PortBUG: The Port Adelaide Bicycle User Group.

The Port Adelaide/Enfield Council is currently implementing its new Walking and Cycling Plan & is seeking community feedback & ideas on 2 key aspects of The Plan:

• a proposal to greatly improve the Mersey Road Bikeway route which runs northwards between Victoria Road & the Port River. The proposal would create an ‘on road’ bike way with new infrastructure along Elder Rd and Mersey Rd, running from Birkenhead to Osborne
• the ongoing identification of new locations for additional bike parking facilities and walking & cycling refuges across the PAE council area.

Here’s what staff have to say about the Mersey Road Bikeway proposals:

“We have identified that the Mersey Road bicycle route is an important secondary route linking the employment centres within the Lefevre Peninsula. We are proposing several treatments along this route to improve cycling. Different treatments have been selected based upon the streetscape. A separate path has been provided where there is sufficient width within the verge. For sections of Mersey Road that are greater than 9m, we can re-allocate space within the existing road cross-section to provide a dedicated on-road bicycle path while still maintaining two travel lanes for traffic and parking on the western side (property side) of Mersey Road. At other constrained locations, we are providing the ‘shared road’ pavement marking to highlight this is part of a cycling route. We have been successful in receiving grant funding under the State Bicycle Fund for these improvements.”

And here’s a short summary of new bike parking & median refuge possibilities:

“We have been successful in receiving funding through the State Bicycle Fund to help deliver the cycling projects detailed below in our Next Steps [including] installation of [bike parking] hoops and consideration of bike refuges around the City of PAE. We want your help to decide where this infrastructure should be located and to review existing infrastructure that may not be meeting… needs due to poor location or condition. We are unable to install hoops on private land such as privately owned shopping centres however please tell us about these locations, and we can pass this feedback on.

Refuges allow people walking and cycling to cross main roads in two stages so they only have to deal with one direction of traffic at a time. The refuge provides room to stop in a centre island. They are particularly beneficial on busy roads where it may be difficult to find a safe gap in both directions of traffic. We are seeking your feedback on where these are needed most.”

Implementation of the new 5-year Walking & Cycling Plan takes an entirely new approach. – it will largely be based on ongoing feedback & participation from & by the community. So we’ll see the best outcomes if the community gets involved! So we strongly encourage PortBUG members to get involved & take this opportunity to comment!

It’s also worth noting that – as well as the State Bicycle Fund money mentioned – Council has allocated a considerable sum of money from its own budget for annual implementation of The Plan over its initial 5 year span! So you can be confident that Council officers will be listening to what you have to say & there’s a good chance that any suggestions you make will be implemented!

The Participation page is here!

Australian Cargo Bike retailer, Dutch Cargo Bike will be holding a free Come & Try Day here in Adelaide. If you have any interest in cargo bikes & their car-replacement possibilities hit the Greenway (or bus/train) & check it out.

When: May 6th, 9am – 12pm.

Where: The Joinery, 111 Franklin St, Adelaide.

Please Note: Limited street parking – take your bike or PT.

https://dutchcargobike.com.au

Gawler Greenway users will have noticed (perhaps ‘run into’ is the better term) the closure & disruption of the pathway adjacent to Grand Junction Road between Narweena Drive & the nearby underpass. 

Unfortunately PortBUG only became aware of this belatedly when Michael Palmer, BikeSA ride leader reported the situation to us in mid-January. By then it appears that the Greenway had already been blocked for several months by a new access road, created for the construction of an enormous MainFreight facility immediately to the south!

No onsite maps or signage were provided & pathway users were required to ‘wing it’ – figuring out an appropriate detour on their own & crossing Grand Junction Road with no guidance to the safest crossing point or how to reconnect with the Greenway route!

The BUG immediately reported the situation to PAE Council staff who contacted the Emmett Property project manager involved. Incredibly – remember this is 2023 in the self-titled ‘cycling capital’ of Australia – Emmett plead ignorance of any need to consult Council regarding the closure of the Greenway!

Even more difficult to understand was the lack of any obvious concern for the safety of pathway users or attempt to re-route Greenway users in a safe & organised fashion. This stands in great contrast to the efforts that developers of various construction sites at Bowden, where site managers have gone to considerable lengths to safely manage closures & impacts on the Outer Harbor Greenway!

Fortunately Council staff were able to get a commitment to reopen the path this week so no temporary detours on their part were required. Michael has reported today that “the surface has been reinstated with tarmac as per photos (see below). As you will see there is the ramp from the service road to be finished but otherwise all good”.

The lesson for us all from this incident is to report any problems on our cycleways to the local Council (or to your BUG) asap! Council is in the best position to negotiate appropriate detours, alternative routes, advisory signs or repairs required & will usually do so in consultation with the BUG & cycling community.

Council will monitor the final reinstatement of the pathway over the coming week. Obviously the new access road is likely to be in frequent use so we’d suggest all pathway users take extra care at this point. We may ask Council to ensure appropriate warning signs are installed for both pathway users & drivers! Thanks to both Michael & Council Staff for their persistence in following up this matter!

All photos: Michael Palmer.

Hi Folks, PortBUG has been quiet for a couple of months… but we haven’t gone away! We’ve been weathering the COVID storm & awaited Council’s ratification & implementation of the new Walking & Cycling Plan. So check out the important news & consultation opportunity below…

1. New Walking & Cycling Plan:

Council has now adopted the new 5-year Walking & Cycling Plan & has also made a significant commitment towards annual minimum funding for the Plan for the next 5 years with the following focus areas:

• Improve walking and cycling infrastructure
• Promote and encourage walking and cycling
• Provide information, invest in data and monitoring.

First Steps – 2022-23: As a first step, for the 2022-23 financial year the Council has obtained funding for cycling projects in the following 3 areas:

Port Adelaide CBD Cycling & Walking Networks: Aims to define cycling routes throughout the Port Centre, ‘. This initiative ‘leveraging’ off the ‘Outer Harbour Greenway’ as a major cycling corridor & providing alternatives for cyclists to better link them to services and destinations within the Port.

City Wide Secondary Bike Paths: This project will promote ‘neighbourhood cycling routes’ for the community & increase awareness for motorists to ‘share the road’ on these neighbourhood connections. It will formalise neighbourhood connections with appropriate signage & line marking along with other supporting infrastructure improvements, such as path linkages and kerb ramps.

City Wide Cycle Parking Facilities: Will provide end-of-trip facilities – cycle parking – at key locations & community buildings across the City.

You can read the new Walking & Cycling Plan here.

2. Have Your Say – Bike Parking & Refuge Needs:

Council is conducting an on-line ‘Have Your Say’ Consultation to identify locations for new, additional & improved Bike Parking & Cycling Refuges – additional bike parking ‘hoops’ & bike refuges at road crossings. Where do you think new bike parks & crossing refuges should be located & how can existing infrastructure be improved, relocated or better maintained? Please let Council know what you think! The Have Your Say form & page are here…

Jeremy Miller, AdaptWest Regional Coordinator – Climate Change, has organised a Community Bike Tour of the Outer Harbour Greenway between Bowden & St Clair on Sunday, the 16^th of October from 11am to 2pm. This ride is part of SA’s annual Nature Festival.

The ride will follow the fabulous Outer Harbour Greenway & will look at various sustainability initiatives including the Bowden development, the new Nightingale building, the vision for the Gas Works precinct, the plans for the redevelopment of Chief Street and further highlighting the urban greening along the route including the excellent community verge projects. All of these projects serve as a model for the action required across the city of Adelaide & SA!

The ride will conclude with a BYO picnic lunch at St Clair. Your guide for the event will be Jeremy Miller, AdaptWest regional coordinator and Active Transport champion.  Jeremy is seeking a couple of volunteers who can act as Marshals for the ride. Please contact him if you’d like to fulfil this role – jmiller@charlessturt.sa.gov.au.

Please register for the ride here.

PortBUG is pleased to announce Council’s ratification on 9th August of a new Walking & Cycling Plan to guide investment in Active Transport facilities & development for the next 5 years (2022 to 2027). You can check it out at the following link (temporary pending preparation of a new bike plan page) https://haveyoursay.cityofpae.sa.gov.au/walking-and-cycling-plan

The August Council minutes also record 3 investment targets drawn from the new Plan for the initial 2022-23 financial year (see table below). PortBUG will meet with PAE staff asap to discuss the longer-term implementation of the Plan, particularly with regard to development of local ‘secondary’ networks which we believe requires extensive consultation with local communities.

PA/E Officers recently provided the BUG with the following updates:

Jenkins Street ‘By-Pass’:            The temporary ‘bypass’ pathway for temporarily-closed Jenkins Streey along Nelson Street (& joining up with the Semaphore Road Bikeway) has been completed. PA/E staff acknowledge the less-than-ideal turning angles required when negotiating the ramp on the northern side of the Jenkins St crossing – they will continue to explore options for improving this situation (we presume this will depend on progress with ‘ground stabilization works’ inside the fenced area).

New PA/E ‘Walking and Cycling Plan’:           Staff will be presenting a report to Council in August seeking endorsement prior to the coming Council elections. A number of amendments have been made following feedback provided by PortBUG & the community earlier in the year. The plan is currently with the consultant for final changes.

Integrated Transport Strategy:           This new overarching (& ‘bike friendly’) strategy was endorsed at the March Council meeting. Staff are working through the action list with key projects for 2022 including a Freight Movement & Access Study, kerb-ramp audits for DDA compliance as well as accessible parking compliance.

Port CBD Access Concept Plan: The PortBUG has consulted extensively with Council, promoting a wide range of much-need access & safety improvements within the Port CBD & Waterfront precinct (including the transit of the Outer Harbor Greenway through the CBD & Waterfront areas). Implementation planning is to commence shortly. 

Other Projects Proposed for 2020-23:

• Connectivity and wayfinding improvements for Council’s secondary bike network
• City-wide bicycle parking improvements
• A possible trial of glow-in-the-dark line marking in certain situations (eg; highlighting curves and bends in poorly lit locations).

We are also told that Council’s vacant Traffic Engineering position has now been filled, with Council’s Transport Team now at full strength for the first time in over 12 months . This will assist with clearing a backlog of tasks and planning for future projects.

For the past few months the PortBUG has been working with staff from PAE Council on a new Walking & Cycling Plan, with a revised draft soon to go to Council for ratification. One of our priorities for this new Plan was making the Port CBD much more accessible for pedestrians, cyclists & those dependent on mobility devices. 

We see this enhanced accessibility as having multiple benefits & outcomes:

• improving access & equity for surrounding communities as well as… 
• making transition through the Port’s Waterfront & CBD areas much easier for those using the major bikeways converging here, notably the Outer Harbour Greenway, the Port River Expressway, the Parks Connector & the Coast Park.

We have approached this enhanced accessibility in two ways, first by looking at opportunities for better ‘gateway’ access into the CBD from all points of the compass and then by looking for opportunities to improve access, movement & security within the CBD itself.

improving access, movement & security within the CBD itself.We have recently put a set of proposals to the Council & hope to report on a draft ‘Access Concept Plan’ soon. 

A key component of our proposals has been turning the wide pedestrian pavement along Quebec Street (between the junctions with Robe Street & Dale Street & adjacent to the Port Mall Car Park) into an accessible & disability-compliant ‘active transport corridor’ (see below). 

This ‘corridor’ – while only a couple of hundred metres in length – would form the ‘backbone’ of an accessibility network within the Port’s CBD & is an important initiative, providing connections to other points & destinations within the area. 

As a first step towards creating this corridor Council will construct much improved road crossings, first at the Quebec/Robe Street junction (near Farmer Joes Market) & then at the Quebec/Cannon Street junction opposite the Port Mall car park (next to Cheap as Chips). Council will be undertaking major stormwater works on Quebec Street later this year with the new crossings likely to be built early in 2023.

PortBUG has been encouraged by the positive response to all of our proposals from Council staff. They are obviously keen to work with the BUG (& broader community) to improve conditions for walking, cycling & active transport generally, & we look forward to interesting & exciting outcomes over 2022-23!

Just a reminder that ‘Motherload’, the unique & fantastic feature-length cargo bike movie will be screened:

• this coming Sunday 29th, 1-4pm at… 
• the Healthy Living Precinct, 16-20 Hindmarsh Ave, Welland (easily accessed by bike – directions here).

Plenty of tickets still available here with a brief summary of the movie & trailer. 

There will be a retail cargo bike display from WillRide and a ‘Show-&-Tell’ with some of Adelaide’s cargo bike owners, a great opportunity to check out some of our local cargo bikes & discuss them with their riders! See you there!

For many years I have followed the ‘Bicycle Dutch’ blog published by the apparently indefatigable Mark Wagenbuur in the Netherlands. In his own words:

“I am one of the many Dutch who cycle almost every day. I have 50 years of experience in cycling in the Netherlands… I enjoy showing the world Dutch cycling and Dutch cycling infrastructure in my videos and blog posts.”

If you are at all interested in how all-things-cycling can be done MUCH better, then I recommend Mark’s regular video posts. He is an informed & critical commentator & the videos are easy to watch, instructive & of course inspiring.

Most of all they remind us we are part of something BIG – I am encouraged to note that tiny PortBUG appears on Mark’s ‘Blogs I Like’ list (see below)!

(Sam, Ed. & PortBUG Secretary)

PAE Council have informed us that the developers of the Fletcher’s Slip housing precinct now have a commencement date for installation of a temporary detour pathway around the now-closed Jenkins Street section of the Outer Harbor Greenway/Loop Path. 

The modifications will be undertaken by contractors working for Cedar-Woods (the developers) rather than PAE Council.

Weather permitting, works will start on Monday, 23rd May. The scope of the works planned are show on the diagram below.

We were not told of safety arrangements for pedestrians, cyclists & mobility device users while construction takes place or of any provision for a ‘detour around the detour’, but we’ll let you know when further information is to hand. Meanwhile please take care as the pathway’s width is quite narrow & the adjacent roadway on Nelson Street can be extremely busy!

It’s worth noting that Council have already removed a northern-side standing rail at the Jenkins Street ramp – making turns a little easier – & have realigned some of the pathway markings to make the descent from the bridge a bit safer.

Middle Ground Motherhood (MGM) are planning a screening of the acclaimed cargo-bike movie ‘Motherload’ on Sunday, 29^th May.

Motherload is an inspiring, feature-length movie documenting one woman’s (& her family’s) discovery of the cargo-biking world & the joy & empowerment that cargo-bike use can bring to everyday life! 

MOTHERLOAD captures a new mother’s quest to understand the increasing isolation and disconnection of modern life, its planetary impact, and how cargo bikes could be an antidote.

Filmmaker Liz Canning cycled everywhere until she had twins in 2008. Motherhood was challenging, but to Liz hauling babies via car felt stifling. She Googled “family bike” and uncovered a global movement of people replacing cars with cargo bikes: long-frame bicycles designed for carrying heavy loads. Liz set out to learn more, and MOTHERLOAD was born.

Since its world premiere in May 2019, MOTHERLOAD has been on a Global Screening Tour featuring over 500 live and virtual venues.

The film also delves into an intriguing Adelaide ‘cargo-bike connection’! So, if you are interested in:

• mobility without a car
• finding a more sustainable (& empowering) means of everyday transport…

…come & see the film! A display of cargo bikes used here in Adelaide & available from a local retailer is planned, as well as activities for kids. Maybe even live music!

The event is subject to successful funding via Pozible with $2000 required (currently $769 raised). Individual tickets are $18 with parental & family discounts available. If you’d like to attend you can reserve tickets (& pledge support) here.

More detailed information about the event here & you can also watch the Motherload trailer…

Last week PortBUG met with transport staff from PAE Council for a couple of hours & did a bit of a ‘walk around’ survey of the Port CBD to share experiences & ideas aimed at improving access & convenience for bicycle users, pedestrians & those using mobility devices. Our discussion focused on:

• access to the Port CBD (shops, services, supermarkets, library etc)
• the transition of the Outer Harbor Greenway (OHG) from Lipson St through to the Birkenhead Bridge & Semaphore Rd.

In particular we looked at potential routes for taking Greenway users:

• on a far more direct & efficient route through the waterfront precinct &…
• directly into the Port CBD as well!

This is because there are 2 cohorts using the Greenway – commuters who need a direct & efficient pathway past the CBD, and others who want access to shops & services in the CBD. Council staff were clearly interested in what we had to say & had been reviewing these issues themselves. 

Here’s a brief summary of what we looked at & discussed:

• the perennial challenge of heavy vehicles & ‘rat-running’ traffic on the OHG on Lipson St & possibilities for increasing safety & access to the Port CBD & waterfront. 
• alternative routes to take the Greenway off Lipson St south & avoid the uncontrolled crossing at Commercial Rd (including possible routes via Butler & Kyle Streets across to Lighthouse Square) 
• making better use of a direct east-west route along Divett & Nile Streets
• improving the current pretty dreadful linking pathway between the crossings on Nelson St (adjacent to the Birkenhead Bridge) & Nile St
• an improved pathway along Nelson St & across Commercial Rd, into the Port CBD
• a new ‘scramble’ pedestrian crossing on Quebec next to Farmer Joes
• making better use of the wide pavement opposite the Port Mall car park between Quebec St & the Dale St pedestrian crossings
• improved connections to the Port CBD for residents living to the west.

Finally we had a close look at the Cedar-Woods housing development on the northern side of the Port River along Jenkins St & Semaphore Rd. We pointed out the obvious impact on Greenway users, the new hazards that cyclists & others faced in using the new ‘detour’ along the Nelson St footpath & what might be required to improve the situation over the 2-year closure of Jenkins St. 

As we’ve said, this ‘walk around’ was a very useful exercise & we hope to repeat it later in the year. We also mentioned to staff that we now had several BUG ‘field agents’ to improve our focus on theeastern sector of the PAE Council area. Staff outlined a number of initiatives underway along Folland Ave & elsewhere. Expect to see news of this soon! 

Several weeks ago DIT at long last released a draft SA Cycling Strategy. SA’s last Cycling Strategy – ‘Safety in Numbers’ – ran its course over a decade ago in 2010. PortBUG & everyone of SA’s other bicycle organisations has been demanding its replacement every year since!

PortBUG of course strongly supports the provision of a new SA Cycling Strategy. Unfortunately we have found this draft Cycling Strategy sorely wanting! It lacks any attempt to map out a projected or optimal cycling network, connections to key destinations across our city & how users might travel across the network!

We have now provided DIT with several pages of commentary & recommendations on this draft Cycling Strategy. You can have a look at our response here.

You can also read a comprehensive response from the UnleyBUG here.

Today (31st March) is the final day you can respond to this draft Strategy. If you would like to quickly provide a specific comment please do so on the Have Your Say form here. You can also download & read the draft Cycling Strategy here.

If you are pushed for time you may simply want to email the cycling folk at DIT & express your support for the recommendations made by your (& the Unley) BUG! Email them at this addess: dit.CommunityRelations@sa.gov.au

You can read a summary of the recommendations made in our response below:

Recommendation 1: That the draft Cycling Strategy provide a map illustrating a ‘projected cycling network’ for Adelaide identifying: 

• a suitable ‘grid’ network 
• key destinations 
• connectivity across the Metro Area. 

Recommendation 2: That the draft Cycling Strategy clearly illustrate the key destinations that its Principal Bicycle Routes travel to with the cross-city ‘connectivity’ provided. 

Recommendation 3: We recommend that a comprehensive, physicallyseparated bicycle network be considered as a minimum outcome in this SA Cycling Strategy to ensure Adelaide’s network meets both world’s best practice & the needs of its residents! 

Recommendation 4: Nominations for new Greenways, effective bicycle ‘connections’ & new priority projects for consideration over the next decade, as well as a map illustrating a notionally complete Metro Cycling Network should be included in this new Strategy. 

Recommendation 5: We consider it essential that the key role of State Government in the design & investment in Adelaide’s Principal Bicycle Network be acknowledged by this Strategy. 

Finally, here’s an illustration of the beautiful, connected PLUSnet bike network in Copenhagen – we hope it inspires your day!

PortBUG has had a further conversation with PAE staff regarding the ‘temporary’ closure of the Outer Harbor Greenway along Jenkins Street on the Port’s waterfront. Key issues discussed were:

• the schedule for improving the proposed ‘detour’ around the Fletcher’s Slip development
• the possible widths of this ‘detour’ pathway (the developers had indicated a 2.5metres width)
• potential improvements at both the Semaphore Road end and the ramps at the Jenkins St junction.

Council acknowledged that the situation is far from ideal. Initial discussions with Cedar Woods late last week suggested that the alternative path would be constructed over the next fortnight along – we had presumed – the full length of Nelson St between Jenkins St & Semaphore Road. The construction fence erected around the development lot at the Nelson Street end (see above) is in fact well outside the actual site boundary, suggesting that there was plenty of room for such a full length 2.5m wide pathway. It now appears that this will not be possible! Our current understanding is:

• the fence bordering the first 50 metres (starting from the southern Jenkins St end) is where it is – right next to the existing narrow footpath (see below) – because of ground ‘preloading’ or stabilisation works on the development site, which will need to continue for the next 6-7 months
• pathway widening over this first 50 metres may occur but will be limited by the fencing & the ‘preloading’ works

• the last 40-odd metres (further towards Semaphore Rd) is not restricted to the same extent, will be widened by Council to the full 2.5 metres & will include the gradual curve around the corner (to join the Semaphore Rd Bikeway) that PortBUG has recommended – see image at the top of this page!
• there is not a lot that can be done at this stage about the very cramped landing behind the northern ramp at Jenkins St (see below) although PAE will ask the developers if the fencing can move back a little to allow more room behind the ramp.

• & finally, once the free-loading & soil preparation works are finished (towards the end of this year), PAE Council will revisit the ‘detour’, establish a final design (including a review of the ramps) & rebuild the pathway to the maximum width possible on a permanent basis.

Council indicated that the Greenway will eventually proceed through the new development along a waterfront route (ie; more or less where Jenkins Street is at present in the photo above), &hopefully with some consultation with PortBUG on its design!

PortBUG received a call this afternoon from a representative of Cedar Woods, the developers of Fletchers Slip & responsible for the apparent closure of Jenkins St. The representative was responding to recent PortBUG enquiries (also sent to Council) expressing a number of concerns about this closure & asking what alternative route was to be provided.

The representative pointed out that Jenkins Street remains a privately owned roadway & confirmed that it is NOW CLOSED to all Greenway users (pedestrians, bicycle users, skaters & – we assume – users of disability mobility devices as well). Of course – barring installation of locked gates – it may be more accurate to describe the street as ‘notionally closed’ as it remains difficult to see how closure might be enforced given the roadway has to remain open for building vehicle movements & there are still other premises located along the roadway!

The rep indicated that those wanting to proceed along the Greenway route are now expected to utilise the currently difficult-to-access, narrow & congested pathway along Nelson Street which links to the Semaphore Road Bikeway at the junction of Semaphore Road & Nelson Street (see below)!

At present it’s hard to see how this can really be described as a viable ‘alternative Greenway route’ – those using this Nelson St pathway (see below) must negotiate narrow & awkwardly located ramps & corners, a narrow & congested footpath & poorly located poles & signs just to get to the existing Semaphore Road Bikeway.

From an ‘active travel’ point of view it’s hard to understand how the inevitable disruption of the Greenway (& impacts on the local community) was not foreseen & the need for more effective community liaison overlooked! The Cedar Woods rep pointed out that because Jenkins St was and remains a private road, they felt a limited responsibility for such liaison (& we’d suggest for continued safe access by Greenway users). She did confirm what we were told last week – that eventually the narrow & substandard footpath along Nelson Street will be rebuilt as a 2.5 metre wide shared-use pathway – but she was not able to offer any insight as to when this might occur. Its construction apparently hinges on approval from DIT & Council so we presume it will not happen anytime soon!

She also pointed out that eventually Jenkins St itself will be rebuilt as a bikeway (or perhaps a shared, bike-friendly roadway – the design goals remain unknown) & will then be returned to Council as part of the Outer Harbour Greenway. However it seems likely this rebuilding will still be a year or so away, & she indicated that heavy vehicles will be a frequent presence on Jenkins Street from the end of March this year!

Obviously the rebuilding of the Nelson Street footpath as a ‘bypass’ should now be a major & we’d suggest urgent priority for Council, DIT & the developers given that the quite heavy daily use the Greenway sees (including by numerous school students & those using mobility devices).

PortBUG is quite disappointed with this outcome in terms of both pre-emptive planning outcomes & community liaison. We have been arguing for improvement of this section of the Nelson St footpath for some years & the development of Fletcher’s Slip has been several years in the making! However we believe improvement of the Nelson Street pathway is now a goal in the draft Walking & Cycling Plan & we will continue to pursue a satisfactory outcome!

In the meantime we would welcome feedback from pathway users, particularly regarding hazardous situations users may encounter! You can contact us at portadbug@gmail.com or comment below.

Outer Harbor Greenway users riding to & from the waterfront or Port CBD may have noticed what appears to be the imminent closure of the bikeway section along Jenkins St at Port Adelaide – connecting the Birkenhead Bridge path & Semaphore Road Bikeway.

A large fence has been erected – apparently by the Fletcher’s Slip housing developers – closing off access to the corner (& the wide Jenkins Street rampway) & creating what we judge to be a dangerous situation for all concerned!

Despite this ramp & partial road closure we’ve noted today that many cyclists continue to rely on this section of the route, negotiating the hazardous entry & exit that has now resulted.

PortBUG has received no notice at all of this apparent closure nor information about the developer’s intentions, provision of alternative routes etc. We have raised a number of concerns with PAE Council & the developers this afternoon & will keep you informed of the outcomes.

If you use this section of the Greenway, please do so WITH CARE!

PA/E residents may notice mention of the Outer Harbor Greenway in the latest PAEtodaynewspaper. It’s quite a good article – there’s unfortunately no photo & on reflection, its statement that children can use the Greenway ‘with a parent or guardian’ seems a bit unnecessary (many already use it to ride to school) – but overall we’re very pleased to see the Council making a greater effort to promote this amazing asset!

The new Walking & Cycling Plan commits the Council to greater promotion of the Greenway & other local cycling routes, which we hope will extend to informative web pages & maybe even an app-based guide to PAE’s Bike Network. In the meantime reader’s may want to check out our very ‘low-tech’ on-line maps of the Port-to-City sections route which you can print off from our Greenway page. https://portadbug.org/…/port-adelaide…/the-ohg-route/

From In Daily: Greens call for ‘Cycling Revolution’ at 2022 election.

The South Australian Greens are calling for an additional $20 million to be poured into the State Bicycle Fund and the establishment of a Walking and Cycling Commissioner ahead of the state election.

Among the other policy commitments from the Greens ahead of the March 19 poll is a state-wide cycling education program for schools, reduced speed limits in residential areas to promote safety and the addition of cycling lanes to new major arterial roads.

The $20 million investment in the State Bicycle Fund would contribute towards develop a “low stress local street network”, while the funds could also be used to provide incentives to local Councils to create pop up bikeways.

The Greens say their “cycling revolution plan” would be funded by their proposed tax on developers which would raise $1.7 billion over four years.

Greens transport spokesperson Robert Simms MLC said it was “embarrassing that South Australia spends less than any other state in the country on cycling infrastructure”.

“The Labor and Liberal parties should join the Greens in making this a real priority in the next parliament. We’re calling on them to match our commitments,” he said.

“At this time of climate crisis, active transport must be a priority for Government. If we’re serious about reducing carbon emissions we need to get serious about cycling. It’s time for the government to put some money on the table.”

The concept of a Walking and Cycling Commissioner – a role independent of government and tasked with promoting active forms of transport – was first floated by Simms in May last year. The Commissioner would conduct research, develop strategies and provide advice to government ministers and authorities on topics related to cycling and walking.

Simms, a former Adelaide City Councillor and federal senator, is the Greens’ lead candidate for the Upper House this year, with public servant and former Greens adviser Yesha Joshi preselected last year as the number two candidate.

The minor party currently holds two seats in the Legislative Council and, along with SA-Best, is vying for the balance of power at the next election.

At long last South Australia is to have a new cycling strategy (our last one – ‘Safety in Numbers’ – ran its course in 2010)!

From DIT: “The draft 2022-2032 Cycling Strategy for South Australia outlines the vision for riding in South Australia and builds on previous successes and achievements.”

“The draft Strategy presents the current state of riding in South Australia and related trends, the barriers to riding and the strategic priorities needed to help increase participation.”

“It recognises the opportunity to promote South Australia as a great place to ride and outlines the objectives, initiatives, actions and priorities to guide future investment, expand and improve cycling infrastructure and support a safe and convenient environment for riding.

You can read or download a copy of the draft Strategy & submit your feedback here. The draft Strategy is open for comment until the 31st March!

See our facebook forum for member discussion of the draft Strategy.

Hi Folks,

1. W&CPlan ‘Have Your Say’ Extended: Last update we told you of an opportunity to Have Your Say by commenting on PAE Council’s new Draft Walking & Cycling Plan, & in particular on the ‘Put it On The Map’ commentary page.

Well we’re pleased to let you know that the final date for providing feedback has been extended to January 9th! So please – plant a flag & Have Your Say!

2. Good News – ALP Commits to Rosewater Loop: PortBUG was recently pleased to learn that the State ALP has made a pre-election commitment to invest $1.5M in developing the Rosewater Loop Bikeway!

This proposed shared path & rail-trail reserve along the disused & now-closed Rosewater Loop Rail Corridor has long been one of several longer-term projects proposed by PortBUG. In 2020 PA/E Council put in an unsuccessful bid for state Gov’t funding & the project is now part of the new draft Walking & Cycling Plan!

Perhaps something to consider when elections come around in 2022! Read an Advertiser article on Labor’s commitment here & check out Council’s detailed masterplan here.

PortBUG really encourages members on our mail list to now take a few minutes to actively contribute to the implementation of the new Port Adelaide/Enfield ‘Walking & Cycling Plan’. 

We’re most definitely not asking you to read the Plan! If the PortBUG has learned anything over the last 3 decades it’s that wading through the endless detail of successive Cycling Plans is not for everyone!

We are suggesting that everyone can very usefully & simply go to the interactive ‘Put It On The Map’ section at the Plan’s Have Your Say page and put in some flags & brief notes to tell Council planners where the bike route & bikeway gaps, problems & opportunities are & your suggestions for resolving or building them! 

This ‘mapping out’ of potential works & projects will actually be the most important phase in the implementation of the new Plan & is one that you can now contribute to directly now!

This is a particularly important opportunity for those residents who live in the central & eastern sections of the PA/E Council Area. Both PortBUG & Council staff acknowledge that the suburbs east of Ottoway & Kilburn have received less attention in previous plans that those around the Port CBD, Harbor and along the Penninsula. We hope that the new Walking & Cycling Plan will address this over the next 5-10 years – so here’s your chance. Act now!

Apologies Folks, the PortBUG update sent out yesterday had incorrect links to the Have Your Say community consultations for the new PA/E ‘Walking & Cycling Plan’ & ‘Integrated Transport Strategy’.

You can check these consultations out here at a corrected version of yesterday’s post…

or… you can go directly to the Council’s Have Your Say pages at the links below:

https://haveyoursay.cityofpae.sa.gov.au/walking-and-cycling-plan

https://haveyoursay.cityofpae.sa.gov.au/integrated-transport-strategy-development

Please take a few minutes to check these pages out and Have Your Say on Council’s (and PortBUG’s) visions for for the future of Active Transport across the North Western areas of Adelaide! Ed.

1.  Community Consultations: Council’s Have Your Say community consultations are now open for both the:

• the new PA/E Walking & Cycling Plan &…
• the over-arching Integrated Transport Plan.

Both of these new Plans will guide the ongoing development of bike paths & cycling access & Active Transport generally across the Port Adelaide/Enfield area for the next decade of so. As we all know, the next 10 years are likely to be crucial for the development of sustainable transport – especially from a ‘transport equity’ p.o.v – so please take some time out to have a look at & comment on both plans!

2. Semaphore Road Bike Paths – Safety Audit: Readers will recall that a couple of months ago a group of Semaphore Road traders & the Semaphore Mainstreet Association called for the closure of the unique off-road bike paths constructed when Semaphore Road was renovated a decade or so ago (see September’s post here).

Although the concerns expressed focussed on safety issues, traders & the SMA were also very clearly interested in the potential for their further expansion into the public space (outdoor dining & trading etc)! While the BUG will always seek to resolve genuine safety issues, in this case we weren’t convinced there were any of significance & we made this point quite strongly. We argued strongly for the positive role & value of the bike paths, & called for both an audit of safety issues as well as a proper review of their function & design.

We are now told that we can expect a Road Safety Audit of the bike paths to be tabled at the December meeting of Council along with some recommended design improvements. So stay tuned!

3. Proposed Greenway Route Closures: Readers will also recall that earlier this month we had notice of proposals to partially close sections of the Greenway through the Port’s Waterfront between Lipson St & the Birkenhead Bridge. The results of Council’s Have Your Say community consultation will also go to Council at the December meeting. The consultation is open until next Monday, 29th. You can have your say here!

PortBUG is pleased to confirm that the recent meeting (9th Nov) of PA/E Council has endorsed both the new Integrated Transport Strategy & the new Walking & Cycling Plan.

Both remain in draft form and will now be released for public consultation!

These documents propose placing Active Transport – including walking & cycling – front & centre in the PA/E Councils transport (and more general) planning activities over the next decade or so. Results will be seen in their implementation of course – but it’s a great start!

It’s also encouraging to see that Council also endorsed further investigation (including community consultations) for proposed 40km/hr speed zones in Port Adelaide & on Semaphore Road (Military Rd to Swan Trc).

Hi Folks, Apologies for following our previous blog post so soon with another, but we have just been notified of a development proposal on the Port Waterfront which will have a major impact on the Outer Harbor Greenway – specifically travel along Lipson St, McLaren Parade & the Waterfront itself. We want to respond to the proposal below from PA/E Council & need to know your views & have your ideas for possible alternatives.

Council Engineer Shaun de Waal writes “… we are currently consulting on the proposed Rydges Hotel Development which is located on the corner of McLaren Parade and Lipson Street. During construction they will require to occupy Council Road Reserve for which a Permit and Authorisation would need to be granted by Council. The granting of this permit has a community engagement component prior to being reported on at Council.

Given the OH Greenway runs along the boundary of the work site I would like to make the BUG aware of the proposal should you wish to provide written feedback on the matter. Information pertaining to the proposal is available on a Have Your Say page (link below). I have also attached the map which indicates the main impacts.

Key Impacts are summarised as follows:

https://haveyoursay.cityofpae.sa.gov.au/rydges-hotel-construction-access-permits

• Lipson St Plaza will be reduced to 6.0m wide from the edge of the bulding (tree planters to be temporarily removed)
• Wharf frontage reduced to 4.0m from waters edge, impacted bins and seating will be relocated to edge of fence resulting in an reduced clear width
• Fall barrier to be provided along waters edge
• Due to the constraints along the wharf it is proposed to require cyclists to dismount along the narrowed section
• McLaren Parade to operate as one way between Lighthouse Lane and Lipson Street with some periods of full road closure during construction

I am happy to work with you on a possible temporary detour of the greenway to around this site.”

So…. What do you think?

• can you suggest alternatives to the temporary ‘treatments’ Shaun has outlined here?
• can you suggest alternative routes that bypass Lipson St (north), McLaren Parade &/or the Waterfront?

The PortBUG has long contemplated such alternatives as a permanent change for the Greenway route through the Port CBD & Waterfront, notably:

1. From Lipson St (south) – left at Godfrey, across Commercial Road & down Dale St, right at Church Street, across St Vincent St to cross the Birkenhead Bridge
2. From Lipson (south) – left at Butler St, right at Kyle St & then left at St Vincent St footpath to cross to Commercial Rd/Lighthouse Square then left at Nile to Nelson St & the Birkenhead Bridge
3. From Lipson (south) via Butler to the wide east-side footpath on Commercial Rd to cross to Lighthouse Square, and thence to Birkenhead Bridge as above.

Please let us know your ideas asap via email at portadbug@gmail.com or via our facebook group.

Heaps of interesting cycling-related stuff on the PA/E Council agenda tomorrow evening, including:

• a revised draft of the Integrated Transport Plan and… 
• tabling of the new Walking & Cycling Plan (Note: both plans are up for Council ratification & public consultation)
• new proposals for 40km/hr speed limits at Semaphore & the Port Adelaide CBD (including key sections of the Outer Harbor Greenway)
• a proposal for safety improvements at the intersection of Semaphore Road & Fletcher Road, Birkenhead
• expansion of the existing Port River loop path to the eastern Inner-Harbour.

PA/E Integrated Transport Plan – important updates:

• “…Key opportunities to combat climate change and sustainable transport are included within the ITS, with key targets and indictors listed under each theme…the new strategy will have a focus on “Net Zero” emissions for the organisation.

• “This Strategy looks beyond vehicular transport to focus on the entire transport network and addresses the movement of people, services and goods. It does this by providing direction in relation to active transport, public transport, traffic management and road safety, management of parking, integrated land use and transport planning, and freight.

Draft Walking & Cycling Plan (section 12.2.8, starts 206):

“The W&CP seeks to enhance walking and cycling as a main mode of transport through the creation of a safer and more accessible network. 

“The W&CP sets out desired outcomes and delivery focus areas which are centred around providing facilities for the ‘interested, but concerned’ proportion of the population… people across a broad spectrum who are willing to undertake greater active travel if high quality, safe and connected infrastructure is in place. 

“The key priorities over the next five years focus on improved safety and wayfinding of existing established routes along with the installation of new routes to provide better connectivity. Some key areas are detailed below:

• Gillman East-West Bikeway Connector 
• Enfield East-West Connector 
• Port Adelaide CBD improvements 
• Outer Harbor Greenway Improvements 
• Improved north-south connecting neighbourhood links on the eastern side of the Council area.

“The Port Adelaide Bicycle User Group (PortBUG) have been engaged throughout the development of the draft plan. Council Administration met with PortBUG representatives in July 2021 to discuss the draft plan and their feedback in detail. Further engagement with the PortBUG and other stakeholders will continue moving forward through the finalisation of the plan and implementation.” 

“The Walking and Cycling Plan identifies a number of key investment areas for Council to deliver on over the life of the plan. The proposed infrastructure priority investment plan has indicative costs which total over $2 million. It is proposed to allocate a minimum of $250,000 per year for the life of the plan.”

You can read more of the draft Walking & Cycling Plan here.

1. Semaphore Foreshore Master Plan – Community Engagement. The PA/E Council is developing a Master Plan for the redesign, updating, renovation & revival of the Semaphore Foreshore – the area at the western end of Semaphore Road and extending from Union Street (to the north) and Hart Street (to the south). The potential scope of the Masterplan is extensive & Council has effectively assured us that ‘anything is possible’!

From Councils web page:

“We want your help to develop a Master Plan for the Semaphore Foreshore. The Foreshore is a much loved and iconic destination for Semaphore locals and visitors. It supports the local economy, environment, and a strong sense of community.

Preparing a Master Plan provides an opportunity to re-imagine the area and the role it will play into the future. This includes considering amenity, resilience to climate change, recreation and play spaces, events and entertainment, safety, heritage, technology, accessibility, and business activities.”

This Masterplan is important for cycling & bicycle use for many reasons, not the least being its potential to further encourage recreational & every-day cycling for both residents & visitors. We now have an opportunity to ensure much safer & more efficient connections between Semaphore Road & the Coast Park’s Shared Use Path – the Coastal Bikeway, as well as ensuring that the Foreshore is simply a much more pleasant place to visit, especially for younger folk, families & children!

Council is embarking on an initial community engagement regarding development of the Foreshore Masterplan to identify what community and stakeholders value about the Foreshore and their ideas for the future. If you’d like to see the Master Plan & participate in its development please go to Councils Have Your Say page. Note that you have until 5pm, Friday, 5th of November to comment!

2. Progress with the Rosewater Loop: At it’s October meeting the PA/E Council accepted & supported a Council report – ‘Rosewater & Ottoway Loop/Concept Master Plan’. Council will now share this masterplan proposal with the community & seek ongoing discussions with State Government to pursue the project!

Perhaps the most significant ‘next big project’ on the PA/E Councils cycling agenda, the proposed Rosewater Loop (see below) circles through & connects the adjacent suburbs of Alberton, Rosewater & Ottoway – residential areas that are poorly served by public transport & to a significant extent isolated & ‘cut off’ from shops & services by very busy roads.

Currently consisting of made & unmade pathways in the Gillman Rail Yards reserve & the now-closed Rosewater Rail Line – the route will provide outstanding recreational opportunities for the local community as well as direct walking & cycling connections to the Outer Harbour Greenway shared-use pathway, the Alberton Rail Station, into the Port CBD shopping & services precinct & to Semaphore & points beyond.

Greetings Bicyclistas,

The PortBUG Coordinating Group has been in recess for the past 2-3 months, essentially because we’ve been awaiting the long-delayed final drafts of the new Walking & Cycling Plan & its associated & overarching Integrated Transport Plan (ITP), & the announcement of community consultation processes for both.

But we haven’t been asleep!

We can now tell you that Council (on October 12th) at long last ratified the draft Integrated Transport Plan for public consultation. We expect to hear of arrangements for this consultation in the next few weeks so stay tuned! It’s worth noting that the initial in-line community consultations for the ITP last year received the greatest number of responses for any such processes held by Council! We are told that the great majority of responses were from residents interested in cycling & pedestrian issues!

From Council’s October agenda:

“Council has commenced the development of its first Integrated Transport Strategy (ITS)…an opportunity to create a well-planned and people friendly transport environment. The ITS is envisaged to be a guiding strategy for the next ten-year period 2021 to 2031… to create a framework that will guide transport investment and policy decisions.”

“This Strategy looks beyond vehicular transport to focus on the entire transport network and address the movement of people, services and goods. It does this by providing direction in relation to active transport, public transport, traffic management and road safety, management of parking, integrated land use and transport planning, and freight.“

PortBUG has great hopes for Port Adelaide/Enfield’s new Integrated Transport Plan. If appropriately supported & funded it will be a very progressive step forward for a Council facing enormous transport-related challenges over the next decade. It will be the first such ITP undertaken by any Council in SA and will provide an overall framework for the inclusion (see below) of cycling & Active Transport generally into all of Council’s planning & investment processes.

It’s also worth noting (see below) that cycling & Active Transport will have a high profile in & be central to the outcomes of the new ITP!

We understand that the new Walking & Cycling Plan – which will be framed by the ITP – is currently being rewritten and will be available for public consultation later this year.

Brett from NZ’s Big Bike Film Night tells us:

“Good afternoon – Brett from the Big Bike Film Night here, I just wanted to contact you about an event, our upcoming film screening next month at the Wallis Cinemas Mitcham.

In essence, this event is a short film fest style occasion that celebrates cycling in all its glorious shapes and forms. The collection runs for just over 2 1/4 hours and has an absolutely breath-taking range of short cycling films which are a great reminder of why we love to ride our bike with films that celebrate the fun, adventure and inspiration that cycling enables, whatever your ride is. 

Our attached Summary details some of the inspiring films that will be showcased, and this year every ticket purchased to attend a screening of the Big Bike Film Night goes in the draw to WIN A TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND thanks to our Presenting Partner Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand.

I hope you can share the details of this event with your community. 

I think there is a real appetite for people wanting to see this, especially when something as unique as this is being shown, and I’m sure Adelaide bike enthusiasts will enjoy this celebration of the humble bicycle.”

When: Thursday 21st October, 6.30pm

Where: Wallis Cinema, Mitcham.

Ticket Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/BSEWS

Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/UblE0TSVcBA