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Students research cyclists’ attitudes
What motivates people to ride bicycles on the Sunshine Coast and what do they think of the local bike path network?
University of the Sunshine Coast Planning students aim to find out between 6.30am and 9.30am tomorrow, Wednesday 10 March.
USC Regional and Urban Planning Lecturer Claudia Baldwin said a team would survey bike path commuters at four locations:
Alexandra Parade, Maroochydore;
Brisbane Road Bridge at Minyama;
Stringybark Road roundabout in front of the university;
Lady Musgrave Drive near Mountain Creek State High.
The research, supported by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, will be compared against the findings of similar surveys at the first two locations last March.
Data on 200 cyclists was collected and more than 110 were intercepted and asked to complete a mailback questionnaire. About 70 responses were received.
Dr Baldwin said last year’s report found ongoing right-of-way conflicts between cyclists and other path users such as pedestrians, dog walkers and parents pushing prams. This was worse in tourist zones such as Alexandra Parade.
“Many people didn’t realise that, unless stated otherwise, bicycles have equal rights to use these paths in Queensland. When there’s no dedicated on-road cycleway, it can lead to conflict,” she said.
“At the two new survey sites, we’re interested in who’s commuting to school, university or work and how their travel fits into the available infrastructure.”
Dr Baldwin expected the research to be used by the council and State agencies to improve planning and implementation of bikeway infrastructure.
The students’ work would contribute to their regional and urban planning degrees at USC.
“They learn the importance and challenges of getting good data for planning,” she said.
– Julie Gatehouse