Planning and reviewing the network

On this page:

• Principles
• Feasibility
• Future network reviews

In 2023, we commenced a rolling review and update of the former Principal Cycle Network Plans and priority route maps in consultation with councils across Queensland.

Community consultation was undertaken from 29 July to 31 August 2022 to inform our review of the network.

Read the Queensland Principal Cycle Network Update – Results of 2022 Community Consultation report to learn more about the consultation process and feedback received.

This review resulted in an updated and consolidated Queensland Principal Cycle Network ('the network'). We are progressively publishing the updated network maps as councils endorse the network for their local government area.

Principles

Five overarching planning principles guided the network's development:

1. Connects major existing and future origin and destination points like residential areas, major shopping and commercial facilities, employment nodes, educational institutions and high frequency passenger transport.
2. Primarily focuses on commuter, utility and education trips. It also considers routes for recreational bike riding that may increase tourism demand.
3. Ensures the network coverage reflects nearby demand and urban density. Network density aims for 500m – 1km between principal routes in the inner areas of the region's major centres.
4. Identify a network that is safe, direct and attractive.
5. Considers all transport and public open space corridors as potential corridors for bike riding. They can either be local or state-controlled.

It was also informed by existing cycle planning, data on key origins, destinations, and bike riding demand, as well as knowledge and insights from bicycle riding advocacy and user groups.

Feasibility

Although the network is planned with a realistic level of feasibility in mind, the aim is not to exclude routes from the network based entirely on their current level of feasibility.

For example, a principal route may be identified within a corridor that is currently considered not conducive to bike riding (such as a priority freight route or highway), with feasibility to be considered as part of further planning and design.

In some instances, this may result in a cycle facility within the corridor or a cycle facility on an alternative alignment in the vicinity of the principal route.

Future network reviews

We will regularly review the network and priority route maps in collaboration with councils, to ensure they reflect changes in local priorities, demand, safety, land use planning and other factors.

The relevant road authority will also engage with the community as part of delivery of individual projects, such as detailed route planning or the design and construction of bike riding facilities on principal routes.