Dangerous Dash
31 July, 2008
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31 Jul 08 @ 09:50am by Monique Ross
Hot seat . . . Jason Titman is calling for cyclists to dismount along Stanley St.
WOOLLOONGABBA: Woolloongabba business owners are calling for urgent action to stop collisions between cyclists and pedestrians in the busy Stanley St precinct.
The Woolloongabba Business Association (WBA) reports daily near-misses and minor injuries along the footpath between the Pacific Motorway and Ipswich Rd.
Threats to outdoor dining, $45 on-the-spot fines for cyclists, and accusations of shopkeepers’ furniture and sandwich boards clogging the footpath are deepening the row.
Cyclists say the problem could be fixed by removing footpath furniture and encouraging greater pedestrian awareness.
Chalk Hotel general manager Jason Titman said more than 6000 people visited the hotel each week and the extreme behaviour of a small group of cyclists was endangering them.
“They get up some speed along here and people aren’t expecting it,” he said.
He said signs asking cyclists to dismount in the area would fix the problem.
“I’m a cyclist myself and I don’t want to force cyclists on to the road ... all we want is for them to dismount and I think 99 per cent of cyclists would be happy to do.”
Woolloongabba Business Association (WBA) treasurer Glenn Maymann said the issue was affecting council’s plans to transform the area into a dining and shopping precinct.
“They’re trying to introduce alfresco dining on the one hand, but on the other hand they’re not doing anything to fix this issue.”
Mr Maymann said council had put up signs to make cyclists ride along the other side of the street, and installed concrete bollards 1m from doorways, but neither had worked.
Sergeant Clinton Herman from Dutton Park Police Station said there was “great potential” for severe injury in a collision.
“It’s a busy commercial strip and the problem is exacerbated by the fact there is a downhill slope.”
Sgt Herman said signs asking riders to dismount had been effective in other areas and if installed, police guaranteed they would enforce the warnings with on-the-spot fines of $45.
Central Business District Bicycle User Group (CBD BUG) co-convenor Paul French said the problem was caused by traders clogging up the footpath with furniture and sandwich boards.
“Traders have to be conscious; a lot of them do push the limits,” he said.
Mr French said he rode along Stanley St every day and had never heard about any collisions.
He said having to dismount would make cycling “unviable”.
“Cyclists are much more aware of their surroundings than pedestrians, who are usually chatting on the phone or listening to their Ipods they’re generally the problem,” he said.
Mr French said he supported the addition of a bike lane on Stanley St.
“At the end of the day, cyclists want to use the road but we’re forced onto the footpath by motorists.”
Councillor Helen Abrahams (The Gabba) said council officers had investigated the issue and were considering adding a bike lane on the street.
Cr Abrahams said dismount signs were difficult to enforce and sent the wrong message that cyclists were at fault.
She said separating cyclists from pedestrians and shoppers was a better alternative.
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