Mr WETTENHALL (17 June 2009) (9.04 pm): I have pleasure in reporting to the House an excellent initiative taken up at Trinity Beach State School. On 8 May 2009, I officially launched the Trinity Beach State School Bikebus.

The Bikebus is an initiative that identifies suitable cycle routes in a school's
local area for students to ride to school under the supervision of adults. The aim of the Bikebus is to get students off to a healthy and active start to their school day by riding their bikes to school and home again.

Having designated routes with participants under supervision in a highly visible convoy formation will give more parents the confidence that their children can ride safely to school. The Bikebus concept has been enthusiastically embraced, with over 60 students taking part in the first Bikebus and more joining every day.

I commend local officers of the Queensland departments of Health, Transport and Main Roads for their support for the project which has resulted in some very practical measures, including combined funding of $20,000 for the construction of a secure bicycle storage area with racks at the school.

I also thank the deputy principal, Mr Mark Allen, for initiating this project and the P&C president, Mr Ian Stone, the principal, Education Queensland and the Cairns Regional Council for their support. Additional support has been forthcoming from state government agencies to provide signage, safety gear and bicycle repair
and maintenance kits.

The Bikebus project delivers other benefits too-such as reduced traffic congestion around schools, savings in fuel costs and emissions, and savings in time for mums and dads at the beginning and end of the school day.

Already, other schools in the region are showing interest in this innovative
project-as indeed are members in this House tonight. I recommend that other members of the parliament encourage their local schools to think about establishing their own local Bikebus projects.

Another cycle safety initiative that I am particularly pleased about is the reconfiguration of the Trinity Beach roundabout on the Captain Cook Highway. Earlier this year, a cyclist was knocked off his cycle and killed as he approached this busy roundabout at what is known as a squeeze point on the roundabout. Following this tragedy, I have worked closely with the federal member for Leichhardt, Mr Jim Turnour MP, to obtain funding to widen the Trinity Beach roundabout to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. That project will go ahead later this year.