keen cyclist, was also instrumental in delivering the Veloway, the biggest bikeway ever built in Brisbane, which stretches from Tarragindi to the CBD at South Bank.

“In Brisbane’s CBD, safety issues were commonly highlighted around competition for footpath space and a desire for more pathway connections,’’ he said.

“In Wooloowin the major problem was the ending of the separated cycle path along the Northern Bikeway, where it transitions to an on-road bicycle lane at Price St.

“On the Gold Coast, Nerang attracted the most responses with residents saying they wanted a more connected footpath network.”

The RACQ said active infrastructure was coming under more demand due to the rise of walking, e-scooters, e-bikes and cycling.

The survey results have been forwarded to councils and the State Government in a bid to

improve Queensland’s active transport networks.

For a map of the full survey results visit: https://www.racq.com.au/saferpathwayssurvey