A successful Election Forum
L-R: Chris Steel (Labor), Mark Parton (Liberal), Jo Clay (Greens) and David Whitney Pedal Power President
On 25 September, about 50 Pedal Power members gathered at the Verity Lane Markets to hear from major political candidates about their plans for bike riding and active travel in the ACT.
Chris Steel (Labor), Mark Parton (Liberal), and Jo Clay (Greens) presented their respective party's priorities, outlining how much funding would go into active travel infrastructure and which areas would benefit.
Pedal Power’s Board President, David Whitney, opened the Q&A session, focusing on crucial topics such as funding, secure bike parking, and the expected outcomes of the ACT's Active Travel Plan. Members of the audience then raised several pressing issues, including:
The lack of secure bike parking at most light rail stations and plans to expand it across key locations.
Whether there will be secure on-road bike lanes along Northbourne Avenue, similar to those in cities like St Kilda (Victoria) and Montreal (Quebec).
Concerns about enforcement of car parking rules to ensure parked cars don't block shared paths.
The need for better separation between cyclists and pedestrians.
The backlog of path maintenance and when it will be addressed.
One of the final questions challenged the candidates on how long it would take to achieve their cycling policy goals. Only the Greens provided a specific timeline, committing to invest $36 million per year to build new paths and upgrade cycling routes to standard by 2030—a move they argue will save the ACT significant costs in the long term.
Overall, the event was constructive, with little inter-party point-scoring. The candidates were given clear opportunities to respond to key concerns, and it was evident where they chose to address or sidestep the issues.
A big thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the evening both engaging and successful!
