Residents and pathway users are calling for Brisbane City Council to take urgent action to provide a safe priority crossing for pedestrians and people on bikes where the Kedron Brook Bikeway crosses Shaw Road at Shaw Park. Kedron Brook Bikeway is one of the most used pedestrian and bike connections in the northern suburbs of Brisbane. It is a great facility for people wanting to run, walk and ride for fitness and recreation. The path is very popular with families enjoying bike rides, and people walking their dogs. The Kedron Brook Bikeway is also a major commuter route for cyclists heading to and from shops, work and school. During peak times, the motor vehicle traffic on Shaw Road can be constant and fast. There are few breaks in the motor vehicle traffic allowing people to safely cross Shaw Rd. Pedestrians and bike riders on the Kedron Brook Bikeway can wait up to seven minutes for a break in the traffic to cross Shaw Rd and continue on their journey on the path. Frequently people crossing the road only get half way across and then must wait on the centre refuge island. The centre refuge is narrow and is not safe for some bicycles, especially ones with trailers or children on tagalong bikes, or for people pushing strollers. Often there can be half a dozen bikes and pedestrians crowded on the refuge island which is dangerous. Further dangerous situations arise when people try to beat the traffic and rush gaps between fast-moving cars. What is required is a well-designed priority pedestrian crossing of Shaw Road, giving people on foot and on bikes using Kedron Brook Bikeway priority over people in motor vehicles on Shaw Road. This would improve the safety and convenience for path users. The Kedron Brook Bikeway is a main route for cyclists and pedestrians commuting to school, the shops and to their work. Shaw Road is a popular alternative route for motor traffic avoiding congestion on Gympie Road, Sandgate Road and avoiding tolls on Airport Link Tunnel but it is not a main road. It is appropriate to give people using the pathway the priority at this crossing as Kedron Brook Bikeway is a main bike and pedestrian route and there is no alternative path, unlike the people using motor vehicles which have the choice to use the main roads or tunnel.

The petitioners request that Brisbane City Council take urgent action to provide a safe and convenient priority crossing for pedestrians and cyclists where the Kedron Brook Bikeway crosses Shaw Road at Shaw Park