Encouraging cycling: Adelaide is not alone
With one week to go until a global cycling conference descends on Adelaide, the city is engaged in a hostile debate about measures to accommodate cyclists on our city streets.
However, Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood, in a candid interview in the latest podcast on the Another Boring Thursday Night in Adelaide website, made the point that he was scarcely alone among the world’s mayors in encouraging a cycling culture.
With debate raging about separated cycling lanes on Frome Street, Yarwood told the podcasters that cycle lanes were being built in cities all over the world.
““I’m not particularly special – I’m just the one trying to bring Adelaide kicking and screaming into the same century as other cities around the globe,” he said.
In a lengthy interview, Yarwood said cycling infrastructure was about more than offering transport choice – it was about developing a more cosmopolitan city that welcomed young people who typically used bikes in higher numbers than their elders.
“I would much rather young people save their money to start a new tech business than go out and buy a $10,000 car and fill it full of petrol,” he said.
He also expressed frustration with the level of vitriol directed at cyclists by some motorists.
“I could have sworn apartheid went out in the 20th century. But apparently cyclists are evil and must be rid from the surface of the earth.”
Having said that, he was also philosophical about the need for public debate on the city.
“Ultimately, what’s the point in actually getting out of bed in the morning if you don’t have something to fight for?”
Meanwhile in Melbourne, Premier Dennis Napthine yesterday released his blueprint for the development of Melbourne – Plan Melbourne – which demonstrates Yarwood’s central point.
Stay informed, daily
The plan envisages a series of cycling corridors that “provide cyclists with safe and separated cycling access to and around the central city”.
“Strategic cycling corridors will provide separated priority routes into and around the central city that support high volumes of cyclists of all abilities,” the plan says.
The Global Vel0-city cycling conference is being held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on 27-30 May.
Want to see more stories from InDailySA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDailySA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDailySA". That's it.
