Long term plans for Grenfell St exclude cyclists
The AC discussion has been closed at http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/forum/topics/grenfell-street-bus-la...
There are long term plans for Grenfell Street that do not include cyclists. Expect the footpaths to be widened, the travel lanes removed, and the only other space for 'bus only' lanes. Will explain in a moment.
After you have read this, please make a submission to ACC on Moving Adelaide: the City of Adelaide Integrated Movement Strategy 2012-22 by 5pm Friday 8 June 2012.
Explain how you want the long term plans for Grenfell Street to include a bicycle lane down what is now the median strip. You will find the ACC link on an Adelaide BUG post, which also explains that a cyclist-pedestrian actuated crossing is needed for Fitzroy Terrace. ACC wants the inner ring route “strengthened” to encourage private cars to detour around the City, rather than through it. So add to your submission a request for bicycle crossing lights here, between bikedirect Braund Road and the shared path in the parklands.
More info and the link to ACC IMS is posted on Adelaide BUG at
http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/group/adelaidebug/forum/topics/acc-...
Anyway, back to the topic of Grenfell Street. Will not name the people sources. Last year I saw a concept plan with the footpaths widened and 'bus only' lanes. I explained to ACC that cyclists need a lane, like when I enter the city from the north via Montefiore Road and Currie Street. The latter could end up for buses only continuing onto Grenfell Street. Told that I could cycle Pirie Street which I vetoed, due to the cycling areas within the dooring zone and the street too narrow to dodge into the travel lane to escape.
Last week I visited ACC and introduced myself as the coordinator of Adelaide BUG. Asked to view the Grenfell Street plans to be installed in Jul-2012. Two large sheets (bigger than A4 and A2) so not easy to copy but staff volunteered that I could not have a copy because still a draft. Some details to be finalised with stakeholders and DPTI. Spoke to another person while at ACC.
The majority of public buses pass through the intersection of Grenfell Street and King William Street, either east-west or north-south. Have asked Adelaide Metro to provide some figures. Bus drivers generally do not like mixing it with cyclists (not news to me) and a wish to keep cyclists out of Grenfell Street that will become a major bus route. Earlier concept plans showed Grenfell Street as a pedestrian area with outdoor cafes. Will admit that not much room during peak hour on the current footpaths for pedestrians to wait for buses. The installation in Jul-2012 will be shared bus lanes that cyclists can use, but we are not wanted there.
Told again that cyclists could use Pirie Street (which I vetoed again) or North Terrace. I often avoid cycling O'Connell Street (next to parked cars) and King William Road (near the Torrens Parade Ground and many buses moving into and out of bus stops). Instead cycle Jeffcott Road, Montefiore Street and Currie Street. I avoid Hindley Street with broken glass and distracted drivers, and anyway comes to an end at Rundle Mall before I reach the bicycle parking in Gawler Place. If I cycle south and cross over Morphett Street Bridge, then disjointed method to get from eastern side to western side, before cycling south towards North Terrace. I do not like cycling North Terrace near the casino, taxi stand and rail passengers. Previously told that not enough room to install bicycle lane here now that a tramline on North Terrace. So I want future plans to include bicycle lanes in Grenfell Street where now a median strip, when Grenfell Street becomes pedestrians and buses only.
Another veto for Pirie Street. Gawler Place would need contra-flow lanes to get cyclists to and from the bicycle parking and Rundle Mall. Needed anyway so another thing for cyclists to recommend in their Integrated Movement Strategy submissions to ACC.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Andy on -
SO it sounds to me like all the chuff about making Adelaide the "Cycling city" is just a bunch of rubbish with no substance. Who would have thought - a government and council that makes up lies to try and get votes.
thanks for the effort Heather - too bad the bread crumb trail ends in bitter disappointment.
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
Michael, without naming the people I spoke to, and some of the cycling supportive words, I realise that there is no point in fighting against the flow. I do not believe that any deception. Active Transport includes cycling, walking and using public transport. By encouraging public transport, encouraging that mode of Active Transport. Which in turn will decrease private cars in the City, so should help cyclists in the long term.
We cyclists can benefit by instead lobbying for bicycle lanes in the Grenfell Street median strip -- separated from buses and vehicles so would be better than current. Also lobby for contra-flow bicycle lanes in Gawler Place as I explain above. (And while you are at it, reward my efforts and also ask for actuated bicycle crossing of Fitzroy Terrace.)
I was told to email ACC. You will make a submission to ACC by Friday 6-Jun-2012?
Heather, Coordinator of Adelaide BUG
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Permalink Reply by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on -
From a pragmatic point of view buses need to go somewhere and it seems good to separate buses and bikes.
It seems incredible that the council has no final plans for a project that is due to start so soon.
After all how would they get tenders for this work without plans on what needs to be done?
Or do they intend to just get a blank cheque for their favourite contractor and make it up as they go along?
Perhaps it is coming up to the end of the financial year and it would be embarrassing for people to see what a surplus they have accumulated?
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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Don, the plans I saw looked complete. I too was surprised when told that not final when so close to installation in July. Perhaps (or perhaps not) there is some small detail to work out.
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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This relates to comments in the first discussion re Grenfell Street. I explained that some cyclists would like bicycle symbols painted in the shared bus lane, to discourage harassment from taxi drivers who might think cyclists not entitled to be there. I chose not to say bus drivers. Told not possible because only a (shared) bus lane between 7am and 7pm. I asked if possible to have signs on posts. Think of Pulteney Street where signs that bus lane and operational hours. (FYI, 7am-9am on western side and combination of 4pm-6pm and 4.30pm-6pm on eastern side.) I asked for third sign indicating that also bicycle lane during those hours. This is usual for peak hour bicycle lanes on arterial roads. You can ask for this when you make your submission to ACC on its Integrated Movement Strategy.
The short length of pending shared bus lane in East Terrace (connect Grenfell Street with Botanic Road) is in the middle lane. This enables drivers to prepare for a left turn.
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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Champion on -
Heather did Council give you a timeline regards their ultimate scheme. Are they the ones doing the design? Did you happen to note who had prepared the two concept drawings you saw a company name or something. It would be interesting to know who is involved.
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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Jeremy, good questions.
No timeline given for the ultimate scheme. Note that the ultimate scheme was in a public concept plan displayed last year during a presentation in Adelaide Town Hall. The speaker was visiting international planner Fred Hansen. Stated in Apr-2012 at http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/new-transport-gu... that "Transport guru and former Thinker in Residence Fred Hansen will head the state's Urban Renewal Authority".
Did not think to look for company names on the plans. These were not concept plans but detailed (draft) plans.
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Permalink Reply by Specialised Roubaix on -
Well done Heather
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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Jules, thanks. Does that mean you will comment on the ACC Integrated Movement Strategy, asking among other things for the long term plans for Grenfell Street to include bicycle lanes where the current median strip? I know I nag, but cycling advocacy requires research and absorbs much time, which can be wasted when other cyclists do not contact authorities.
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Permalink Reply by Ruddager on
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It's all well and good for them to tell you to use Pirie street, but surely they don't imagine that all cyclists will stop using Grenfell - in fact I can only imagine that most would continue. By not providing an allowance for bicycles they're going to be creating a lot of dangerous situations.
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Permalink Reply by Doddsy on -
"Don't go to work on Grenfell street, Instead get a new job on Pirie street."
Its as if Australian planners don't understand that bikes are used for everyday transport activities.
"We'll just give em a cycleway along a river that doesn't go anywhere, that'll keep em happy."
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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Ruddager, to make this clear. The immediate plan is to replace a travel lane in each direction with a shared bus lane. Cyclists can use a shared bus lane but bus drivers do not want them there. Difficulty of seeing and avoiding bicycles.
The long term plan is to extend the footpaths for pedestrians, remove all travel lanes for ordinary traffic, and replace the shared bus lanes with 'bus only' lanes. These will have appropriate signage and are required to be coloured red. Will be obvious if a cyclist rides in the future 'bus only' lanes and witnessed by many pedestrians waiting for buses.
So let Adelaide City Council know before 5pm Friday 8-Jun-2012 that you want cycling facilities when Grenfell Street is further changed with 'bus only' lanes. Separated bicycle lanes where the current median strip. An idea suggested by ACC staff. If a bicycle lane against the kerb here, would get many pedestrians walking across the bicycle lane to board buses. Take into account the number of bus routes and passengers.
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