Ipswich City Council is expanding its cycle safety program to reduce hazards such as stormwater grates and known bike crash locations.
Infrastructure and Emergency Management Committee Chairperson Cr Cheryl Bromage said Council had installed 66 bicycle safe grates across the city through this program after a 2012 audit identified hundreds of traditional parallel bar stormwater grates which could trap bicycle wheels. Grates are also being upgraded through other Council road projects.
“Upgrading traditional stormwater grates to bicycle safe grates has merit and should continue to be delivered by Council,” she said.
“However, now that the most critical stormwater grate locations have been upgraded, it is proposed that the Cycle Safety and Mobility Improvements project list be expanded and prioritised to also include other types of bicycle safety and improvement infrastructure projects.”
Cr Bromage said the expanded program would provide “small scale, quick win, safety and mobility focused cycle infrastructure projects”, including:
- Bicycle safe grates;
- Kerb/ transition ramps;
- Short sections of new/ re-aligned shared paths;
- Pavement treatments/ road markings;
- Removal/ relocation of roadside hazards;
- Bicycle loop detectors, bicycle push buttons at signals, signal co-ordination; and
- Regulatory, warning and directional signage.
Cr Bromage said potential projects would be identified and prioritised using various criteria, including addressing a known crash site, removing hazards, making it safer for cyclists and improving bike routes.
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