The Courier-Mail: Public transport commuters snub free bike parking bays
Carly Hennessy
January 31, 2010 12:00am
SECURE bike shelters across Brisbane remain nearly empty despite $100 million being poured into improving bike ways and building facilities.
Brisbane City Council has spent almost $500,000 on four lockable bike shelters at busways across the suburbs, but visits by The Sunday Mail last week confirmed they are less than 7 per cent full.
Cycling bodies say Brisbane is at the cutting-edge of cycle integration and the commuting public will soon catch up.
Ben Wilson, manager of peak cycling body Bicycle Queensland, said a push by council to make bike paths safer to cycle to work on already had outstanding effects on companies in the city.
Newly built Santos House in the CBD has 300 bike spaces and 60 showers, while the government precinct in George St has hundreds more secure spots to park workers’ bikes.
Mr Wilson said the organisation was working with Queensland Transport to install more parking at train stations.
“The car parks (at train stations) are full and they cost a fortune to run, something like a loss of $12,000 per year, but if we get more people riding to stations, those parking spaces only cost (the Government) about $1000 to $1500,” Mr Wilson said.
Cr Jane Prentice, public transport spokeswoman for council, defended the $115,000 bike shelters at four busway stations, saying it was necessary to offer multiple options for cyclists. She said some people did not realise the locked cage, which was easily accessible to Carindale, Garden City, Mt Ommaney and Chermside busway stations, was free to use. Cyclists must register for a swipe card and pay a $26 security deposit.
Brisbane City Council is spending $25 million a year on bikeway upgrades, new shared pathways and secure bike parking.
