New Cycle Overpass Opened Today - A Great Achievement.
Today I managed to get to the opening of the new South Road overpass on Tramway Park - now known as the Mike Turtur Cycleway. I was a bit late (probably because I travelled there from Semaphore by car) and arrived just as the whole flotilla of cyclists took off to parade over the new structure. It certainly looked impressive to see cycling elevated to such heights! At the other end the project team had put on a great breakfast of snags and veg patties which both guests and the project and site crews tucked into. It was really great to see all who have contributed to this project gathered together, including our Minister of Transport, Patrick Conlon, Paul Gelston (who headed the project), Greg Carmody, DTEI's cycling and disability technical advisor, various local Gov't representatives including Michael Hewitson from UCC and most importantly (IMHO) Mark Parnell, Greens MLC, whose questioning in Parliament last year played a crucial role in the political process of clarifying the situation for Government and prompting them to include a cycling overpass in the project and to come up with the relatively small amount of extra funding required.
It has become a frequent comment in Australian politics (SA politics in particular) that the 'two party' system finds innovation difficult! In my view this is why more independent voices in Government - such as the Greens and the independents - are so important. We should be thankful to Patrick Conlon for his growing and very obvious commitment to cycling development in Adelaide, but we should also be mindful of the essential role of parliamentary voices such as Mark Parnell's in promoting change and and 'prompting' the political process to stand up for the community's need for more sustainable approaches to everyday transport. Thanks Mark and the Greens for playing this essential role!
I understand that work wil continue for another month or so on fine tuning the overpass precinct. I'm sure that Paul Gelston and the project team would like to hear as much feedback as possible from users over this time.
I guess the big question is 'what's next'. It's great that the current Government has released a Greenways Policy with commitment to spend $3M p.a. over the next term (if re-elected) on the Marino Cycleway as the associated rail line is refurbished and extended and to start planning the other Greenways (or Green Travel Corridors as they are called in 'Safety In Numbers', SA's current cycling strategy). However there are many other opportunities to develop infrastructure associated with current road and railway/tram redevelopment plans and many areas of the city where new infrastructure is badly needed as well. The Mike Turtur Cycleway crossing over Goodwood Road seems to be one obvious opportunity given the precedent now set at South Road, the opportunity to obtain Federal funding and the likelihood of greatly increased tram traffic on the route (and associated impacts on road congestion etc). I'm sure that there are many others as well. Over the next year BISA may try to put into place some on-line processes for bicycle users to directly register such needs and opportunities. However for now I would encourage you to perhaps use the Adelaide Cyclists site to record your views on what the 'next steps' should be.
Keep em turning,
Sam Powrie,
V/Chair, BISA.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Miller on -
Agreed Sam, it was a good opening to what looks to be an excellent piece of infrastructure. The tram stop looks really modern and clean (here's hoping that it will stay that way!), over pass is excellent, with an easy grade. Will be good to see once the landscaping and finishing touches are applied. I am also hoping that there will be more secure bicycle parking incorporated into the finished product. Certainly we are entering a significant period of cycling development here in Adelaide. As more people take to the bicycle for transport they will come to expect that infrastructure and facilities are in place, and when not included, ask "why not" and demand that they be put in place. Policy development needs to ensure that infrastructure inclusion is not an oversight, but essential and central to every new development. The upgrading and electrification of Adelaide's rail network, that will include station redevelopment, is an ideal opportunity to build significant cycling infrastructure that will encourage dual model and mode shift (taking your bike on the train or leaving it securely at the station). The opportunity is NOW to get it right, if we collectively miss this opportunity then the consequences will be more cars on the road, greater car parking at the stations, loss of local amenity, physical health and well-being being compromised, and lack of security and convenience for bicycle riders.
Some photos
Members of the West Torrens BUG
Some familiar faces :-)
Some of the crowd
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Permalink Reply by Angus Kingston on -
It was great to be part of the inaugural peleton. Shame the minister didn't ride over. I hope everyone who lives and travels from that way get a lot of benefit from it.
Well done on the campaign.
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Permalink Reply by Sophia MacRae on -
Nice article Sam, giving credit where credit is due. I am sorry to have missed the opening, as I think it's really important for cyclists to show their presence and support at opportunities like this - we need to put a human face to the statistical concept of the (currently small) percentage of commuters who use cycling as their mode of transport.
In terms of "what's next", i.e. where could the government direct their funding: as well as physical infrastructure projects, there needs to be a complementary education/behavioural change campaign to raise the concept of normalisation of cycling in the community groupthink. Inake Snape at the Australian Cycling Conference talked about this, and showed the wide variety of incentives and publicity that the Dutch gov't pushes along with the improved infrastructure. Imagine big bus posters promoting cycling being as frequent as cancer prevention posters, or drink driving posters. Billboards, competitions, Cycle to Work challenges in every workplace, Ride to School Day being once a month, then once a week, shopping centres and precincts giving incentives to bicycle users - the key is to make cycling seen by the community to be a normal, beneficial form of transport, rather than for a subgroup, and that the government has this viewpoint. When infrastructure is built, we don't want the community to feel that their taxpayer's dollars are going to the benefit of just a few, but rather, it is for everyone's benefit. WE of course know this.... but it is important that it becomes common knowledge. This attitude needs to come from the top.
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Permalink Reply by Alexander Langman Hender on -
Well done, all. A great day.
I like Jeremy's point of "why not?".
Why not put pedestrian / cycling elements into every new road development? Why not?
Good stuff.
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
It was also great for networking. I spoke to many cyclists as they signed a petition of Prospect BUG to retain bicycle lanes on arterial roads. Mike Parnell signed the petition.
I was wearing a T-shirt printed with 'keep bicycle lanes'. If you look closely at the group picture, I am in the front left. Some of the white T-shirt is visible but not the red printing. I am also wearing baggy red and white shorts. The printed T-shirt is helpful in several ways. Some of my email friends approached me and we met in person for the first time.
I was approached by an official looking person who took a picture of the T-shirt. He works for Transport.
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