The walking experience in Brisbane is ugly, hot and leaves pedestrians exposed to traffic, says the chair of South Bank Corporation.

At a debate held by a panel of industry insiders this week, SBC chair Catherin Bull said a “real city” was a place where a pedestrian could enjoy the city wherever they were.

There is little-to-no shade along the South Bank promenade near the Wheel of Brisbane.

“I’m going to be very brutal here and say our experience [in Brisbane] is often just plain ugly," she said.

“Ugly, hot and exposed to traffic and cyclists, unsafe, inconvenient and complex.”