'Incredibly dangerous': Ban on cycling in the mall to continue
To allow bicycle riding in the mall, or not? That was the most hotly debated issue at the final meeting of the year for Wollongong City Council last week
To allow bicycle riding in the mall, or not? That was the most hotly debated issue at the final meeting of the year for Wollongong City Council last week.
What sparked the debate was a new 10-year strategy, the Wollongong City Centre Movement and Place Plan. That’s the bureaucratic way of saying, how do we best move around our CBD in the future.
The plan has 44 action items aimed at preparing us for what lies ahead: the CBD population is expected to double to more than 18,000 by 2046, and by 2036 there will be 13,000 more private car trips into the central area of the city during the morning peak.
It was action item 17 that captured the attention of our councillors, proposing a trial allowing bike riders to access the city mall. (Like you, I thought cyclists already had permission to access the mall, but apparently not).
Greens Cr Jess Whittaker spoke in favour of a trial to allow cyclists in Crown Street Mall, admitting, “I’m guilty of riding slowly through the mall myself.”
Riders and pedestrians sharing the mall earlier this month. Photos: Jeremy Lasek
'It's happening anyway'
Supporting the mall cycling trial, Cr Whittaker said: “It’s happening anyway. It’s creating conflict and it’s a rule that’s just being broken.
“Put some messaging out to do it safely, have a speed limit and have designated areas. It also provides a very good route for delivery drivers.”
Cr Whittaker said she would also “support shower facilities for cyclists at the end of the mall, and install secure parking at key locations”.
Cr Jess Whittaker supported a mall cycling trial, while Cr David Brown and Cr Dan Hayes were concerned about pedestrians and cyclists sharing the space. Photos: Jeremy Lasek
Cr David Brown and Cr Dan Hayes both expressed concern about the conflict between pedestrians and cyclists sharing the mall. Cr Brown described the situation as “incredibly dangerous”.
“There’s a play area in the middle of the mall where kids are running around,” Cr Hayes said. “It’s very clear that this is a space that should be preserved for those walking or in mobility vehicles.”
He said: “The appetite for bike advocates seems to have no end. We talk about cars not being able to stop at every shop that they want to go to. It’s about park and walking, especially in the CBD. The same should be expected for cyclists to have those facilities; to be able to safely secure your bike and go through the CBD and not having to ride to every shopfront.”
Cyclists taking the responsible option and walking their bikes through the mall. Photos: Jeremy Lasek
Too many near misses already
Cr Ann Martin said that with the amount of construction happening around the CBD, meaning more people shopping and working in that area, “adding additional bikes is not particularly safe".
"And I think given how many near misses already happen, if we were to then let bikes actually go in there with consent, then I would feel quite aggrieved for any actual incident or even near misses because I had the opportunity to stop it and I didn’t.”
Cr Ryan Morris had a slightly different take, wanting e-bikes banned in the mall “but if it’s a pedal bike it’s allowed to go in, because it’s at much lower speeds".
Cr Morris added: “I’d prefer to see the centre of the mall reintegrated into the traffic management plan, where it goes back to one-way (traffic) with parking put back in there.”
Lord Mayor Cr Tania Brown said she doubted it would work if there were lines on the mall’s paving telling cyclists where they can and cannot ride. “It’s not going to happen,” the Lord Mayor said.
L to R: Lord Mayor Tania Brown, Cr Ann Martin and Cr Ryan Morris. Photos: Jeremy Lasek
Bikes coming at you from all directions
“I have recently been nearly taken out by food riders who speed through the mall, as well as young people on their fat bikes at all hours of the day. And when you’re walking your granddog on the lead, you’ve got to keep him close because there’s bikes coming at you from all directions.”
Cr Brown said she’d spoken with the security guard keeping watch over the Christmas tree in the mall “and he filled me in on some of the horrors of people riding through the mall”.
The Lord Mayor said she’d prefer people to walk their bikes through the mall. “Even though people will still do the wrong thing and ride through, at least by having this protection there that it’s not permitted, it may slow some of the traffic down.
“I’ve been walking around the mall a lot lately and I did a bit of a vox pop over the weekend and there’s very little support for having bikes through the mall.”
Many people aren't aware the mall is a bicycle-free zone
More enforcement, education needed
Cr David Brown closed the debate saying it was clear more needed to be done to point out the city mall was a bicycle-free zone.
“I would have thought that if people are doing the wrong thing and breaking the regulations that would be a signal to perhaps increase enforcement or education, rather than throwing hands up and saying let’s just allow it,” Cr Brown said.
“I take the view the mall is a destination, not a transport thoroughfare.”
Cr Kit Docker supported the new Movement and Place Plan for the CBD
Plan will reduce congestion
Cr Kit Docker strongly endorsed Council’s new City Centre travel plan saying: “We need more people walking, cycling, and using public transport to reduce congestion and the pressure on our city centre, which is obviously a drag on the local economy.
“The plan not only commits to retaining the Gong Shuttle but advocates for its expansion with the Southern Gong Shuttle. That would be revolutionary. That would be a game changer,” Cr Docker said.
“This plan includes a clear commitment to accessible bus stops, real time service information, better shelters, and improved lighting to make public transport more accessible.”
