Response to Bike SA article: ‘Unley Rd should be catalyst for real change, not more of the same’ (22 August 2024)

By Michael Hewitson AM, Mayor of Unley

Removing the part time and incomplete bike lanes on Unley Road would complete the transition of cycling from main roads to quiet, leafy streets where bikes can enjoy right of way and relatively few cars. Well over 90% of cyclists, especially commuters, now use the bike routes such as Rugby-Porter, making Unley the leader in safe cycle commuting. Preventing through traffic for cars on these cycle routes and the 40kph speed limit make these an enjoyable and safe cycling experience for commuters, families and sports cyclists.

In return it is only fair that the main roads are upgraded to provide a better traffic flow for busses and cars. Part of the cost of these upgrades should include the provision of safe, cool and shady, and commuter friendly bikeways.

Safe cycling routes encourage more cyclists and reduce car commutes, benefiting all.

Providing safe passages for cyclists within our community continues to be a priority of the City of Unley, especially for the 68% of our community who would ride if they felt safe to do so, and particularly for the 60% ‘Interested but concerned’ riders who do not generally feel safe riding in traffic or in on-road bike lanes.

I was asked by the Bike SA members on our “Wednesday Wheelers” ride to respond to Bike SA’s approach that maintaining current unsafe cycling routes is the best way forward. Bicycle lanes on arterial roads such as Unley Road often end where they are needed most, exposing the rider to more unsafe conditions as they try to navigate and weave through traffic. Parked cars add to the danger for riders on major roads, as car doors flying open is a frequent occurrence!

Better transport solutions, such as off-street or separated bike lanes, are needed to encourage cycling. This would enable cycling to be the mode of transport choice for many who currently refrain from riding to work, or school, because they feel unsafe doing so.

What we need are continuous bikeways with cyclist having the right-of-way, without the risks of car doors or cars driving at unsafe speeds; and including the planting of trees to provide shade and cooling for riders. This is not possible on narrower 60 km/h inner city arterial roads dominated by motorised vehicles.

To deliver and encourage cycling, Bike SA needs to value better solutions that can be built now.

Unley Road has over seven times the reported bicycle accidents than that of the adjacent parallel Rugby/Porter bikeway, and just a fraction of the cyclists using the road. In five years, there were only two minor injuries on Rugby/Porter, including one where the cyclist admitted to riding at night without lights. We aim to ensure that this bikeway is at least as fast as Unley Road for the ‘Strong and Fearless’ riders in the cycling community.

As the Rugby/Porter bikeway ends up in Mitcham Council, Mitcham Council voted to change the priority for cyclists on the continuation of Rugby Street beyond Cross Road. This will allow cyclists to have right-of-way for the entirety of the bikeway.

Unley Council also sought the support of Mitcham to explore whether a 2001 Transport SA plan could be implemented along Unley Road, including a central median strip to allow the planting of trees and right-hand turns in slip lanes that did not block the traffic flow. 

Unfortunately, the 2001 plan was deemed unviable due to the heritage veranda posts at the road edge of heritage shop fronts, meaning buses and trucks will not fit on the road if the bike lanes are removed.

In summary, Unley Council is committed to building a network of safe priority bikeways NOW. We need to be looking at alternatives to main roads to provide this facility. Goodwood and Unley Roads simply do not have the space to provide this for cyclists until the whole of Greater Adelaide’s public non road transport network is grown. Should we wait 50 years, and hope for “real change” when we can take action now? Because it is so unsafe, Unley Road is a catalyst to take immediate action now. Real Change.

Michael Hewitson is a Wednesday Wheeler Rider, long term Bike SA member, a 1% “ fearless riders” that use Unley Road. For shopping I use the parallel bikeways on either side of Unley Road.

Response to Bike SA article: ‘Unley Rd should be catalyst for real change, not more of the same’ (22 August 2024)