Greens lord mayoral candidate Ben Pennings. Photo: Michelle Smith
The Greens have fired their first major salvo in their bid for City Hall, with a $6 million plan for segregated CBD bike lanes.
Greens lord mayoral candidate Ben Pennings said the party's "Safer CBD Roads" policy would create a grid of separated bike lanes throughout the inner-city.
The Greens believe segregated bikeways in the Brisbane CBD would increase bike traffic while reducing injuries. Photo: Supplied
"Cyclists and motorists prefer to be separated to avoid fear, conflict and collisions," he said.
"Separated bike lanes allow more people to cycle and reduces road congestion for everyone.
"Central Sydney's separated bike lanes doubled the number of cyclists on the road, and injuries to cyclists still reduced."
The Greens' plan for segregated bikeways in the Brisbane CBD. Photo: Supplied
Mr Pennings said the plan would allow cyclists to ride safely within two blocks of any CBD location.
"Our plan will breathe life into the floundering CityCycle program too, making cycling safe for both residents and tourists," he said.
"Commuters can simply touch on with their Go Card and cycle the first or final part of their journey safely separated from city traffic."
Earlier this month, following an inquest into the death of Danish student Rebekka Meyer at Woolloongabba, coroner Christine Clements recommended that Brisbane City Council engage with cyclist advocacy groups to plan more dedicated exclusive bikeways across Brisbane, as a matter of priority.
Mr Pennings said cyclists' infrastructure could help prevent similar accidents.
"This isn't a cyclist or a motorist problem. It's a political problem," he said.
"Thousands want to ride to work or university but are too scared, particularly women.
"Only 19 per cent of Brisbane cyclists are women, the lowest of all capital cities."
The council's active transport chairman Peter Matic announced a peak hour cycling lane trial for Sylvan Road, Toowong, on Wednesday.
But cycling advocates CBD Bike Users Group co-convenor Richard Bean said while that was a step in the right direction, physically segregated lanes were needed.
"Other cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are building physically segregated bikeways but Brisbane is so far behind," he said.
"We have 200 metres in George Street and that's it."
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