The PA/E Council has announced that its Bike Plan: 2015-20 will be replaced by a more broadly focussed Walking & Cycling Plan, itself operating within an Integrated Transport Plan. There are two major issues that the BUG considers relevant to development and implementation of this new Walking & Cycling Plan:
#1. Need for a More ‘Granular’ Approach: While there is continuing need to develop more ‘trunk’ and ‘local connector’ & neighbourhood routes across the PA/E Council Area, the BUG believes that the Network has reached a stage where a more localised, systematic and finer-grained approach to planning and infrastructure development is also required. This is especially the case for planning around local destinations such as schools, shopping centres, rail stations and local neighbourhood access.
#2. Ongoing & Locally Focussed Consultation Processes: In turn, this more ‘granular’ approach and the inclusive focus on walking (and other ‘active transport’ activity) as well as bicycle use implies need for more locally-focussed, ongoing & inclusive community consultation processes. A good example of this has been the online consultation the Council recently conducted re proposals for new pedestrian crossings on Semaphore Road and the upgrading of the McLaren Street Streetscape in The Port.
In October 2020 the PortBUG submitted a position paper and recommendations outlining these issues, the recommended scope of the new Plan & related planning considerations. We also submitted a more focussed list of 15 infrastructure recommendations for possible funding via the Council’s own budget processes as well as for consideration in the new W&CPlan. These two papers will form the basis for our position moving forward.
We’ll post all new information regarding the new Walking & Cycling Plan here as it’s received as well as via updates at this site’s blog page and the Port Adelaide Bicycle Forum on facebook. We encourage your subscription to one or both of these information sources.
UPDATE June 2021: Council will run a brief workshop on the draft Walking & Cycling Plan for Elected Members on 22nd June, 8-8.30pm in the Town Hall, Nile Street, Port Adelaide – details here. All residents can attend but as observers only (no participation or commentary).
PortBUG has prepared a document outlining some concerns the BUG has had with the draft Plan & some questions we suggest Councillors might raise with staff. You can read this pdf here. We would also welcome any feedback you might want to offer.
UPDATE August 2021: PortBUG expects drafts of both the Integrated Transport Plan & the new Walking & Cycling Plan to be tabled for consideration at Council’s September meeting.
PortBUG: The Port Adelaide Bicycle User Group. 