Page 603 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 February 2010
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was a result of rider error and did not involve any other road user. None of the accidents I have had, on all occasions I have fallen of my bike, was attributable to the quality of the road or the cyclepath. I think, in any analysis of the sort of data provided by ANU, we need perhaps to refine it to better understand the cause of accidents, whether the surface, whether it was a road or a cyclepath, was a contributing factor to the accident or the injury.
Certainly in the context of this government’s support for cyclists, I think it is fair to say that the ACT can now boast perhaps the best network of pathways and cyclepaths of any significant-sized city in Australia. Indeed, we are expanding that network and upgrading it at levels and to an extent that has never been assisted, supported or upgraded certainly since self-government.
I take the opportunity to acknowledge that some of the very significant funds currently being dedicated to pathways, cycleways and on-road cycleways certainly were a result of decisions that we took on coming to government when we first began, in the face of enormous opposition from the Liberal Party, to provide on-road cycling within the ACT. We have progressively increased our funding.
Much of that funding was funding as a direct result of our parliamentary agreement with the Greens. I acknowledge that. We have, in this particular parliamentary cycle, I believe, committed $16 million for pathway and cycleway upgrades. You will see, after this first year, the enormous fruits of that.
I believe, and I am going somewhat on memory here, that we have expanded—I am not quite sure of the time frame now—the cycleway and pathway network by 700 kilometres. I believe that is since coming to government. We are upgrading and increasing the network and seeking to make it safer for cyclists continually. It does not just extend, of course, to the cycleways, their location, the quality of the upgraded service that you will have noticed. I again acknowledge an enhanced program of signage, an enhanced program that was also born out of discussions with your party, Ms Le Couteur. You see the fruits of that all over Canberra. Canberra cycleways are now better posted than they have ever been.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Le Couteur, a supplementary question?
MS LE COUTEUR: Given the dangers to cyclists revealed in the report, will the government commit to building off-road cyclepaths on any new major collector roads?
MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Ms Le Couteur. I would probably have to take some advice on what the government’s current plans are in relation to cycleways and the mix of investment that we propose in relation to both on-road and off-road cycleways and an enhancement of the overall off-road network as opposed to investment in the on-road network. There is now, almost as a matter of course, provision made on all new major roadways in the ACT for a cycleway. Indeed, that is the case with John Gorton Drive, the contract for which was just announced in this last week.
I would have to take some advice, Ms Le Couteur, in relation to the mix of investment decisions that have been taken in relation to on road versus off road. I discuss these
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