The State Parliament’s Select Committee on Public and Active Transport has handed down its report, calling on the State Government to adopt 13 key recommendations to improve freight, public and active transport in South Australia. 

Three recommendations focus specifically on cycling and active transport and outline the need for safer streets for those who walk and cycle. A further two recommendations relate to e-Scooters, with another two calling on the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) to improve their procedures and policies.

The committee, chaired by Greens MLC Robert Simms and comprised of representatives from the Labor, Liberal, and SA Best parties, received more than 100 written submissions and heard direct evidence from 50 witnesses, including Bicycle SA.

Bicycle SA welcomes and supports the recommendations as handed down by the Select Committee, and are hopeful the Government will take action to address the current transportation imbalance which exists in South Australia.

“One of the biggest barriers to cycling in South Australia, and Australia more broadly, is safety and the perception of safety. We have heard time and again that South Australians enjoy riding for recreation and for commuting, but that many are dissuaded as they feel unsafe riding on our streets and roads,” said Brett Gillett, CEO of Bicycle SA.

“We also know the enormous benefits that cycling can bring to our communities and to our state through better health, environmental, economic, and congestion-busting outcomes.

“These recommendations spell out practical steps the Government can take toward creating a safer environment for those who walk and cycle”.

The active transport recommendations spelled out by the committee are as follows:

Recommendation 5: 

The Committee recommends that state government should review and develop: 

a) targets for increasing patronage of active travel, and action or implementation plans to ensure
those targets are met;
b) regular monitoring and reporting on targets for increasing patronage of active travel; and
c) specific strategies focussed on safety of cyclists and pedestrians.

Recommendation 6: 

The Committee recommends that state government (in collaboration with local government and other
stakeholders): 

a) conducts trials of (hard) separated bike infrastructure on some metropolitan and/or regional
roads;
b) conducts trials of traffic calming measures (including speed limit reductions) to improve safety
for pedestrians and cyclists; and
c) commences planning for a state-wide, integrated, separated cycling network.

Recommendation 12: 

The Committee recommends the Department for Infrastructure and Transport collaborates with Wellbeing SA and other stakeholders to collect and report on data on active forms of travel that meet targets for increasing patronage of active travel.

The recommendations relating to e-Scooters are spelled out below:

Recommendation 7: 

The Committee recommends that state government, in collaboration with local government and other
stakeholders:

a) legislates to enable use of privately owned e-scooters and other e-personal mobility devices
in public spaces, in line with other state jurisdictions;
b) considers adopting definitions of e-scooters and other e-personal mobility devices consistent
with National Model Law;
c) considers ways that e-scooters and other e-personal mobility devices may be safely moved
into bike lanes on roads without compromising the safety of cyclists or device users;
d) reviews speed limits of  e-scooters and other e-personal mobility devices on footpaths to
better protect the safety of pedestrians; and
e) gathers data on the use of private and commercial e-scooters and other e-personal mobility
devices, including compliance and injuries to pedestrians and riders.

Recommendation 8: 

The Committee recommends that the matter of compulsory third party insurance for private and commercial e-scooters be referred to the Attorney-General for review and advice. The Committee recommends that the state government resolves:

a) the classification ambiguity regarding commercial and private use of e-scooters, specifically
whether they are to be regarded as a motorised vehicle or as a bicycle; and
b) outstanding matters regarding high insurance excess amounts, easily voided insurance
policies, and the power of e-scooter providers in deciding the outcome of insurance claims.

Of note are two additional recommendations which call for the Department for Infrastructure and Transport to improve their internal policies and processes to cease the promotion of cars above other forms of travel and to improve transparency and consultation for major projects:

Recommendation 10: 

The Committee recommends that the Department of Infrastructure and Transport reviews its internal
policies and procedures to:

a) remove messaging that promotes cars over other mode of travel; and
b) actively promote alternatives to car travel to improve community health and wellbeing and
reduce carbon emissions.

Recommendation 11: 

The Committee recommends that the Department of Infrastructure and Transport increase
transparency and consultation for major projects.

The full report can be accessed on the SA Parliament website.