Darwin council hits brakes on plan to turn Casuarina Dr into shared bike lane

A PROPOSAL to convert a popular Darwin road into a temporary bike lane has been knocked back by Darwin councillors, who said no research had been done into the plan

Alderman Simon Niblock has suggested converting a lane of Casuarina Dr into a bike path from Nightcliff Jetty to the Beachfront Hotel. Picture: Glenn Campbell

A PROPOSAL to convert a popular Darwin road into a temporary bike lane has been knocked back by Darwin councillors, who said no research had been done into the plan.

The proposal would have seen the north lane of Casuarina Dr converted into a bike lane from Nightcliff Jetty to the Beachfront Hotel, freeing up space for pedestrians on the shared path and would allow for two-way access into each location.

Alderman Simon Niblock raised the proposal as a way of encouraging social distancing with the rise in popularity of the Nightcliff foreshore with pedestrians.

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“With the COVID-19 restrictions closing gyms and restaurants, many more people are now using the foreshore facilities for both recreation and socialisation,” he said.

“The foreshore shared path (Nightcliff and Rapid Creek) is busier than ever, with a significant increase in walkers, joggers, bikes and dogs, to the point that social distancing is not, and cannot, be adhered to.”

However alderman Emma Young queried the timing, given many of the foreshore’s users could return to the gym in a few days.

“This has come from nowhere, there’s been no studies and it’s been brought to council three days before gyms open up on Friday. That’s why people are on the foreshore. Because the gyms are closed,” she said.

“We’d also be doing something that could be dangerous, just using witches hats for safety, I can’t support this at all.”

Alderman Mick Palmer also opposed the idea and said there was nothing stopping cyclists from using the road at the moment.

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“If cyclists are the problem, there’s a simple solution. Ban them,” he said.

“They’re entitled to use the road. It’s a low speed road, I would doubt if the median speed is much more than 40km an hour.”