Kurilpa Bridge has been named one of the 10 most dangerous roads for cyclists in Brisbane according to user data from the interactive map app BikeSpot.
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The bridge, opened in 2009, came in at number six on the list due to its 10km/h speed limit which many cyclists find unreasonable. One BikeSpot user reported receiving a $464 fine for travelling at a ‘jogging pace.’
Queensland Transport and Main Roads’ own guidelines state bicycles can become unstable below 11km/h, yet they still advocate for speeds of 15-25 km/h on well-designed bike paths. This had led many cyclists to either ignore the limit or avoid the bridge completely.
“The 10 kph speed limit is unreasonable. It causes bike riders to either ignore the speed limit or avoid this bridge and take alternate routes which are often less safe,” one user commented on BikeSpot.
Some have suggested raising the limit to 20km/h to match the nearby Goodwill Bridge.
The $63.3 million Kurilpa Bridge, dubbed the world’s largest tensegrity pedestrian and cycle bridge, was designed to be a green transportation link but the ultra-low speed limit makes it challenging for cyclists to utilise.
Besides Kurilpa Bridge, other Brisbane roads, including Sylvan Road in Toowong, the Western Fwy Bikeway, and Dickson St in Wooloowin were flagged as top danger zones by app users.
About BikeSpot
BikeSpot is a joint initiative between CrowdSpot and the Amy Gillett Foundation, funded by the Australian Government’s Safe Cycling Program.
In 2005, elite cyclist Amy Gillett was on a training ride in Germany with five of her Australian teammates when tragedy struck. A car collided with the group, killing the 29-year-old Gillett while her teammates survived. Her shocking death sent waves through the international cycling community.
Gillett was an accomplished rider who competed for Australia. She also mentored younger athletes and advocated tirelessly for rider safety. News of the fatal crash and her death at just 29 years old sparked an outpouring of grief across the cycling world.
The accident itself highlighted the dangers riders face on public roads.
The interactive map allows cyclists to identify roads they consider safe or dangerous to ride. By crowdsourcing data from riders, BikeSpot 2023 aims to provide insights into cycling safety issues across communities.
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Published 20-December-2023
