27 July, 2016

Joint funding commitment to transform city cycling infrastructure

City of Adelaide will partner with the State Government to deliver $12 million in funding to transform the city experience for bike riders with the largest single investment in cycling infrastructure in the city’s history.

Council will match State Government funding of $6 million to deliver north-south and east-west bikeways in the city, investing in new cycling infrastructure and streetscape improvements that will create connected, high quality routes, with completion anticipated for 2019.

The north-south route will connect Frome Bikeway from Pirie Street through to the River Torrens, encouraging students of the new City High School on Frome Road to travel by bike through safer and well-connected city routes.

The co-funding will also provide $1 million to begin a point-to-point city bike share scheme, with a future vision for this to expand into the adjoining suburbs outside the city.

The City of Adelaide and the State Government will work to identify a key east-west cycling link to create a connected network from Kent Town to Mile End, delivering new high-quality cycling infrastructure and streetscape improvements.

It’s intended that Council’s funding will support a consistent cycling experience along the entire bikeway, including reshaping the design of the current section of the Frome Bikeway to enable two lanes of motor vehicle traffic in both directions during peak hour while maintaining separation for safety.

Consultation will be undertaken with businesses, residents and property owners adjacent to the bikeways to ensure that the designs complement and enhance on-street activation, and broader public consultation will invite feedback from the city’s community.

Background

North-South bikeway: The main north-south bikeway that Council has been developing since 2012 is the Frome Bikeway, with Stage 1 between Greenhill Road and Pirie Street completed in May 2014. The separated section between Carrington Street and Pirie Street is the only separated bikeway in the city. Completing the bikeway with an amended design along Frome Street North (between Pirie Street and North Terrace) and Frome Road (through to the river and connecting with North Adelaide) would significantly improve the bike-riding experience in the city and encourage more people to ride for short trips.

As part of this broader upgrade, and acknowledging the need to create a consistent bike-riding experience along the north-south route along Frome Street and Frome Road, the design of Frome Bikeway will enable two lanes of traffic in both directions during peak hour.

A fully or partially separated bikeway will be used where appropriate to encourage a feeling of safety and enjoyment for all bike riders.

Designs will be complementary to adjoining businesses and new developments, encouraging economic growth and accessibility along the bikeway. Access to properties such as hotels will be respected.

Street trees and landscaping will be included in alignment with Council’s greening agenda where appropriate.

East-West Bikeways: The Pirie-Waymouth bikeway (between East and West Terrace) has progressively been delivered since 2012, with minor improvements to the corridor to improve the bike riding and walking experience, including greening of bike lanes, installation of bike boxes at intersections, installation of a zebra crossing on Pirie Street at Exchange Place, and the recent greening and kerb extensions that are currently being installed on Waymouth Street between Light Square and West Terrace. As part of this project other east-west routes will be explored including Flinders-Franklin and Grote-Wakefield, with a focus on connecting to cycling routes through the eastern and western suburbs.

Quotes attributable to Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan

The State Government has a long history of working collaboratively with the Council on projects which enhance the city of Adelaide and we look forward to partnering on these projects.

This joint initiative will create and extend dedicated bikeways through the city to encourage more people to cycle, helping towards our target of the world’s first carbon neutral city and freeing up more space on our roads to improve traffic flows.

These important north-south and east-west routes aim to provide high-quality routes that cater for the needs and abilities of all levels of bike riders and link inner metropolitan bike routes with key destinations in the city.

With a new $85 million City High School scheduled to open 2019 a linked bikeway network along Frome Road will service the cycling demands of the school and improve city accessibility for students.

Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Martin Haese

This is the single largest investment in cycling infrastructure in the history of the City of Adelaide. The project substantially improves the current design of Frome Street and extends and delivers a long overdue point-to-point bike share system in the City of Adelaide.

Initiatives such as this are consistent with our plan to make the City of Adelaide the third most liveable city in the world by 2020.

The further development of bikeways routes strongly aligns with Council’s objectives to deliver priority walking and cycling routes and to work with Federal and State Governments to provide appropriate infrastructure and promote sustainable transport options.

This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to extend our bikeways network, offer more transport choices and progress towards our Carbon Neutral Adelaide agenda of reducing city carbon emissions by 35 per cent by 2020.

This will be high-quality and accessible infrastructure that aligns with Council’s goals to be a Smart, Green, Liveable and Creative city.

Quotes attributable to Bike SA Chief Executive Officer Christian Haag

This significant joint investment will greatly enhance Adelaide's liveability for decades to come.

From our growing tourism sector to the local city economy, the business of cycling is booming.

Across the US, Canada and New Zealand, the direct economic benefits to small business is now well understood. Shoppers who bicycle to retail precincts spend up to 24% more per month than those shoppers arriving by car.

Matt Halliwell