TWU takes on Brisbane City Council, accusing it of favouring bicyclists at the expense of couriers and taxi truck drivers
By Brad Gardner | August 18, 2010
Courier and taxi truck operations in Brisbane are suffering because the city’s council is giving precedence to bicyclists, the Transport Workers Union claims.
TWU Queensland branch secretary Hughie Williams says drivers cannot enter key delivery points around the CBD because a new bike hire scheme to be introduced by Lord Mayor Campbell Newman is taking up loading zone space.
To begin later this year, the bike hire scheme will allow people to hire bikes and ride around Brisbane and its inner suburbs.
The hire stations are currently being constructed in the city and in nearby suburbs such as South Brisbane and West End.
Speaking at a rally in Brisbane’s King George Square today, Williams claimed some drivers are spending up to 45 minutes trying to find places to park.
He has called for a meeting with Newman to address the issue, saying some drivers are being fined because they need to park illegally to get their jobs done.
“I believe some of the loading zones have been moved to facilitate the bike riders. Well I think picking up satchels is more important than a pushbike,” Williams says.
“The allegation made to me by people is they have taken over loading zones.”
He has warned the Brisbane City Council of the consequences if loading zones are not given priority.
“There are thousands of important documents and parcels being delivered every day but our members will not continue to cop fines for parking illegally, or walking blocks with heavy loaded trolleys,” he says.
Williams says there has been a trend away from off-street parking in recent times, but he says the situation must be reversed.
“That should be the future. All business places should have off-street parking,” he says.