The walking experience in Brisbane is ugly, hot and leaves pedestrians exposed to traffic, says the chair of South Bank Corporation.
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At a debate held by a panel of industry insiders this week, SBC chair Catherin Bull said a “real city” was a place where a pedestrian could enjoy the city wherever they were.
“I’m going to be very brutal here and say our experience [in Brisbane] is often just plain ugly," she said.
“Ugly, hot and exposed to traffic and cyclists, unsafe, inconvenient and complex.”
Advocacy group BDA The Committee for Brisbane held the debate after conducting a survey asking residents which were the best and worst walks and pedestrian experiences in Brisbane.
About 23 per cent of people listed walking along Ann or Turbot streets from Fortitude Valley to the city as the city’s worst walk while Victoria Bridge and Stanley and Ipswich roads at The Gabba came equal second.
South Bank was listed as the best walk in Brisbane, following by the New Farm river walk.
Dr Bull said South Bank rated well because pedestrians were not only looked after in the area but also knew they mattered.
“We are not learning those experiences and applying them to other spaces,” she said.
Almost 30 per cent of survey respondents said more trees and shade were needed to improve Brisbane’s walking experience while about 15 per cent said pedestrians needed to be prioritised over vehicles.
Dr Bull called for a positive pedestrian experience to become a lived reality, not just a dream.
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