Cyclist Unfriendly Plantings
The Brisbane City Council is mainly responsible for the plantings in parks, roadsides and on or near pathways. A great many of these plantings present a risk to cyclists. Some of the common problems are:
- 1. The plants obscure the view for cyclists
- 2. The plants block the way for cyclists necessitating a change of line
- 3. The plants present a strike risk or eye damage risk to cyclists
- 4. The plants obscure bicycle related signage and warnings
While Council will generally respond to complaints about these plantings, the process can be slow and unreliable and the plaintiff can be left feeling that the true risk and danger is not appreciated by the Council. Quite often these plantings may be somewhat 'historic' and were made at a time when there was less concern for these issues of public safety but there are many examples of recent inappropriate planting being made adjacent to bikeways and paths. There seems to be a lack of education and understanding of the relationship between these plantings and cyclist safety among the landscaping planners in the Council.
The following is a gallery of pictures with brief descriptions highlighting some of the many plantings on Council assets which present risks to cyclists.
Taringa- Gailey Road sharp spikey succulent
Taringa- Severe eye damage risk on footpath on Swan Road
Overhanging Bougainvillea plant with spikes
Sharp planting on Lutwyche Road a strike risk for users
A young but spikey agave planting on separated bike path on Bowen Terrace
This shrub on the Bicentennial Bikeway ramp at Queen Street is continually allowed to get overgrown.
Giant Lillies adjacent to narrow section of Bicentennial Bikeway at Milton
Giant lillies planted both sides of ramp onto the bikeway on Land Street at Auchenflower
