1. John Fullbrook MP, Bike Networks & Sals BUG ‘Renewed’?  

Recently PortBUG met with John Fullbrook, MP for Playford (part of Salisbury). John is an interesting fellow with a diverse career & is a resident of Mawson Lakes.  He expressed some frustration that there was apparently no active Salisbury Bicycle User Group capable of driving, guiding & promoting the development of cycling infrastructure across the Salisbury Council Area. He wanted to learn from us how the development of such a ‘renewed’ Sals BUG might best be achieved & was quite keen to support is any way he can!

PortBUG discussed some of the key issues in forming & successfully operating a BUG (see here). We talked about the potential for bicycle transport in addressing issues such as social & transport equity & economic resilience, and of the central importance of off-roof bikeways & their connectivity & continuity.

 The long & short of it is that John:

• is very keen to support the development of an active & independent BUG, perhaps similar to PortBUG
• is keen to see operational linkages between a SalsBUG & PortBUG, particularly around the continuing development of inter-suburban routes such as the Port River Bikeway (including the notoriously dangerous underpass at Barker Inlet), the Gawler Greenway & elsewhere.

PortBUG indicated we would – in general terms – be happy to support the further development of an active SalsBUG & the Salisbury Bicycle Network, particularly where linkages to & continuity with the PAE Bike Network were involved. We pointed out that the new bikeway facilities that connect Salisbury, Mawson Lakes & points north to the Adelaide CBD & related suburbs already carry quite significant numbers of bicycle commuters as well as quite a number of recreational riders every day. 

PortBUG undertook to try to contact those who are currently using these routes (many are likely to be on our Blog & Facebook groups) & refer them to John’s office. So if you are interested in talking with John about a SalisburyBUG &/or working on improvements to the Salisbury Bike Network, he can be contacted at: P: 8250 7234, E: playford@parliament.sa.gov.au.

PortBUG indicated that we’d be happy to collaborate in any way that we can.

2. Port Dock Rail Station Project – Update: On Friday 11^th August PortBUG met with the Port Dock Project Team for a discussion of key issues & a site walkover. Reps from BikeAdelaide & PAE Council were also there. 

We were reasonably impressed with the extent to which the project team has responded to concerns previously expressed. They have of course been unable to address our key issue – maintaining the at-grade crossing for the Greenway & direct access to Lipson St – but they have certainly taken a hard look at other possibilities to improve their initial approach, notably:

• accepting need to plan a pedestrian crossing on Lipson St adjacent to the entrance & exit ramps of the bus interchange & railway precinct
• design & construction of an effective bicycle crossing on St Vincent St, connecting Lipson St to Todd St
• reprioritising of the Bower/Baker St junction to facilitate a more direct Greenway cycling route
• creation of better lighting & corner alignments along these streets & links through the rail precinct
• significant potential to improve the ramp ways & pathway up, over & down the Red Hill Bridge – the project cannot do much (if anything) to improve the steep inclines, but it does appear that there may be capacity to widen the rampways towards each end of this section. 

Also discussed were some broad aspects of work scheduled for the next few months. The various closures, redirections & short-term projects were too numerous to discuss here but in broad terms:

• the primary Greenway redirections are now in place
• as it stands, current redirections will be in place until mid-October (including a new temporary at-grade crossing where the access roadway for the Aviation Museum was previously located)
• there will then be a next stage of Greenway realignment for approx 7 months (ie; to around July 2024), probably providing dual Greenway routes – one over the Red Hill Bridge (& likely best suited to pedestrians visiting the PA CBD) & another skirting the entire project, starting on Russel St, Rosewater & proceeding around the eastern margins of the Gillman Rail Reserve to Bedford St.

The project has provided maps of detours applying over next few weeks (until around October) & the project’s proposed final site plan (see above). Both are also available at the ptpa’s website: https://ptpa.com.au/projects/port-dock-railway-line:

• current detour plan available from here
• site plan available here 

Note: Don’t take too notice of the projected Greenway route along the waterfront Ifar LHS of the Site Plan above) – we’ve had extensive discussions with Council about a more sensible route (along Nile/Divett Streets or North/McLaren Parades).

PortBUG is meeting with the project team again next week when we expect to see confirmed drawings or the project.