We are urging Adelaide City Council to stick to its plan to reinvigorate O'Connell Street by making it safer to walk and ride along the main road. The proposal that the council accepted last year would widen footpaths, install a bike lane as well as make more room for businesses and community events. 

There is currently a petition started by the O'Connell Street Bakery for the council to reject the proposed protected bike lane because it would interfere with parking during peak hours. We believe that this would be a step backwards and that the permanent bike lane should installed for multiple reasons:

1. A protected bike lane will not only improve the safety for cyclists (Including women, children and the elderly) but also improve the safety of pedestrians by acting as a buffer between footpaths and car traffic. This would also make footpaths calmer and quieter, improving the dining experiences of customers frequenting restaurants along O'Connell street.
2. Multiple studies have proven that making a street safer for pedestrians and cyclists improves the local economy (1) . Attractive and safe streets encourage foot traffic and improve the prospects of local businesses. Cyclists are also more likely to spend money at cafes and other businesses. Someone on a bike does not have to worry about finding a parking spot, they can pull up in front of any business and practically walk through the door. One study in the UK found that cyclists and pedestrians or who catch public transport actually spend 40% more at local shops than people who drive (2).  
   
   
3. Adelaide Council's plan would not remove and car parking instead limiting car parking along O'Connell Street during peak hours. This would actually make the road safer for car users as during those times they would not have to worry about pedestrians stepping out of parked cars or cars pulling suddenly onto the road from on-street parking.  
   
   
4. With more developments being approved and built such as 88 O'Connell, it is the council's duty to make the area as safe and as attractive as possible for all users not just cars. By improving footpaths and cycling infrastructure the council is making the area safer and better for all of its residents including those who can't drive. The street should not just be seen as a route for motorists to enter the city but as a place where people want to live, grow and thrive. 
   
   
5. A recent study found that since 2019 Adelaide is the only city in Australia where the number of hours lost to traffic congestion has increased (3). More people are driving in Adelaide than ever before and traffic will only get worse unless people are given more options to leave their cars at home and take alternative transport options. By installing bike lanes on major roads around Adelaide like O'Connell and promoting public transport we can remove cars from the system and decrease congestion. 
   
   
6. The Council has been consulting with the community on O'Connell Street since 2021. It has audited the street, met with stakeholders on multiple occasions and members of the community have been shown the concept designs to make sure they they aligned with community expectations. The community knows and wants O'Connell Street to change and be better for everyone. The council shouldn't be made to go back to the drawing board because an influential minority doesn't agree with plans that have community support. If the plans are scrapped then this will have been a huge waste of money and time. 

For these reasons and others, this is why we believe that Adelaide City Council should continue with its plan to revitalise O'Connell Street including installing a bike lane. 

O'Connell Street Bike Lane Petition

We, the undersigned ask that Adelaide City Council pursue its plans to revitalise O'Connell Street.

We call on the council to continue making Adelaide safer for all road users whether they drive, cycle or walk. 

(1) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352146516302538

(2) https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/newsroom/2018/11/20/bike-riders-spend-more-in-local-shops/

(3) https://committeeforadelaide.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CFA-Benchmarking-Report_FINAL-DIGITAL_compressed-1.pdf