Cycling advocates are demanding better infrastructure. On Monday, Pedal Power ACT members will present a petition to Chris Steel MLA, ACT Minister for Roads and Active Travel.

The petition calls on the ACT Government to design, build, and upgrade Canberra’s active travel and cycling network within the next five years and build upon this network through invited feedback from the community to identify additional missing links.

The petition has run for two months, and received more than 1,200 signatures, Pedal Power says.

“We are calling on the Government to build a connected, safe, and convenient cycle and active travel network, as proposed as priority two of the ACT Government’s Draft Active Travel Plan,” Dr Simon Copland, Pedal Power’s executive director, said. “We want the Government to immediately improve the proposed active travel network as part of the final draft of the Active Travel Plan and commit to conducting annual reviews of the project.”

If the Active Travel Plan is not implemented soon, Pedal Power claims, “Canberra will become a more car-centric environment, spread out, and hostile to active travel alternatives… This is a feasible and valid social investment that will increase people’s health, reduce emissions, and assist in the cost-of-living crisis.”

The petition also asks for the Government to increase funding for maintenance of cycle lanes, shared paths, and footpaths; to install raised pedestrian crossings at all road crossings not protected by traffic lights on principal cycle and active travel routes; and to build secure end-of-trip facilities in each of Canberra’s town and groups centres.

“These improvements are essential as a poorly constructed bike network can literally be a life hazard,” Dr Copland said.

“One of our members, Paul O’Dwyer, suffered a very serious accident last year after he was hit by a car while riding on the painted bike lane on Northbourne Avenue. The injuries Paul sustained will impact him for the rest of his life. But they wouldn’t have happened if Paul had been able to ride on a fully separated and protected bike lane. Paint isn’t infrastructure, and we’re here calling on the Government to improve our infrastructure across the city to stop accidents like Paul’s from happening.”

The following organisations signed the petition: the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS), the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS), the Conservation Council ACT Region, Greater Canberra, Braddon Collective, Canberra by Bike, We Ride Australia, Canberra Bike Polo, Safe Streets to School Canberra, the Fyshwick Business Association, Village of Hall and District Progress Association, the Public Transport Association of Canberra, Living Streets Canberra, Now I Can Run Inc., SEE-Change, and Switched on Cycles.

Elle Lawless, executive director of the Conservation Council ACT Region, said the infrastructure for cycling and other forms of active travel needs to be explicitly prioritised and integrated with accessible public transport.

“Transport emissions contribute 63 per cent to the ACT’s direct greenhouse emissions,” Ms Lawlses said. “Our transport choices have a significant impact on our environment, the liveability of our city, and our productivity, health and wellbeing.”

ACTCOSS CEO Dr Devin Bowles echoed the focus on health.

“This petition calls for active travel infrastructure that is a critical component of achieving a healthier, more equitable Canberra,” he said. “Our community is unlikely to reverse the trend of increasing obesity rates without a shift towards active travel. 

“With cost of living pressures making Canberrans rethink all of their expenses, including for travel, we now have a real opportunity to help people make the shift to lower cost, more sustainable travel options.”