This just in…
It’s about time we lobby the ACT Government to widen our bike paths!! How can we be expected to fit our cars in these piddling ½ sized lanes? In peak times there is an obvious need for the average motorist to bypass the law abiding losers waiting patiently for a variety of reasons, [...]

A reader who’d like to remain anonymous sent this in:
Following yesterday’s “(Re)surfacing epic fail x 2“:
The cycle path between Mouat St and the intersection of Wattle & Scrivener streets recently received similar treatment. The path had been cracking for years, and small sections were completely replaced about a year ago. Recently, the remaining cracks were [...]

This morning’s commute took me past two examples of terrible resurfacing; one on the bike path and one on the road.  The first is on the  bit of bike path that runs from Cook/Aranda to LBG, running parallel with both Bindubi Street and William Hovell Drive.  That path is one of the best things about [...]

Mayor Rattenbury is putting forth word that the mighty Civic Cycle Loop (stages 1 and 2) are opening today at noon.
Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Shane Rattenbury, today opened the Rudd and Marcus Clarke Street sections of the Civic Cycle Loop.
“I’m pleased to announce that the first two stages of the Civic Cycle Loop [...]

Guy has sent in this interesting observation:
The multi squillion dollar elevated bike tracks (or are they parking lanes?) on Rudd St in Civic are now nearly operational. They’ve only taken the best part of a year to complete.
here’s a couple of early adopters…

In our story yesterday on this issue bd84 expounded at length [...]

This in from Institute:
Thought this was funny and I should share.
Got an image of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email it in to images@the-riotact.com .

Here’s something new: a bike-path side café.
I was feeling a little lost as my daughter was off on camp, so I went for a ride, and came upon this little bit of free enterprise on the bike-path between MacArthur Avenue and David Street in O’Connor.  And yes, it’s all properly approved by the Authoritahs.
The very [...]

The Canberra Times has a terrifying story about the National Capital Authority discovering they’ve installed an inadequate safety barrier on Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.
A terrifying near-miss in which a cyclist fell over a railing and on to the road of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge has highlighted the need for extra safety on the bridge.
National Capital Authority [...]

Chief Minister Gallagher has announced plans for more cycle paths:
ACT Labor is committed to the construction of off-road cycle paths as part of its plan for more cycling infrastructure in our city.
ACT Labor will commit up to $12 million* to construct an off-road cycle path adjacent to the Majura Parkway.
We will also invest $4 million [...]

I’m going to go out on a limb here and make the assumption bike lanes are for bicycles, not motorcycles.
Just then I had a motorbike up my arse on Northbourne, from Elouera Street through to Cooying, revving his engine and muttering at cyclists.
You’re damn right I slowed down on purpose and got in [...]

At the turn of the millennium Canberra had no on-road cycle lanes, 19% of Canberrans cycled more than once a month. Most of them were children. We had Australia’s highest rate of child cycling.
By 2009 we had 5,000 less child cyclists, and the proportion of Canberrans who cycled more than once a month had fallen [...]

[ 19 September, 2012; 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. ] Pedal Power ACT is calling on the next ACT Government to increase spending on cycling to $50 million over four years.

Canberra’s facilities are great for dedicated, confident riders but they don’t encourage enough new riders and there are too many unfinished projects. Cycling increased by 70% between 2004 and 2010 but has not grown since.

ACT [...]

Over the weekend Simon Corbell pretty much announced that Canberra cycling data was going into the excellent google transit system.
Today Andrew Barr is getting in with the good news.
Acting ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr today announced that Canberra’s cycling community will now be able to plan their trips online with access to cycling maps on [...]

Amongst the things I never thought I’d see is a media release from the Liberals’ Alistair Coe denouncing the scrapping of the promised Majura Parkway off-road bike path.
“While riding on the road always poses a risk, it is especially dangerous on high volume, high speed roads.
“That’s why these segregated bike paths are so important. They [...]

The Greens’ Caroline Le Couteur has expressed her displeasure at Chiefly backsliding over building an off-road cycle path on the Majura Parkway.
On 22 August 2011, Chief Minister Kay Gallagher said ‘as part of the Majura Parkway project a separate cycle path will be constructed off road’*. But plans for the project, currently under tender, [...]

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher stated to me last year that the planned Majura Parkway would have a physically separated cycle path next to the road like the M7 in Sydney:
Katy Gallagher said on 19 August:
Hi, as part of the Majura Parkway project a separate cycle path will be constructed off road along the length [...]

A media statement released by the Territory and Municipal Services today discusses the proposed plan for the Yarralumla Creek cycle path.
The Yarralumla Creek cycle bridge was washed away in December 2011 and is beyond repair. Currently a detour is set up that sends cyclists to Carruthers and then back to Yarra Glen.
Tony Gill outlines [...]

Back in 2010 we were a little alarmed by the cracking of the bike path along Molonglo Reach.
Today Josh has sent in what the recent rains have wrought there.
Got an image of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email it in to images@the-riotact.com .
[Thanks for JC catching me up with the correct name [...]

There is an article in the CT today about calls for cycle path work around the Kingston foreshore.
After riding in that area a few weeks ago I would have to agree.
It was impossible to work out how the cyclepath from the wetlands connected to the otherside of the foreshore.
Worse, [...]

I am planning to ride to work each day on my brand new bike (new years resolution yet to be activated). As I never ever plan to ride on the road, especially down Northbourne ave I am looking for alternative routes from Watson (near the shops) to the city.
Are there any good bike paths around Watson? [...]

Owen has sent in this gem with the following note:
On the bicycle path from Scrivener Dam to Weston, there is a short section of about 50 metres with 14 advisory signs. This is a list of them:
– Pedestrians/Cyclists watch for construction traffic
– Danger – Construction Site
– Workman (covered)
– Cyclepath closed ahead Follow cycle detours
– Prepare [...]

I travel from Belconnen to Woden daily, mostly in peak-hour morning traffic, and Canberra’s roadways get backed up.
Each day, motorcyclists ride in the bike lanes passing the lines of cars, and eventually duck in at the last chance available, skipping all the automobilers.
Does anyone else have a problem with this?

Following last night’s announcement of cycling infrastructure programs the Greens’ Caroline Le Couteur is letting us know that she’s distinctly lacking in whelm.
“The Government says it needs to do more consultation on Bunda Street. We want to see that by now concrete options and proposals are on the table, rather than a general discussion [...]

Simon Corbell has announced a $9 million spend on cycling and walking infrastructure:
– The City cycle loop;
– Kings Avenue on-road cycle lane and off-road cycle path improvements;
– accessibility improvements to walking infrastructure in the main town centres (Woden, Tuggeranong, Belconnen and Gungahlin) benefitting visually and mobility impaired people; and
– interim off-road footpath improvements at Kingston [...]

Following Pedal Power’s contentious proposal yesterday for barriers to separate bike lanes on Northbourne from traffic here’s a look at how they do things in Amsterdam.

The cycleway is the red portion of this pavement.

Here’s another example of Amsterdam. Two-directional tramway in the middle-through-lower-left. Bike path on the left behind the teal bollards, and to the [...]

Last night the Greens’ Caroline Le Couteur announced she’s asking the government to budget a feasability study (so a million miles from actual action) for a “cycle highway” linking the new conurbation of Molonglo to civilised lands.
(On the basis that Greens get their sense of humour surgically removed on entry to the Legislative Assembly building [...]

Last week we marvelled at heroic road repairs in Japan.
Over the weekend I was reminded that Canberra too had a case of roads unzipping last December during the floods.

Sadly three months later our repair effort, as seen above, have lacked Japanese efficiency or urgency.

As a recent “immigrant” to Canberra I am bemused and a little concerned to see great swaths of green paint slathered on the road.
I’m told this is to protect cyclists but I question the effectiveness of the colour green, it seems to just blend into the background.
I cant help but think that so [...]

Hey there … in the past couple of weeks I’ve been hassled/menaced/threatened three times while trying to ride my bike along the bike path next to Ellenborough Street, North Lyneham.
Two young boys (aged 10 or so) stand on the bike path, barricading it so cyclists can’t get through, screaming and brandishing large sticks. I [...]

As seen by Yarramundi Reach yesterday.
Most other parties poster the arterial roads, but The Greens are a little different.

The Greens’ Caroline Le Couteur is continuing her trend of asking difficult questions. This time asking why London Circuit is being dug up while the “Greater Civic Plan” is due to be endorsed this month.
“The Government is spending $3.8m just on London Circuit, but not taking the opportunity to improve the design.”
“If you are [...]

Jon Stanhope was Chief Minister when the on-road cycle paths were marked out on Northbourne Avenue. It constricted traffic and reduced speed limits (which in turn reduces the number of cars that can transit in a given period of time).
So it comes as a bit of a surprise that he’s now noticed this key arterial [...]