On Cycling and Roadworks
I tells ya, I am getting more and more annoyed at the roadworks for the North South Bypass Tunnel. Don't get me wrong: I think that it is probably needed (but that is another rant for another day), but they could perhaps make it a damn side safer for all invloved.
I am a cyclist. I choose to cycle to work, as driving is far too much hassle, and cycling gives me my exercise (so that I do not have to waste money on a Gym). On my way in to work, I have to cross Ipswich road where it goes under the freeway. This is where they are doing roadworks. They have taken away the cycle bridge next to the freeway so that they can widen the freeway so that the tunnell entrance/exits cna be put in.
Now, in itself, I do not have a problem with it. I think that Brisbane has been neglected far to long by all levels of politics, and that we all have to put up with some pain while infrastructure projects are constructed.
However, that does not give the powers that be the ability to stuff it up for everyone. They have made that crossing so damn dangerous. WHen you have 30 cyclists all trying to cross at a pedestrian crossing (as well as other pedestrians), and then be forced to cross a fairly busy road (particiularly when the lights change) on a blind corner, I just shudder to think that some cyclist/pedesdtrian who is perhaps not paying a lot of attention is going to be hit.
All this could be so eassily avoided, if the planners thought like a cyclist/pedestrian. I mean, how much would it cost to move the crossing down to the other lights of the intersection? Maybe a$1000? or even $5000 (if it is that much, then someone os rorting the system)? For a project who's cost is now $4 Billion, what would $5K be? And while they are at it, why not change the crossing so that the walk sign turns green even if no one has pressed it? I mean, how much effort would that be?
I can guarrantee that if Mr Newman was cycling in, there would be changes.
Discuss