Queensland’s first ‘active transport street’ opens in Toowoomba, as cyclists press for expansion of network

It’s painted differently, has a reduced speed limit and features new road rules – here’s how Queensland’s first ‘active transport street’ will work and why cyclists are hoping to build on it:

Councillor Carol Taylor speaks to media as Pierce St in South Toowoomba is launched as Queensland's first active street – where bicycles have equal rights to cars, Friday, June 21, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Toowoomba is home to Queensland’s first “active transport street” that will see bikes and motorists treated equally — but cycling advocates say it needs to be just the start of the journey.

The council on Friday officially opened Pierce Street in South Toowoomba as an active transport corridor, featuring differently-coloured roads, a lowered speed limit to 30km/h, speed humps, additional streetscaping and designated overtaking spaces.

Under the new rules of the short residential street, accessed by roughly 50 residents, cyclists are given priority and are allowed to ride single file or two abreast in the centre of the lane.

Motorists are only allowed to overtake them if it is safe and must not exceed the 30km/h speed limit.

Andrew Demack of Bicycle Queensland on Pierce St in South Toowoomba as it is launched as Queensland's first active street – where bicycles have equal rights to cars, Friday, June 21, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Transport and drainage spokeswoman councillor Carol Taylor said the nearly-$800,000 project, included as part of upgrades to the West Creek active transport network, would start to change the relationship between cars and bikes on council roads.

“We’re excited to introduce this to Toowoomba. We think this will be the first of many active transport streets in the Toowoomba region,” she said on Friday.

“We chose Pierce Street as it has low-traffic flow, direct connections to our principal cycle network which runs up to the City Golf Club and caters for those commuting for work or shopping as well as leisure.

“The 30km speed limit will help all road users maintain a safe environment for residents and those travelling through the street.”

While Ms Taylor acknowledged the project was not a request from advocacy bodies like the Toowoomba Region Bicycle Users Group (TRBUG), she believed it would not be the last street built.

Pierce St in South Toowoomba is launched as Queensland's first active street – where bicycles have equal rights to cars, Friday, June 21, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“We look forward to it being an ongoing change to improve our community’s transport networks for the safety of all users,” she said.

“We are changing, we’re more accepting of slower speed limits, safer travel and more people who want to feel safe on their cycles.

“There are other projects being worked on by TMR, they’re bringing a cycleway in from Glenvale into the city, so that’s in progress.

“It takes a long time to work through these things, you’ve got to have community support and work out safety issues.”

Councillor Carol Taylor speaks to media as Pierce St in South Toowoomba is launched as Queensland's first active street – where bicycles have equal rights to cars, Friday, June 21, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

It is understood at least two projects for active transport streets in far busier parts of Toowoomba have been delayed by years, primarily due to the cost of the Cressbrook Dam safety upgrades.

TRBUG representative Hugh Wilson said while he was not as enthusiastic about the street upgrade as the council, he said the active street offered a path forward towards more transformative projects in the years ahead.

“We take from this street the 30km zone, which can be applied elsewhere in Toowoomba — we think that’s a very big positive,” he said.

“What we asked were priority crossings on Spring, Stenner and Alderley Streets that would connect the West Creek cycleway.

“The priority crossings, which would include speed reductions for those streets, would do more than Pierce Street ever could.”

Cyclist Hugh Wilson on Pierce St in South Toowoomba as it is launched as Queensland's first active street – where bicycles have equal rights to cars, Friday, June 21, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

While he also urged the council to continue developing active transport infrastructure, Bicycle Queensland representative Andrew Demack said the upgrade directly improved safety for cyclists.

“Bike riders when they leave their homes, unlike car drivers, have to work out the safe route they can take, whereas a car driver jumps in their car and can go anywhere,” he said.

“What this sort of stuff is good for is linking up bits of existing safe routes that don’t connect.

“You could argue you could do it without the fancy treatment, but what it does provide is legitimacy for the bike riders.

“What we’d like to see every Toowoomba resident have the choice to ride their bikes safely.”