Woden Interchange Opens — Bike Facilities Show Promise, but Issues Remain
Jeff Ibbotson & Richard Bush | Murrumbidgee Advocate Coordinators
The new Woden Interchange opened for business this week, and members of Pedal Power’s Advocacy Team were given a preview ahead of the launch. Overall, it’s an impressive design that enables smooth, efficient bus movement, particularly for the Rapid 4 and Rapid 5 services, which now travel straight through the interchange from end to end.
Cycling access is generally strong from several directions:
From the west via the CIT undercroft and Matilda Street cycleway
From the north and south via the C4 path, including connections to Canberra College
From the northeast, including Hughes and Eddison Park
Access from the hospital precinct, Garran, and parts of the southern C4 remains less direct. The route via the wooden bridge in Arabanoo Park and across the C4 is somewhat awkward, although access from the southern side of Callam Street on the eastern side is improving, with final works underway. An alternative connection to the hospital is available via Wilbow Street.
Within the interchange, two pedestrian crossings include countdown timers to signal when the lights will change, a practical and user-friendly feature.
Two secure bike cages have been installed, each with a capacity for around 45 bikes. These are modern facilities, equipped with surveillance cameras, power points for charging e-bikes, and a well-designed maintenance station with tools and an air pump. However, most parking is provided by vertical hanging racks. Each cage includes only three ground-level hoops, which are better suited to heavier e-bikes and cargo bikes. This is unlikely to meet demand, and retrofitting additional hoops will be necessary as usage grows. Pedal Power had advocated for one cage on each side of the interchange, but this was not adopted.
The most significant issue remains access to the bike cages. Entry currently requires an older MyWay card. Despite the rollout of MyWay+ over the past 14 months, the new system is still not compatible with bike cage access across Canberra. This issue was raised early, but there is still no confirmed timeline for resolution. There is also no on-site information explaining how to gain access.
To register for access to any of Canberra’s bike cages, users need to email mywayplus@act.gov.au with their:
Name
Contact number
Postal address
Preferred bike cage location
A compatible access card is typically issued within 10 business days. Visit here for more info
For those considering combining cycling with public transport, it is worth noting that bike carriage on buses remains inconsistent. Many buses on the Rapid 4 and Rapid 5 routes are not currently equipped with bike racks. Pedal Power is continuing to raise these and other integration issues with Transport Canberra, so riders should not rely on being able to take a bike on these services at this stage.
Pedal Power ACT acknowledges the support of Fiona Carrick MLA, Independent Member for Murrumbidgee, in advocating for improved, timely access to bike cages for MyWay+ users. Some of the accompanying images were provided by her office.
