The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is making a last-minute appeal to prevent cyclists from staging a peak-hour protest on Brisbane’s Story Bridge this Friday.
On Thursday, police will appear before the Brisbane Magistrates Court to argue against the demonstration, which is set to block all six lanes of the bridge during the morning commute.
Protesters are calling on Brisbane City Council to allocate one traffic lane exclusively for cyclists and pedestrians. The bridge’s footpaths have been closed since March due to deterioration, with no clear reopening date provided by the council.
Cycling advocacy group Space4cyclingbne intends to take part in the protest unless the court intervenes.
Protest organiser Kathryn Good described the council’s designated detour as hazardous, stretching a 10-minute bike ride into a 35-minute journey through high-traffic one-way streets lacking protected infrastructure.
“I personally know of two people who were involved in accidents while using this detour,” she said.
Good emphasized that staging the protest during peak hour was a deliberate choice to highlight the contrast in how disruptions affect motorists versus active transport users.
The protest will be called off if ruled unlawful by the court, she confirmed.
At a council meeting on Tuesday, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner criticized the action, calling it “Extinction Rebellion on wheels.”
He claimed the protest is backed by the Greens and aimed at disrupting the majority of commuters. “They want to inconvenience the 96% who drive across the bridge to benefit the 4% who walk or cycle,” Cr Schrinner said.
A QPS spokesperson said the legal move followed unsuccessful negotiations with the protest organiser.
“Police and council attempted to work with organisers on alternative protest arrangements, but mediation failed,” the spokesperson explained.
Under the Peaceful Assembly Act, police have submitted documents to the court seeking a decision on whether the planned protest can legally proceed.
The Story Bridge was closed to pedestrians due to footpath degradation, and while the Lord Mayor has repeatedly called for state and federal funding to support repairs, he admitted on Tuesday that council has not yet formally requested funds from the Queensland Government. A business case is currently being prepared.
