Government Says No to Pedestrian Barrier

Monday, 06 February 2012 09:26

 The State Government, after investigating the possibly of pedestrian barriers around the Kenmore roundabout, came to two conclusions.  

Firstly (and surprisingly to many of us) they found that pedestrians ducking across the road near the roundabout were doing so safely! 

Secondly, they considered that there were practical issues about the erection of a barrier at any of the three locations that they previously indicated (see elsewhere on the website). 

There are issues with pedestrians ducking across Moggill Road at various points from the 7-Eleven through to the Kenmore churches. 

We certainly can’t blame pedestrians as there are few options for crossing the road. I have certainly seen some practices that didn’t look safe. 

Of course, all of this misses the main point that a local community like Kenmore with schools, shops, local traffic, driveways and homes is not suitable for a through road carrying these large numbers of frequently frustrated motorists. 

This is just the latest problem area along Moggill Road at Kenmore (along with the appalling intersection of Kenmore Rd and Moggill Rd) that the Government has examined and found too hard to do anything about.

Cyclists Be Warned

Monday, 09 January 2012 14:18

The Minister for Transport, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has confirmed that the Western Freeway bikeway green cycle lanterns at the crossing on Moggill Road do not permit cyclists to ride on the zebra crossings on the slip roads either side.

The Western Freeway bikeway is one of the busiest bikeways in Queensland and carries thousands of bikes per day. This is something of an anomaly because after previous representations the green cycle lanterns were installed to allow cyclists to ride across the pedestrian crossing but they are required to dismount and walk on the zebra crossings on both sides of the road.

This particular crossing is predominantly used by cyclists with only occasional pedestrians. 

I understand there has been enforcement activity at this location with infringement notices issued to cyclists!.  I understand the Minister has undertaken to have this “anomaly’ reviewed with the reconfiguration that is to occur with the right hand turn from Moggill Road on to the Western Freeway at this site.

I will keep you informed but for now unfortunately that this is how the law is to be interpreted. I encourage cyclists, inconvenient as it may be, to abide by the law as it stands.

Petition presented for U-turn at Birkin Road

Sunday, 08 January 2012 13:06

At the last sitting of Parliament I was pleased to present a petition calling on the State Government to reconfigure the traffic lights at the intersection of Moggill Road and Birkin Road to allow for a safe U-turn.

I appreciate the hard work done by Leesa De-Anne Richardson, who is not only a local resident but also a police officer, who has genuine concern for the safety of motorists and pedestrians using this intersection. Leesa took on the role of Principal Petitioner. The petition was signed by 750 local residents.

For decades motorists had been able to do a U-turn at this intersection to access the service station and so on. The recent installation of traffic lights has improved safety but unfortunately no facility for a U-turn was included. This means that many people are now seriously inconvenienced if they proceed further up the road to a point where U-turns are legal.  Motorists who continue to do illegal U-turns run the risk of receiving a fine but more importantly put their own safety and the safety of other motorists at risk of a possible accident.

I have been regularly chasing this up with Main Roads and the responsible Minister but the response has always been that it can’t safely be done.

Hopefully this petition will put extra pressure on the government to finally act to make this intersection convenient as well as safe.  I will update residents on this website and in my regular e-newsletters when the government responds.

Grandview Road Bus Stop

Wednesday, 04 January 2012 09:14

I have now received advice from the Brisbane City Council’s Chairman of Public and Active Transport, Cr Julian Simmonds, in response to my enquiries regarding the concerns that there were plans to either remove or relocate the bus stop on Moggill Rd near Grandview Rd.

Cr Simmonds has advised me that “no proposals or plans have been assessed by Council that will remove or permanently relocate this bus stop”.

Should I receive any more information in regards to this bus stop, I will be sure to pass it on.

Of course, I am also continuing to pursue the issue of safety for both pedestrians and motorists at this intersection, as I consider this to be the top safety priority in our area.