Motorcycle parking spaces replaced

Motorcycle parking spaces lost in the Brisbane CBD are steadily being replaced, but there remains some confusion on how many spaces have been lost.

Some 200 motorcycle parking spots were reported lost on January 1 when the Casino redevelopment project began: 60 parking bays permanently lost in Alice Street, William Street and Queens Wharf Road and 140 more temporarily closed during construction of the boardwalk, bikeway and foreshore works.

However, Brisbane City Council says the number of temporary spaces lost during redevelopment was 90, not 140, and they have replaced 65 with the opening of 32 new spaces at North Quay this week and may soon have 89 bays replaced.

Council traffic and transport engineer Anthony Burke says the lost parking bays were: Queens Wharf near Victoria Bridge, 22; Queens Wharf under Elizabeth St ramp, 9; Queens Wharf at Neville Bonner Building, 25; William Street between Alice and Margaret streets, 22; and Alice Street between William and George streets, 12.

“The spaces on Gardens Point Road at QUT will be temporarily closed during the foreshore works but we don’t have dates yet or total numbers impacted until we have a construction management plan,” he says.

“The worse case will be all 145 spaces.”

Maps of motorcycle parking in various areas of Brisbane are available online.

Council remains adamant it will not be more flexible on footpath parking like Melbourne, saying the footpaths are too narrow.

Instead, they have sought alternate sites and asked riders for their input and suggestions.

Some 24 more motorcycle parking spots are expected to be opened at Kurilpa Point Park next if there are no objections from the four submitters as part of the development approval process.

The new spaces would bring the total replaced to 89, says Anthony.

“We will also be delivering about 12 on Transport Main Roads land on North Quay around the same time so will be above the 90 specs very soon,” he says.

However, there is still much work to be done by council to replenish the spaces permanently lost and keep pace with the continuing growth in demand from two-wheeled commuters.

If council wants to do anything about traffic problems, it needs to encourage more commuter drivers to switch from their cars to motorcycles and scooters.