The ACT Greens want to see budget lines and timeframes to meet the goals in the Territory’s Active Travel Plan 2024-30. Photo: Canberra By Bike.
Fix incomplete pathways, missing connections and dangerous conditions: that’s what the ACT Greens are calling for when the party’s active travel network motion is presented to the Legislative Assembly this week.
ACT Greens deputy leader Jo Clay said the private member’s bill would focus particularly on West Belconnen, where she noted paths were either missing entirely or were incomplete and unsafe.
“People want choice, but the way our city is currently designed, we don’t have that,” she said.
“The ACT Government knows this, which is why they have an Active Travel Plan. So now we have all these routes planned, but no clarity on how it will be delivered by 2030.”
The Active Travel Plan 2024-30 acknowledged there are “key missing links” between existing routes and the destinations people wanted to reach, but does not include timelines or budget line items to explain how the gaps will be filled.
“The existing off-road path network is often scenic and circuitous, suiting recreational trips, but not always offering a direct option. Both are highly valued because most people walk and ride for pleasure and for utility,” the plan noted.
In response, the plan suggested progressively building priority missing links using protected cycleways or off-road shared or cycle path infrastructure, reviewing priorities on an annual basis.
The plan noted that future cycling routes would be determined, and improvements prioritised, through community feedback and infrastructure investment criteria.
Canberra By Bike founder Paris Lord wants more transparency about how the ACT Government plans to improve and deliver active travel routes. Photo: Canberra By Bike.
Canberra By Bike founder Paris Lord said one place the ACT Government could start was by looking at the ‘desire lines’ beside roads across the Territory.
“[People] are carving out where they want to go in the dirt,” he said.
The City Services Directorate annual report 2024-25 outlined key priorities for the current financial year, including new and upgraded active travel infrastructure, progressing design and construction of Stage 2 of the Garden City Cycle Route, more upgrades to the path network at Lake Ginninderra and replacing ageing paths in each of the city’s districts.
It’s hoped the Parkes Way corridor and Belconnen Transitway Feasibility study will also be finalised.
But Mr Lord said the plan couldn’t be relied upon unless there were clear milestones.
“[The government] can say whatever they want, but unless there are line items and information about progress on the websites, there’s no real way of knowing if they’re delivering,” he said.
“This isn’t just about commuting, it’s about easier access to school or shops or your local doctor … we seem to be unable to convince the government to look beyond the narrow scope of people commuting to work.
“The status quo isn’t working for anyone, so let’s change the status quo.”
A recently closed epetition wants the government to specifically deliver the “missing trunk path” between Belconnen, Kippax and Ginninderry.
Ms Clay’s motion on Wednesday (3 December) will specifically call on the government to conduct a feasibility study into how the West Belconnen Active Travel Network will be delivered.
“It’s a no-brainer that delivering the paths, connections and infrastructure people need to ride or walk around will reduce our overall emissions. But right now we don’t have that option in West Belconnen for people to ride into work, school or down to the shops,” she said.
“West Belconnen is rapidly growing, and our pathways and active travel connections were already poor. We need better public infrastructure in this part of Canberra.”
It will also call for a review into how the territory-wide plan will be implemented.
“Canberra is better with bikes. We need wide, connected footpaths – not paint lines next to the road – that everyone can use. When done well, paths like this deliver traffic calming measures to make our streets safer for everyone,” Ms Clay said.
“That’s why the ACT Government must work with the community to identify the priorities in this plan – given Labor’s budget blowout – how they will do it, and when.”
The motion will also call on the ACT Government to transparently record how much funding has been allocated to deliver the Active Travel Plan 2024-30 and outline how much has been spent per financial year in annual reports.
