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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 2 Hansard (29 February) . . Page.. 495 ..

MS McRAE: Mr De Domenico, when will we see advertisements to clarify for the general public the services that are provided at the Phillip Testing Station? At the moment nobody knows about them.

MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Speaker, I do not accept Ms McRae's statement that nobody knows about it. I have had very few queries, if any, through my office about the fact that nobody knows about it. Should the Government consider that some advertising is required, it will undertake that advertising.

MS HORODNY: My question is to the Minister for Urban Services, Mr De Domenico. As the Minister should be aware, some 5 per cent to 8 per cent of the population of the ACT commute to work by bicycle. Given that there is an identified $3 community benefit for every $1 spent on cycling - this is formally recognised by your Department of Urban Services - why is it that significant funds are being spent on expanding our roads to cope with peak hour traffic, such as $1.25m to be spent on William Slim Drive, when only a token amount is being spent on improving the transport system for the 5 per cent to 8 per cent who commute by bicycle each day and whose contribution to keeping our roads uncluttered during peak times needs to be financially recognised?

MR DE DOMENICO: I thank Ms Horodny for her question. I will answer it in two ways. First of all, whilst 5 per cent or 6 per cent might use bicycle paths, 94 per cent use roads, and we have to cater for those 94 per cent as well.

Ms Tucker: Maybe you would get more people using the bikes if you increased it.

MR DE DOMENICO: I am sorry, but it was Ms Horodny who asked the question, Ms Tucker. If you want to ask another one, do so. Ms Horodny would be aware that the ACT has perhaps the best bicycle track system in the world.

Ms McRae: It is a good system, but I would not say that it is the best in the world.

MR DE DOMENICO: Consecutive governments, Liberal and Labor, spent a lot of money on bicycle systems. It is the best in the world, Ms McRae.

Ms McRae: I will tell you about a few bits and pieces, Mr De Domenico.

MR DE DOMENICO: In my opinion, Ms McRae, it is the best in the world. I will continue to say that until someone proves me wrong. I am very proud of the bicycle track system in the ACT, and I hope that you are as well. Ms Horodny, we will continue to spend money when we can afford it. We also have to cater for the fact that the majority of people in this town happen to want to use cars.

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