At a time when places around the world are rapidly investing in cycling infrastructure and incentivising that infrastructure and active transport, South Australia is lagging behind.
In London and Manchester, where walking and cycling commissioners have been appointed, there are plans to transition from passive to active transport and create sustainable cities of the future.
It seems ludicrous that South Australia spends less than any other state in the country on cycling infrastructure—0.6 per cent of road spending— just $4 million in 2015-16 on cycling infrastructure compared to $569 million on roads.
More money on roads and more money on parking is not the solution. We need to rethink the way that travel occurs in our state – economically, it is much cheaper to provide quality facilities for cycling than it is to build bigger roads, freeways, tunnels and overpasses.
At this time of climate emergency, at this time of climate crisis, it is vitally important that we promote active transport, and the Greens have a plan to make cycling more appealing by creating a safer environment for cyclists of all ages and abilities.
This plan would be bankrolled by the Greens proposed new tax on developers, which would raise $1.7 billion over 4 years.
Under the Greens’ cycling revolution plan we will:
| ▲ | Allocate an additional $20m over 4 years, to the State Bike Fund, to develop a low stress local street network;1 |
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Fund a state-wide cycling education program for school- age children around bike confidence, road safety and health and well-being; |
| ▲ | Provide safer riding by expanding on-road and off-road infrastructure such as bicycle lanes and bicycle paths; |
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Provide incentives to local Councils for pop up bikeways to encourage cycling during COVID; |
| ▲ | Reduce speed limits in residential areas to promote community safety; |
| ▲ | Ensure new major artillery roads and road upgrades provide both on-road and off-road facilities for cyclists of varying abilities; |
| ▲ | Invest in safe and secure public bike storage around the CBD, at all train stations, ‘park’n’ride’ stations and public transport interchanges; |
| ▲ | Ensure that end-of-trip facilities (such as bike storage, showers and lockers) are provided in all new commercial, industrial or multi-dwelling developments; |
| ▲ | Establish a Walking and Cycling Commissioner to encourage walking and cycling as modes of travel; promote the health, environmental, social and economic benefits; and prepare and promote strategies to make walking and cycling inclusive for everybody in South Australia. |
| ▲ | Maintain the minimum distance laws for cars passing bicycles and allocate more resources to dedicated policing of it; and |
| ▲ | Fit buses with bike racks for those commuting from outer suburbs or rural areas. |
1 2022 South Australian Elections – Policies (bikeadelaide.org.au)