North Brisbane Bikeway Archives

North Brisbane Bikeway Debate Continues as 2018 Plan Given a Second Look

After multiple rounds of consultation for the Stage 5 of North Brisbane Bikeway, the decision has been made to revert to a plan that was previously rejected in 2018.

Read: Community Calls for Review of North Brisbane Bikeway Stage 5

Brisbane recently announced plans to establish a potential connection between the North Brisbane Bikeway on Dickson Street and Kedron Brook Bikeway at Brook Road, via Kent Road.

The Kent Road concept design was released in 2018 and proposed travelling east-west to Kent Road via Price Street then across Rose Street into Park Road, finally connecting to the Kedron Brook Bikeway at Brook Road.

The decision follows Council’s recent scrapping of a plan to install bike lanes along a 500-metre stretch of Dickson Street. That plan, which had received strong community support in 2021, was abandoned in January this year due to concerns from local businesses and residents over the loss of on-street parking and potential traffic congestion. Two petitions opposing the project argued that reduced parking would negatively impact businesses in the area.

Despite Council’s decision, cycling advocacy group Space4CyclingBNE and other supporters continue to push for safety improvements along Dickson Street. An online petition launched by local residents highlights the dangers cyclists face when riding between parked cars and fast-moving traffic.

The petition calls for Council to implement road safety measures along Dickson Street, including reducing the speed limit from 60 km/h to 40 km/h and removing on-street parking to create a safer riding environment.

“While we’re looking forward to work finally starting again on the North Brisbane Bikeway, people will still want a safe and direct route to continue to Eagle Junction, Toombul, and towards the Brisbane Airport and Gateway North Bikeways, and the north-eastern suburbs,” the group stated.

“People who continue riding on Dickson St, north of Price St, find they are riding between parked cars and faster moving motor traffic. That exposes them to the dangers of being hit by the opening door of a parked car and/or being hit by passing cars or trucks.”

Read: Locals Have Mixed Reactions To Stage 5 Of North Brisbane Bikeway

Council’s move to revert to the 2018 plan comes as a draft document from the state government acknowledges the need for better-connected bikeways but warns that financial constraints may delay or limit their development. The council is now seeking state government funding to implement the Kent Road alignment. Whether the requested funding will be granted and whether safety concerns on Dickson Street will be addressed remain uncertain.

Published 24-February-2025

Community Calls for Review of North Brisbane Bikeway Stage 5

Residents in Clayfield are voicing their concerns over the proposed design and route for Stage 5 of the North Brisbane Bikeway, which aims to connect Price Street to Kedron Brook.

Read: Locals Have Mixed Reactions To Stage 5 Of North Brisbane Bikeway

The bikeway, located between Dickson Street, Wooloowin and the Kedron Brook Bikeway, is supposed to complete the “final link” between North Brisbane Bikeway and extend its route for a high-quality, active travel facility.

North Brisbane Bikeway – Price Street to Kedron Brook Plans (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)

Currently in the community engagement phase, the project was the subject of two e-petitions submitted to Council recently, highlighting the community’s divided opinions on the project.

A Clayfield resident has petitioned the Council not to proceed with Stage 5, citing concerns about the impact on local businesses and parking. The e-petition states, “There are 37 affected businesses and entitled parking will be withdrawn. There is a better route available and overall the project is not in the interest of most folk and not for the common good.”

Another petition, which has garnered over 500 signatures, calls for a comprehensive review of all potential routes for Stage 5. The Clayfield local highlighted the need to consider a “safer, shorter route that connects Kedron State High School and northern suburbs with the North Brisbane Bikeway at Price St.”

It also raises concerns about the “Better for Children Cycling” program, commuter parking, traffic congestion, and impacts on residents and local businesses.

The Council has announced plans to conduct two community working group meetings in the coming months, with updates to be provided to the broader community afterward. The project’s future, including any construction plans, will depend on upcoming funding allocations.

Read: Dickson Street Ranked One of Brisbane’s Most Dangerous for Cyclists

Meanwhile, residents have until 5 November 2024 to show their support for the two e-petitions.

Published 4-September-2024

Dickson Street Ranked One of Brisbane’s Most Dangerous for Cyclists

Dickson Street in Wooloowin has been identified as one of the 10 most dangerous spots in Brisbane for cyclists, according to newly released data from the cycling safety app BikeSpot.

Read: Local Community Is Split Over Proposed Wooloowin Street Development

BikeSpot’s 2023 Interim Safety Report, released last week, ranked Dickson Street as the number 3 unsafe area for Brisbane cyclists due to a lack of bike lanes and a missing link with the North Brisbane Bikeway.

One BikeSpot user reported that riding south on Dickson Street was the “most dangerous section they have rode so far” because the North Brisbane Bikeway abruptly ends at Price Street, leaving cyclists to traverse Dickson Street without a bike lane.

“Bike lane ends, forcing bikes onto road or path,” one cyclist said. Others commented that there are lots of parked cars on the street.

Other cyclists agreed, saying the short section of the North Brisbane Bikeway is incomplete and leaves them feeling vulnerable when transitioning to Dickson Street.

Cancelled Project

The Brisbane City Council has announced the cancellation of several key cycling infrastructure projects, including the North Brisbane Bikeway extension, due to the devastating floods in South East Queensland in February 2022.

According to the council’s website, proposed plans to create a dedicated and separated bikeway along Dickson Street and Bonney Avenue, connecting stage four of the North Brisbane Bikeway to Junction Road, will no longer go ahead.

Funding has also been pulled from a project to build a “green street” with shared, low-speed active travel routes for cyclists and pedestrians along Keith Street, Sydney Street and Jackson Street.

The council said it made the difficult decision to redirect resources and prioritise the rebuilding and repair of roads, bridges, existing bikeways, parks and sports facilities across Brisbane that were damaged by February 2022’s catastrophic flooding.

“While the proposed project is not proceeding, Council is committed to working with the Department of Transport and Main Roads on the broader North Brisbane Bikeway network and future active transport connections in this area,” Council stated.

Read: Greville Wooloowin, Other Developments That Were Abandoned in 2022 Due to Construction Crisis

Cycling advocacy groups have expressed disappointment over the cancellations, saying the projects would have greatly improved safety and connectivity for Brisbane cyclists. However, the repairs from the destructive floods have been deemed a priority by local officials.

Published 22-December-2023

Locals Have Mixed Reactions To Stage 5 Of North Brisbane Bikeway

petition sponsored by Member for Clayfield, Tim Nicholls MP.

Petitioners complained about the lack of community consultation for the preferred route and have requested the State Government to investigate alternative routes for Stage 5 of the bikeway.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey responded to the petition, saying that although stages 1 to 4 of the North Brisbane Bikeway is designed and funded by the Queensland Government, stage 5 is the responsibility of Brisbane City Council.

Councillor for Chandler Ward Ryan Murphy, who’s also Civic Cabinet Chair for Transport at BCC, said they are already assessing the feedback received during the consultation period.

Cr Murphy assured that they will consider all the feedback from locals and businesses and will provide an update once the assessment is done.