Safer Roads Sooner for Cairns cyclists

Speed and red light camera fines are being invested for the benefit of bicycle riders in Cairns, Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, and Child Safety Minister and Member for Cairns, Desley Boyle, said today.

“Under the Safer Roads Sooner program we’re spending $250,000 on turning key roads green to make them safer for cyclists to use.

“Bike lanes on sections of Anderson Street, Cairns Western Arterial Road, Mulgrave Road and the Captain Cook Highway will be coloured green and bicycle symbols added to boost driver awareness of cyclists,” Mr Lucas said.

The green cycle lanes for Cairnsare among 77 high priority projects worth more than $46 million approved by the Safer Roads Sooner Ministerial Advisory Committee chaired by Parliamentary Secretary for Main Roads, Andrew McNamara.

“Our primary focus has been projects with potential to reduce the state’s road toll, that’s what the Safer Roads Sooner program is all about.

“The committee has targeted projects which will make the biggest impact on road safety.

“We’re also looking at applying the green treatment to other intersections with a proven history of crashes involving cars and bike riders,” Mr McNamara said.

Desley Boyle said a significant number of the state's worse bicycle crash zones occur in the Cairns area.

“We have a large number of overseas tourists and many of them get around the city on bikes.

"Those with a non English speaking background don’t always fully understand Australian road rules.

"Too many accidents involve motorists hitting riders at intersections,” Ms Boyle said.

In all, a total of 261 projects have been made possible by the Beattie Government’s Safer Road Sooner program since beginning in 2005.

Professor Mary Sheehan from Queensland University of Technology's accident research group, CARRS-Q and the RACQ are among the committee’s panel of road safety experts and key project decision makers.

Mr Lucas said the Safer Roads Sooner strategy aims to reduce Queensland's road toll through smart targeted investment in better road infrastructure.

“This program clearly demonstrates the money we take in fines from motorists who do the wrong thing on our roads is being invested in the road network to save lives and reduce serious life changing injuries.

“More than half of the third round of Safer Roads Sooner is being spent outside of south-east Queensland,” Mr Lucas said.