Cycling in Brisbane Australia
Redcliffe route ?
Today in the Coffee Appreciation Society group, David mentioned a Redcliffe Peninsula Loop ride.
It piqued my interest, and I went looking for some maps online. Then CamDS posted a question about it too, so it's probably worth bringing out!
I found some maps of the Zupps ride, one starting from Southbank, one from Aspley. Is this what people talk about when they talk about a Redcliffe loop ? Is it doable without the Zupps bunch around you ?
Anyone want to talk us through it ?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Doc Embrey on -
Do you know why the overpass was closed?
While I can imagine some awkwardness getting on to the overpass in peak traffic times when travelling south, at all other times it doesn't seem like an unreasonably risky place to ride - if everyone obeys the road rules.
The conditions on this overpass are really no different than other similar overpasses. The overpass where Rode Road crosses at Old Northern Road comes to mind as a similar example. A lot of people I know won't go there on a bike, but I don't see it as being too risky. On both the approach requires care because of the traffic turning left, but if everyone obeys the road rules there are no problems.
I am curious because I had not seen reports of accidents or fatalities there, and now wonder if the decision was evidence based, or opinion based. On the face of it, the matter seems to be a case of "I'm impatient so you have to get off the road"!
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Permalink Reply by Aaron Ball on
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According to a story in the local paper, TMR closed it to cyclists in response to complaints from cyclists about the dangers of the concrete wall on the actual overpass. The story didn't indicate the lane changes leading to it were a problem. according to the paper TMR are liaising with cyclist groups to come up with a solution to the problem. The story also indicated that the signs merely 'suggested' cyclists don't use the overpass, but the signs are pretty clear and according to the road rules there is a maximum fine of $2000 for disobeying them.
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Hill on -
I think I read the same article Aaron (Bayside Star or Northside Chronicle) one of them mentioned that the closure was because of the concrete barrier only being around 800mm high.
My thought on the hight issue was that if a cyclist had to take evasive action and ended up hitting the barrier and going over the handlebars, they could go over the barrier and have a fall from a fair height onto another road = death.
Many other overpasses have a higher barrier, or a footpath on the other side to make a slightly softer landing on.
I'm happy to go around the roundabout and live.
Will the new bike path they are building on the northbound side help this?
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Yes Andrew that's it. Here's a link.
I think that is the problem exactly: cyclists run the risk of toppling over the wall if there's an altercation with traffic. The problem is that you can't just go round the roundabout, you need to go beyond the roundabout to the next intersection, do a U-turn across two turning lanes and five normal lanes of heavy traffic, then get back onto the overpass at an intersection where cars driving towards you will be looking in the opposite direction over their right shoulder trying to merge. All of which is probabyl a bit more dangerous than continuing straight ahead where cars have a clear line of sight at you.
The road surface on the overpass is also about 9 metres wide and is currently only marked for two lanes. It could easily accommodate a segregated bike lane.
The new path is part of the Downfall Creek bike path extension. It will link up to the path leading through to Chermside, but won't help too much with getting back on to Sandgate Road past the overpass
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Permalink Reply by CamDS on -
Thanks so much for posting this. Got to the wetlands today so the loop from there would be great
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