Cycling organisation Pedal Power ACT has released its Election Policy Platform, calling for the next ACT Government to invest more in active travel – “one of the cheapest and most effective health and environmental interventions a government can make”.

Pedal Power’s four-point plan urges the government to:

1. design, build, upgrade, and maintain its active travel network of cycle lanes and paths, shared paths and footpaths;
2. create pedestrian and cycle-friendly neighbourhoods by reducing speed limits, creating Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, and upgrading lighting on all active travel paths;
3. invest in recreational cycling, such as Stromlo Forest Park and a cycle tourism campaign
4. build a highly connected, diverse, medium-density city

“The ACT Government has made important strides in advancing active travel in the last term of Parliament, including releasing the Active Travel Plan and Design Guide, building important new links such as the Belconnen Cycle Way and Bowen Drive Pop-Up Lane, and investing more money into path maintenance,” Pedal Power CEO Dr Simon Copland said. (Read his views on the election.)

“However, there is a lot more we need to do. Investment into active travel is still far too low, and projects are taking too long to roll out.

“The next Government needs to step up the ambition, providing a real, practical and forward-thinking plan about how we can encourage thousands more Canberrans into active travel. This is one of the cheapest and most effective health and environmental interventions a Government can make, and we know it will be effective as research shows that more people want to get on their bikes or walk more often, but they don’t feel it is safe or convenient to do so.”

Design, build, upgrade and maintain the active travel network

Pedal Power states that many Canberrans would like to take up regular active travel, but do not feel the network is safe or convenient enough to do so. Path maintenance and secure end-of-trip facilities would make the network more useable.

Pedal Power wants the government:

• to build a city-wide connected, safe, and convenient cycle network, within the next five years
• to ensure that at least 90 per cent of cycle lanes, shared paths, and footpaths are well maintained.
• to build bike cages or other secure, monitored bike parking facilities and other end-of-trip facilities in Canberra’s town and group centres.
• tomaintain accurate, consistent, complete, wayfinding signage on paths and digital tools.
• to  stopbuilding road duplications or additional lanes to reduce traffic congestion, and invest that money into active travel instead.

Create pedestrian and cycle-friendly neighbourhoods

Reducing speed limits, changing design, and upgrading lighting would make neighbourhoods more pedestrian and cycle friendly, and encourage active travel.

• Reduce the speed limit to 30 km/hour in all people precincts, local and urban streets, and town centres. (This is in line with World Health Organization recommendations.) Redesign streets and intersections to prevent drivers from speeding.
• Trial Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in Canberra suburbs.
• Host an annual Sustainable Travel Street Party to encourage people to give up their cars for a day.
• Transform town centre streets into pedestrian-only or shared roads – suggestions include Wooley (Dickson), Hibberson (Gungahlin), Lonsdale (Braddon), and Ankertell (Tuggeranong) Streets.

Invest in recreational cycling

• Build and upgrade active travel recreational routes across Canberra to boost cycling participation rates.
• Complete the ACT’s share of the rail trail from Canberra to Cooma.
• A cycling tourism campaign to attract national and international tourists.

Build a highly connected, diverse, medium-density city

Develop more vibrant, walkable, and rideable neighbourhoods, through increasing density and improving public transport connections.

• Develop Canberra as a walkable ‘fifteen-minute city’ with excellent public transport, integrated with active travel.
• Reform planning laws to embrace missing middle housing, creating a denser Canberra where more people can access services and employment via active travel.
• Grow public transport services linked to an appropriate active travel network.
• Ensure all public transport stops are accessible via active travel; that major public transport locations have secure bike parking; and that all mass public transport vehicles carry bicycles. Construct secure bike parking facilities at all public transport interchanges.

Pedal Power urges the government to fund Canberra’s transport organisations through service agreements, consistent with current funding for environment and social service organisations.

“Active travel can transform our city – improving people’s health, reducing carbon emissions, battling congestion, and creating more vibrant communities,” Dr Copland said. “Pedal Power’s election platform presents what we need to do to truly make Canberra an active city.”

ACT Greens’ response

Jo Clay MLA, ACT Greens spokeswoman for transport, active travel and road safety, said: “Pedal Power does a great job in not only representing Canberrans who ride, but also supporting Canberrans in having the option to walk or ride. It’s great to see them release their proposals for walking and riding in Canberra in the lead-up to the next election.

“In this term of the Assembly, I’ve been proud to push for better paths and safer streets, but we still have a huge way to go.

“In the coming weeks, the ACT Greens will be releasing our policy initiatives for walking and riding part of our broader plan for a liveable Canberra.”