Biking around Brisbane can be a great way to see the city, or simply get from point A to B, and there is about 1700 kilometres of bike ways planned for the city by 2031.
Fairfax Media spoke with a Brisbane cyclist as well as one of Queensland's leading cycling groups to find out what it's like to cycle in Brisbane and how to survive the streets of Brisbane on a bike.
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We take a peak hour ride from Kenmore Village in Brisbane's western suburbs to the CBD along one of the city's most dangerous roads for cyclists.
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Cycling on Moggill Road
We take a peak hour ride from Kenmore Village in Brisbane's western suburbs to the CBD along one of the city's most dangerous roads for cyclists.
Newstead resident and avid cyclist Katie Panaretto has had her fair share of near misses with cars but still jumps on her bike as a fun and fast way to get around.
Ms Panaretto said in comparison to elsewhere in the world cycling in Brisbane was safer than Sydney, worse than the Netherlands and about the same as Britain and the United States.
"Too many cars still do not respect cyclists, or just don't think about the cyclists as another form of moving vehicle," she said.
"We really need to adopt European best practice on our neighbourhood streets – so 30 kilometres per on residential streets, through roads at 50 kilometres per hour."
When it came to pedalling around Brisbane, both as a commuter and for leisure, her top five tips were:
- Plan your route carefully
- Use a basket and get some good lights
- Do a river cycle regularly with coffee afterwards
- Use cycleways wherever possible
- Go out and have some electronic device-free fun
Bicycle QLD chief executive Ben Wilson said while the council and state government had provided some bikeways, they were not everywhere and so riders would inevitably be on the streets as well.
"Our greatest tip is to never 'go for it' when dealing with motor traffic, simply cars are big and heavy and unforgiving," Mr Wilson said.
"Their drivers are human and make mistakes – such as not concentrating, taking risks and using mobile phones.
"So when on streets – risk management principles apply – assess the risk and ride accordingly, and never hurry when in general traffic."
When cyclists start to gain their confidence on roads and bikeways, this too can cause problems and Mr Wilson said such riders may speed.
"Speed at inappropriate times by riders is a common ingredient in accidents," he said.
"The confident rider may be a very skillful rider, but the assumption that other drivers will be predictable is just wrong."
Mr Wilson said on the other hand under-confident bike riders are slow riders and the least likely to have crashes.
"There is much to be said for taking it easy," he said.
"CityCycle riders, for example – data has shown a low crash rate.
"Yet slow riders on roads can be frustrating to drivers if they get held up – so it reinforces the case for bike lanes so riders have space, and drivers being considerate human beings and not endangering other people who are riding and vulnerable."
Ms Panaretto said the modern cyclist on a light, well-geared bike could travel much faster than motorists think, with women capable of about 25km/h on the flat, men 35km/h and cyclists could reach speeds of 50 to 60km/h on hills.
Q & A with Katie Panaretto
Q: Should cyclists think and operate like car?
A: To a degree. I think cyclists in the city should claim their lane space. Cyclists should keep out of driver's blind spots. For cars, overtake cyclists as if they were a car, respect the cyclists space on the pavement, don't overtake, race to a red light or left turn and jam on your breaks and expect the cyclist to then stop safely, chill and wait 30 seconds.
Q: What are the dangers of riding in a bike lane?
A: Not many if it is physically separated from the cars. Often bike lanes can end suddenly leaving you at risk as you have to share then on a busy road. Some are fairly narrow.
Q: What are the dangers of not having a bike lane?
A: Large fast cars with drivers that make unthinking decisions.
Q: Can other vehicles on the road see you?
A: Depends. All drivers will have blind spots – probably bigger in trucks, buses and SUVs.
Q: Are opening car doors a problem?
A: Yes, be very vigilant. Ideally cars should park between the cycleway and the car traffic. This prompts drivers to be more careful opening doors.
Q: Where are the most dangerous places you ride in Brisbane?
A: The hill down Wynnum Road towards the city, you go fast on a footpath with many driveways and Hawthorne Road – too narrow and too many speeding SUVs and small trucks.
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