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The capital's worst cycling routes have been named by the city's leading cyclist advocacy group, with Barry Drive topping the list. As Pedal Power ACT's budget submission called again for increased funding for cycling infrastructure, executive officer John Armstrong said the stretch of the drive from the ANU to Northbourne Avenue was one of the more contentious for bike riders. "It's just this unholy mix of on-road then off-road, [with] a mix of pedestrians around the peak times of 8.30am-9am it becomes problematic," he said. The ride from Russell to the airport was listed second worst, with interruptions along the way on or near Parkes Way criticised, and segregated lanes in each direction backed. The lack of a well-designed bicycle connection between Woden and the east of Canberra, including Manuka and Fyshwick, came in third. The organisation's budget submission for 2016-17 called for an end of trip cycle hub for the CBD, more separated on-road cycling facilities and the creation of an ACT cycling tourism strategy. The highlighting of the problem areas came as the latest National Cycling Participation Survey showed a drop in weekly cycling across the ACT. Only 21 per cent of Canberrans now cycled at least once a week, down from 24 per cent in the last survey in 2013, with a halving in the rate of cycling by girls aged up to nine and a drop by both men and women over 50 the lead factors. Natasha Brown, 27, takes a 20-kilometre round bike trip between Belconnen and Civic three days a week, and said the Barry Drive section between Clunies Ross Avenue and Mort Street was the most dangerous. The overlap of bike and bus lanes and left-turn lanes were the challenge. "I'm an experienced cyclist so I probably feel that [danger] less than others, but often friends tell me they couldn't attempt that journey," she said. "It just needs a clear path the whole way, for me it doesn't matter if it's on road or off road." The ACT government's online database of accidents involving cyclists shows Northbourne Avenue is the worst individual road, with the section between London Circuit and Barry Drive/Cooyong Street the highest density crash area. On route priorities for 2016, Mr Armstrong said making it easier to get into each of the town centres was essential, with particular focus on finishing the work commenced at the Belconnen and Woden town areas. He also called for the creation of a Dickson to the city boulevard to encourage more people to ride to work on quiet roads instead of the "intimidating" Northbourne Avenue. The ACT government's 2015-16 budget provided record funding of $23 million for cycling and walking infrastructure and initiatives. The Civic Cycle Loop, which provides separated lanes for cyclists across almost all its 3.2 kilometres, connects to Barry Drive via Marcus Clarke Street. Source: Pedal Power

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