This motion, brought to the Assembly by Thomas, proposed key actions to address the gaps in Canberra’s footpath and bike path networks. The motion called on the Government to provide costings and a timeline for completing the Cycling Network contained in its Active Travel Plan, to provide more detailed information about the condition of  footpaths across the ACT and set clear targets for maintaining footpaths at the same or higher standard as roads, and to develop a costing for addressing all the gaps in Canberra’s footpath network. It also called for consideration of legislative options to require developers to maintain safe and convenient pedestrian access around their construction sites.

The Canberra Liberals brought forward significant amendments which removed all requests for costings, and took out other key calls including consideration of requiring developers to maintain pedestrian access around construction sites. These amendments had been negotiated with ACT Labor and passed on the voices, despite Thomas’ concerns that they watered down the motion significantly.

The ACT Greens brought forward a further amendment that called on the Government to consider implementing 30km/hr speed limits on suburban streets without a footpath, which was supported by Thomas and all other Members

The amended motion passed with unanimous support. 

While Thomas was disappointed the motion had been watered down by the major parties, he was pleased to see the amended motion pass with requirements for the Government to include expenditure on community path maintenance and upgrades in future annual reports, to consider tracking footpath quality in a similar manner to the tracking of road quality, and to provide ongoing updates regarding projects in the ACT Active Travel Plan’s Cycling Network Map that are slated for construction.