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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 3 Hansard (26 March) . . Page.. 642 ..

MR MOORE (3.28): Mr Speaker, Ms Tucker began her speech by saying that the Greens are happy to talk about bicycles. In fact I rode mine today. It is in the area near my office on this floor. It was a beautiful day at lunchtime. While I was riding around at lunchtime I believe that Mr Berry was out enjoying his run. There would not have been a much more beautiful day to be riding than today, and not a more beautiful city, probably anywhere in the world, for that riding.

It is important, Mr Speaker, that we continue this work on cycling in the ACT, and I also would like to congratulate the Government for doing it. It is not something new. It is not something quirky, as Ms Tucker suggests. Nor is it an innovation that has arrived since the Greens. It has been going on for far longer than that. She may find that a little surprising. Even before the Greens were elected, some of us had some environmental issues that we thought were important.

Mr Berry: I do not believe that.

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, I know that Mr Berry finds that very hard to believe, but it is true. We are sure that there will be an attempt to rewrite that part of history, too. Mr Speaker, in the report of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment on the draft capital works program we drew attention, in paragraph 4.4, to advice that the committee had received. I quote:

The committee noted advice that `provision for on-road cycles in Canberra is estimated to cost $1.8m' ...

The Government had put about $100,000 into that. If we are going to continue at that rate it is going to take us 18 years to catch up. The committee's comment was that we need to look at that allocation very carefully. The committee is suggesting that the Government consider increasing the funds allocated to the provision of on-road cycle facilities in order to encourage this form of transport in selected areas. We look forward to a positive response, particularly in light of the document you have tabled today. Taking 18 years to achieve the sorts of goals that you have been talking about and the sorts of goals that Ms Tucker has been talking about is not good enough.

The Minister talked about the production of a new and revised cycleways map. We also suggested that the Government consider incorporating the on-road cycling paths in all road maps of the ACT. Quite clearly, they are usually done on a commercial basis, but the Government has ways of reaching those people and encouraging them to include the cycling areas. Some of them do include them, but they have to be kept updated. I would also encourage you to do that. Mr Speaker, I think all members of the Assembly would agree that not only is this a great city for cycling for enjoyment, it is also a great city for cycling for commuting. To be fair, I know that Ms Tucker does cycle in to the Assembly quite regularly. Apart from the few jibes that we have enjoyed, I think that we have a very positive response to the Minister's comments on cycling.

MR SPEAKER: To the precincts of the Assembly, one would hope, Mr Moore, not into the Assembly itself.

MR MOORE: The precincts, Mr Speaker.

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