[bikeqld] Footpaths again

Yani akayani at aapt.net.au
Thu Feb 5 21:12:59 CST 2009


No ne could claim I haven't done my bit to kick some sense into chitty hall.


Dear Councillors and Mayor,

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=map+kedron+street+brisbane&oe=utf-8&rls=org
.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&split=0&gl=au&sa=X&oi
=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title

http://people.aapt.net.au/~theyan/council/DSCN4401.jpg
http://people.aapt.net.au/~theyan/council/DSCN4403.jpg
http://people.aapt.net.au/~theyan/council/DSCN4404.jpg

Needless to say council won't be getting the 'good gardener's award' from
footpath users.

That is like a little corner of the world. But cycling to town last night
from Lutwyche to the city there are trees overhanging the path everywhere.
When it rains the situation is made much worst as the weight of the rain
drops the branches even further. 



Cycling in last night along the Lutwyche to RBH footpath in the west side of
the road I counted 50 cyclists on the footpath and only 2 on the road. And
I'm travelling in a counter direction to those leaving town, that was about
a 10 minute period. In the same time I noted only 5 pedestrians. 

Seriously and I mean seriously, those Adshells are creating real danger
points. Not just for the interaction of cyclists and bus stop users but for
cyclists and cyclists. There is absolutely NO consideration of who is
actually using these footpaths, only council's joy in sub contracting
responsibility for bus shelters to the advertising mafia. I guess we will
have to wait for the injury score to mount before council act.


http://people.aapt.net.au/~theyan/council/DSCN4411.jpg

WHY? There was no detour! But look at the placement of the green box and the
light controller. This is what happens when there is NO policy that ensure
the footpath is maximised. It's being treated as a utility zone by every
Tom, Dick and Harry. Commuter cycling is the number one use for these paths.
Why is reality so difficult to get through to Council? 

http://people.aapt.net.au/~theyan/council/DSCN4413.jpg

Even a shop that is closing down gets more attention.


In 10 years Council and Co have added green power boxes that were never
needed and are little more than a cheap way out of doing power install,
Adshells and allowed totally out of control footpath behaviour to become the
norm. All while claiming to be cycle friendly. 

Meanwhile my estimate is that only 1:25 cyclists are using the road with the
balance using mountain bikes on the footpath. (Council could get better
stats with a couple of cameras and a survey.) In any case you have had
plenty of quality advice and advisors on the issue of cycling and know just
as well as the path users that Council is allowing a massive issue to
develop. One that will lead to injury. 

If there is a choice between free clean bus shelters and pathway incidents
only idiots would choose the former while promoting cycling.


Yani





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