Connecting Molonglo to the Cycling Network – Safer design needed
Pedal Power ACT appreciates the efforts of the Suburban Land Agency to provide a convenient connection from Molonglo to the C5 Cycling Route between Tuggeranong and Belconnen.
The proposed path and bridge to link Coombs with the C5 route near the RSPCA, with its acknowledged site constraints, has been long anticipated and will be an important addition to the network.
However, the steep path now proposed for Molonglo residents shows the designers still have to learn that people will tend to avoid steep paths. They want paths that are safe, comfortable, convenient and enjoyable to ride.
Some relish flying down a hill. That might be OK for competent experienced riders. But inexperienced kids and others could easily end up in Accident & Emergency. That’s what Pedal Power has being trying to prevent as we have been advocating for years to secure a safe, direct connection.
The new shared path and bridge are meant to deliver precisely that. But the latest proposed design still poses a serious safety issue that can’t be ignored.
The path leading to the bridge currently sits at a 9.3 % downhill slope. That’s steep.
For comparison, The C5 climbs no more than 4.5% up to Belconnen. The LBG circuit’s climbs are 4.9% just north of the dam, 5.9% up to the ANU and 4% up to Black Mtn peninsula. The climb up next to the Governor General’s is 7.8%, a struggle for many riders.
National guidelines show that with a 9.3% gradient, all but higher speed commuter traffic will be walking up the hill, and recreational riders will be walking at just over 5%. Older Canberrans who rely on walkers or mobility scooters won’t be able to use it at all. The guidelines also indicate that downhill commuter speeds can reach between 48 to 60 km/h.
Canberra’s best-practice guidelines recommend gradients between 5 and 7 percent for shared paths, and ideally lower in areas used by children or beginner riders. Once you push past 8 percent, braking distances increase sharply, bikes gather speed quickly without pedalling, and it becomes much harder for riders to maintain control.
For children, this is especially dangerous. A child rolling downhill towards a bollard placed at the foot of the path is at genuine risk of a significant crash. But it isn’t just kids who would struggle. People using wheelchairs, mobility scooters, or prams just won’t make it up a 9.3 percent slope and will find it unstable to descend. Stopping safely on a steep grade requires grip, strength and reaction time that not everyone has, and poor weather only increases the risk.
The core question is simple: if this is meant to be the main walking and cycling link for Molonglo families, shouldn’t it be designed so everyone can use it safely?
Pedal Power’s view is that the gradient could be reduced by routing a slightly longer path following the river corridor contours. This would require Parks and Conservation involvement, and possibly an environmental impact assessment, but it is achievable . The Heysen St path at Oakey Hill was a case where a better alignment was found when agencies work together.
With tenders closing on 11 December, the window to improve the design is closing fast. A safer alignment is still achievable if agencies work together and take the time to properly consider alternatives such as the river-corridor option. The people of Molonglo deserve a shared path that is safe, accessible and future-proof, rather than a steep, compromised link that puts riders, walkers and families at unnecessary risk.
