2 April 2011

Cycle highway for Molonglo?

| johnboy
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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 we shall assume this is not in fact an April Fool)

“A ‘cycling highway’ is not like a normal, meandering bike path. It takes a fast, direct route with limited interruptions, to make cycling a very attractive commuting option,” said Caroline Le Couteur.

“This is the type of new planning and design that Canberra needs, and now is the time to integrate these routes into the structure and concept plans for the new Molonglo suburbs.”

“For the last 2 years the Greens have been arguing for a broad range of initiatives that will make the residential development in Molonglo more sustainable. Giving residents the best options to cycle commute to the City, Barton, and Russell is an important part of this story.”“We’ve proposed that Molonglo be designed so that households won’t need more than one car. A cycle highway, along with other changes, will let people easily cycle, and will also reduce the need for increased expenditure on roads.” “The Molonglo Valley is being marketed as a place close to the city where it is good to ride bikes. We now need to ensure that the right infrastructure is built to provide a rapid and safe route for cycle-commuters”.

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Also keep in mind that Molonglo somewhat incorporates Stromlo. It’d be nice to be able to ride out to Mt Stromlo and beyond (for both Road and MTB) without having to dice with cotter road or damaged bike paths – which both get interesting in low light situations.

I-filed said :

There looks to be a major policy shift here – “households won’t NEED [my emphasis] more than one car. How does nominating that a car is a household necessity sit with the Greens’ policies? If a household of one has one car – and that’s fine with the Greens – why shouldn’t a household of two adults have two?

I think its more about creating the conditions in which you wont NEED to have a car per adult per household. That can be achived by making sure Molonglo has adequate public transport, accessable cycle paths and opportunities for active transport.

There looks to be a major policy shift here – “households won’t NEED [my emphasis] more than one car. How does nominating that a car is a household necessity sit with the Greens’ policies? If a household of one has one car – and that’s fine with the Greens – why shouldn’t a household of two adults have two?

Do the Greens themselves cycle or bus to work? Have they given up their Assembly carparks?

I thought there was already a decent bike path from the corner of Cotter Road and Streeton Drive up to Lake BG, and from there to Civic etc. There’s always room for improvement I guess, I just can’t think of any…

What would be better is the opposite of a bike highway – the rumoured singletrack (dirt) commute all the way from Glenloch Interchange to Mt Stromlo. Needs less materials to construct than a tarmac/concrete path – but perhaps more thought on the design and construction.

It takes a fast, direct route with limited interruptions, to make cycling a very attractive commuting option

Sounds alot like the Cotter Rd/Adelaide Ave on-road bike lane. In the 8.30-3.50 window I can get from the RSPCA roundabout to the traffic lights in Curtin before the traffic catches up with me.

Heaps of bike infrastructure already included in the works around Cotter Rd and behind the RSPCA.

Will need an asbestos proof bubble built on top of it I suppose.

If it includes an all weather roof structure over the path, and travelators to get bikes up hills easier, then fantastic. Otherwise it’s just a summer thing.

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