22 Apr 20 | By pp-admin
Today Minister Steel released details of fast-tracked infrastructure and maintenance projects across Canberra as part of an economic survival package.
Pedal Power congratulates the government for using part of this stimulus package to create some small sections of path.
Unfortunately, very few of these improvements will be built to cycle path standard – the majority of new paths will be 1.5 to 2m wide, whereas cycle paths or shared paths should be at least 2.5m wide.
We remain hopeful that further stimulus funding will be used on much larger and more strategic missing links, path upgrades and separated cycleways.
Unprecedented numbers of Canberrans have taken to riding again as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown. The government has a wonderful opportunity to invest money into improving our existing cycling infrastructure and to build new cycle paths as a way to encourage people to keep using active travel once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Pedal Power wrote to Minister Steel in March and provided him with a list of road and path projects from all regions of Canberra which Pedal Power considered would most improve the safety and convenience of cycling in our region. None of these projects were included in the stimulus package. (The work on Sulwood Drive is already underway as part of another project).
You can see the full list of Pedal Power’s suggested strategic projects here. https://www.pedalpower.org.au/wp-content//uploads/2020/04/Pedal-Power-Suggested-strategic-stimulus-projects.pdf