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Two possible options for a planned upgrade of the “weak link” in Brisbane’s cycling network have been revealed.
Brisbane City Council is accepting community feedback on the route along Sylvan Road and part of Land Street in Toowong, which has long been a dangerous strip for riders.
It is a key missing link between the off-road Bicentennial and Western Freeway bikeways.
“[It] was number one in Brisbane as the place people least felt comfortable,” Chris Cox of the Brisbane West BUG group said.
“They’ve really put the time and effort into understanding the corridor … they’ve come up with two really good designs, which I think would work pretty well.”
There is no existing separation between cyclists and motor vehicles along the 1.2-kilometre strip, with frequent conflict at intersections, and riders regularly complaining of cars parked illegally.
Under the first plan, riders travelling in both directions would share one side of the road the entire way. Under the other, they would travel in the same direction as traffic between Milton Road and Croydon Street.
“There’s pros and cons to both,” Cox said. “It’ll just be interesting to see which way the community swings [and] which option they go with.”
Cox has been commuting on his bike for more than 15 years, and used Sylvan Road when travelling from Jindalee to the city.
“It’s always just been the weak link,” Cox added. “[I] think the solutions there will make things a lot better.”
In a statement, the council’s infrastructure chair Ryan Murphy said the upgrade would increase the number of people using active transport.
“Over 1000 cyclists and scooter-riders already make the journey on road through these intersections every day, but we know several times more would ride if the whole link was on a safe and dedicated corridor, which is what this project will deliver,” he said.
“This project will deliver the last 1.5 kilometres of a 19-kilometre dedicated bikeway, linking Brisbane’s CBD all the way to the Centenary suburbs.”
Active travel advocates have long campaigned for separated bike lanes on Sylvan Road, and a petition with 700 signatures was presented to council a decade ago.
Public consultation opened on Monday, and will close on June 7. The final concept design is expected by mid-2026.
Intersection upgrades at Milton Road, Croydon Street and Morley Street were also confirmed by Brisbane City Council, with construction expected to begin in mid-2026.
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