That 2011 idea spoke of separated bike lanes along George Adelaide and Margaret streets to create a grid for cyclists, similar to the cycleway on Tank Street. This followed a meeting with Queensland Police assistant commissioner Mike Keating about an alleged assault on a cyclist by an angry pedestrian furious at the cyclist legally using the CBD’s Hutton Lane footpath. “We need to do much better at enabling safe cycling by creating protected and separated pathways in designated areas, including a wholly connected CBD grid for people who ride,” Ms Savage said. Citywide bikeway grid being 'actively discussed'

Ms Savage said a citywide bikeway grid was policy for all cycling groups operating in south-east Queensland. “A connected CBD bikeway grid is the next step forward for us," Ms Savage said. “That is an idea we would like to see advanced, particularly through a business case to support investment in a citywide grid,” she said. Ms Savage said the idea was being “actively considered” by both the council and the state government’s Department of Transport and Main Roads. “But we certainly have much more work to do in bringing the state and the council together to make it happen,” she said.

Ms Savage said talks have progress since the ideas floated in 2011, but the recent casino development in George Street had interrupted planning. It is time for a 'grid' of dedicated bike lanes through Brisbane CBD says Bicycling Queensland. Credit:Tony Moore “The final design needs to be based for ‘appropriateness’ taking into account the big projects that are under way right now like Queen's Wharf, the Waterfront Place precinct redevelopment and the potential Kangaroo Point green bridge,” she said. Ms Savage said it was part of a series of changes cyclists would like to see, including a further lowering of speed limits, discouraging private vehicle use from the CBD. 2850 safety problem sites identified in council survey of cyclists

Brisbane City Council said it was working with the Department of Transport and Main Roads on the future CBD cycleways. "The state government is currently undertaking investigations and feasibility studies into possible segregated CBD bikeway opportunities on George Street," a spokeswoman said. "Council welcomes these investigations which will inform potential opportunities for other new cycling infrastructure in the CBD." Recently, the council asked cyclists for feedback about safety hotspots as part of the Move Safe Brisbane survey, she said. "Around 2850 locations were pinpointed. This feedback is currently being reviewed."

Queensland Transport was also approached for comment on the plans. No charges over cyclist assault Meanwhile, Brisbane police have not charged a pedestrian accused of assaulting Brisbane cyclist James Stevenson in Brisbane’s Hutton Lane a fortnight ago. A video of Mr Stevenson’s alleged assault by the pedestrian went viral this week.

The video was captured on cameras fitted on the front and rear of Mr Stevenson’s bike. In the video Mr Stevenson could be seen grappling with a man after he brushed past him as he rode his bicycle riding uphill on the left hand side of footpath, because the road was one-way downhill. “No one has been charged and no one is custody,” a police spokesman said. “Investigations are continuing, so it is not closed." Mr Keating downplayed the incident between Mr Stevenson and the pedestrian.

“Really the main message is about sharing the road and showing respect to each other when you use the road,” he said. Mr Keating said the footpath was part of the roadway and cyclists were legally allowed to use the footpath. “The footpath is part of the road. We all have responsibility to share the road and we all have authority to use the roads and footpaths," he said. “It is sometimes surprising when we see situations of significant disputes over four or five square metres of roadway for two or three seconds. "But be courteous, be respectful and we will all get along fine.”