Good for the environment?

An item for the ‘no, I don’t think so’ file. A silly response to a proposal for a new river bridge for walkers, bikes and buses to link the University of Queensland St Lucia campus to Dutton Park:

The car lobby, represented by the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland, is saying this is a wasted opportunity to alleviate traffic congestion. A spokesman says a general traffic bridge would ease congestion and prove to be environmentally friendly.

We think that not only would it relieve congestion, we think it would also be good for improving the environment as well because… if you move from congested to uncongested conditions then fuel consumption can be cut by about 50 per cent which means emissions are cut by 50 per cent at the same time.

Sensibly, the University is taking the opposite line. It has told the Council it does not support buses on the bridge (let alone cars and trucks). It points to the damage the roadworks and bus traffic would cause to the campus. It favours a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists.

See the City Council’s pitch for the proposal.