Cairns Bicycle User Group
GROWTH AND PROGRESS
The Growth Debate:
The overriding issue that dominated Steve Wettenhall's talk and my Secretary's Report, is the challenge that we all face with growth. Increases in population, residential development, transport facilities, business, tourism, health, education, economics etc etc, will need careful planning and decision making to use our limited resources wisely.
We in CBUG try to see the bigger picture and not just tunnel vision cycling issues only. We enjoy the privilege of sharing roads with much larger and faster vehicles and sharing footpaths and bike paths with pedestrians and people with disabilities. This in itself is quite a big issue but add to that the impact for the good that cycling can achieve, the picture starts to expanddramatically. People who have riden a bike at some stage of their lives and even all of their lives for various purposes, transport, recreation, sport, do make a good contribution to their communities. Their good health, work efficiency, economic survival, improved environment, less cost to the community and much more in the long term helps sustain the land where we live and reduces our need for nonrenewable energy. And don't forget the most efficient machine there is - the human body. Keep fit and save money at the same time.
This is the key to solving the problems of growth. Planning and decision making that has a vision. Do we act on what is needed now and work under pressure ? Or do we look to the future and plan projects that will provide facilities to cater for future populations. This is why I have supported the Kuranda Range Rd upgrade because it will provide wide road shoulders for cyclists. There are many more reasons why this road is desirable and making more underpasses for wildlife is one of them. (This is my opinion and not necessarily the opinion of all CBUG members) Projects need to include all sections of the community. When we talk transport and roads and paths, there are many user groups. For example CBUG was involved in the upgrade of Reservoir Rd and Kamerunga Rd. Main Roads made specific provision for motor traffic, bicycle space on the road and off-road paths including underpasses.
Another good example is the upgrade of Rice's Gully bridge on Redlynch Intake Rd. It is our hope that eventually all of Redlynch Intake Rd will have wide road shoulders to increase safety for all road users. This is the problem. Not only do we need to plan new developments and projects but upgrade old infrastructure also. Increasing traffic on old roads increases risks to all road users unless roads are widened and paths and footbridges provided.
What vision do we have for transport, residential development, shops and services? These are all connected. We drive a car, ride a bike/tricycle, walk or drive a wheelchair, catch a bus or taxi to get around. We try to live near shops, work places, schools for convenience and economy of time and cost. But our choices of travel and place to live and work and study can be difficult. Making these decisions at a personal level is important for our future. We all need to look to the future whether it is a personal decision or decisions made on our behalf by our governments and their departments. Would we like to ride to work instead of using the car. Would it be more economical to have one car instead of two. Will I walk with the children to school. Is there a choice ? What are the roads like? Are there bike lanes? Are there paths? Is there a bus? All of a sudden we realise that our choices may be limited.
Have you noticed how narrow the roads are in new developments ? Cars park on the footpathor half on and half off the road. The bike lanes are narrow and include the gutter space which leaves no car parking space. What do people do when they visit friends in these streets? Park in their driveway and block the footpath ? Then we have all the old roads where people have been paying taxes and rates for decades and find that the people next door living in a new block of flats have a nice new footpath but they don't. And so it goes on that with growth and progress not everyone get the improvements.
When bicycle transport strategies first appeared some 30-40 years ago and Geelong in Victoria was a forerunner, it became evident even then that bicycles will always play a roll in personal transport. Ever since an effort has been made by governments, political representatives and activists to create a climate where we will not lose the right to an affordable, safe and efficient transport mode such as the bicycle for people of all ages. No matter what growth or progress is made in any city or community, bicycles are here to stay and they will not go away. All we need to do is recognise the benefits that bicycle riding bring to the community and give bicycle transport all the infrastructure, bike parking, end of trip showers etc required to encourage more people to ride a bike.
There are lots of people who would ride a bike if they thought it was not so dangerous. This is our challenge. Convincing our elected representatives to push for funding to implement our bikeway strategies. Are the Australian Bicycle Strategy, Queensland Cycle Strategy and the Cairns Pedestrian Movement and Cycle Travel Strategy just paper on the shelf. The funds, time and expertise to create these documents must achieve something or they are a waste of taxpayers funds. Is this also CBUG's challenge to make sure that these strategies do not gather dust on the shelves of governments but that they are known about and even read by our representatives and public servants.
It all sounds very daunting, the David and Goliath scenario, but achievable nevertheless. People will talk with their feet on the pedals and we are proud to claim that Cairns is one of the cities in Queensland with a high rate of bicycle use. Every day, any road, anytime there are cyclists out there going about their business just like anyone else.
So we appeal to our decision makers and transport providers to see cycling and walking and the use of disability aids, as legitimate and desirable modes of transport. Our growth and progress must be in balance. When motor traffic becomes a problem and there is no viable alternative, then that balance is lopsided. Systematic planning which ensures that not only developments but the surrounding areas (big picture) provide a balance of transport choices, will alleviate the problems of future growth.
Bicycles are part of the solution, not a problem or an added expense but a cost effective way to provide an environment for happy and healthy communities.
"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair of the human race" - H.G.Wells
Signed: Lenore Evans, Secretary, Cairns Bicycle User Group.