Answers to Questions

BICYCLE SAFETY INITIATIVES

In reply to the Hon. SANDRA KANCK (7 June 2007).

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs): I am advised that:

A number of cities throughout the world use coloured pavement to highlight bicycle lanes, particularly through intersections. In Denmark, blue pavement is used, in the Netherlands its green. Australian Road Authorities have agreed to adopt green as the colour for bicycle lanes.

Green bicycle lanes are used to improve the visibility of a bicycle lane and therefore increase driver and cyclist awareness of the lane. Green bicycle lanes are intended to discourage motor vehicle drivers from encroaching into a bicycle lane and reduce the potential for conflict between motor vehicles and bicycles, particularly where an intersection or road environment is busy or complex. There is good evidence internationally to suggest that coloured bicycle lane treatments improve cycling safety, reducing the number of crashes and serious injuries involving cyclists. Green bicycle lanes are currently being trialled in a number of locations in Adelaide including intersections along Frome Road Adelaide, and at the intersection of Joslin Street and Davenport Terrace Wayville.

This year, with the assistance of the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure’s (DTEI’s) State Bicycle Fund, Mitcham Council is installing bicycle lanes along Sussex Terrace and green pavement will be used to highlight the bicycle lane where the road bends sharply at an intersection. The City of Unley also plans to utilise green bicycle lanes as part of the upgrade of the northern end of Duthy Street in Parkside.

There are a number of technical issues to consider when installing green bicycle lanes. These include:

ensuring the coloured surface bonds with the existing surface and can be seen in wet conditions;

providing a surface texture with suitable skid resistance for safe bicycle use including in wet conditions;

limiting the differential skid resistance between the bicycle lane and the adjacent surface, and

ensuring the surface has adequate lifespan and can be easily maintained.

DTEI supports the use of green bicycle lanes and is investigating their use. The technical issues contribute to the relatively high cost of green bicycle lanes and it is appropriate to use them selectively in order to maximise their impact. In this regard DTEI is considering installing them cost effectively at strategic locations on the arterial road network.