NEWS
By LUKE SHAW
Helmet hire looms as the greatest obstacle to the success of the multi-million dollar CityCycle bike hire scheme that is wheeled out across inner Brisbane from this Friday.
An Independent investigation has shown that efforts by the City Council to attract firms willing to take on the hire or sales of helmets that are compulsory for cyclists in Queensland have met with limited success.
Council has advised that of some 30 responses to council advertising, only seven had been selected by late last week to service the first phase of the bike hire scheme. And while the council could not provide a list of these approved applicants by this paper’s print deadline, the vendors named for specific stations put to council are retail outlets such as bike shops.
The council was asked to name the helmet suppliers for four bike stations in the Valley and New Farm, and council officers named New Farm Bikes near Brunswick Street as the helmet supplier for several of these, including a bike station hundreds of metres away near the Sydney Street CityCat terminal (pictured above). Council hinted that signs could be available at the bike stations to advise users where to go for helmets.
Despite the council advertising for businesses to handle the supply of helmets, Public and Active Transport Chairman Councillor Margaret de Wit insists the council sees the future of the scheme depending on regular users of the scheme bringing their own helmets “the same way they carry an umbrella when it rains or joggers for the gym”.
And in one sentence that could be interpreted as the council laying the ground work for some blame-sharing in case the scheme falters, over helmets or any other reason, she added: “The CityCycle scheme was unanimously supported when it went to council on 10 February 2009.”
In response to our questions, Cr de Wit took the opportunity to promote the project. “I’m sure that once our CityCycle bike hire scheme is up and running residents will realise the benefits of having access to a quick, easy and inexpensive mode of public transport,” she said.
A spokesman said the council would initially provide 20 free helmets to each vendor and CityCycle subscribers would pay $5 to hire a helmet, with a $20 deposit, or $25 to buy one outright. Opposition Leader Councillor Shayne Sutton said she also supported the scheme, but was concerned about its implementation.
“CityCycle has cost Brisbane residents more than $8 million and I’m concerned this could be money down the drain because Campbell Newman can’t figure out how to get helmets on cyclists’ heads.”
Some commentators have suggested that the scheme will falter unless the State Government changes current road rules or gives the scheme some form of exemption so that helmet use is not compulsory, but state MP Grace Grace whose Brisbane Central electorate covers much of the CityCycle rollout said she totally opposed such a move that would put people’s lives at risk.
