The ACT Greens are urging theย ACT Government to provide better paths and infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, rather than focusing solely on roads.
Joย Clayย MLA, ACT Greens Spokesperson for Transport, criticised the government for including road projects in their $94 million active transport budget, which she argues do not benefit pedestrians or cyclists.
In budget estimates yesterday, Ms Clay and fellow Greens MLA Laura Nuttall pushed for clarity on how much funding was allocated to paths and cycle lanes.ย
โEveryone benefits from having safe and well-maintained paths in our suburbs and across our city,โ Ms Clay said.
โUnfortunately, all across the city, weโre hearing from everyday Canberrans that weโre not getting the upgrades and repairs needed.
โWhile the City Services Minister [Tara Cheyne] and others in the ACT Government have claimed that $94 million is being spent on active transport, this figure includes many road projects, which donโt necessarily do anything for pedestrians or bike riders.ย
โNew roads, road upgrades and road shoulders are not infrastructure for people to walk or ride around the city, especially if they donโt come with paths or separated bike lanes.
โUnfortunately, today I didn’t receive a clear explanation as to how much of this $94 million was actually going towards paths or cycle lanes. I look forward to getting details back on this from the minister.
โWe know based on previous answers to questions on notice that at least $16 million of supposed โactive travelโ funding had been for the Monaro Highway Upgrade, despite this project containing no walking or riding infrastructure.
โIt is unconscionable for the ACT Government to continue counting road projects without paths or bike lanes as active travel infrastructure.
โCanberrans deserve a well-connected city with genuine options to get around without a car. This means buses and light rail, but it also means infrastructure for people to be able to walk or ride.
โThe ACT Greens want to see greater investment in path infrastructure across our suburbs in order to make Canberra truly liveable city.โ
