Here we go again

A press release just in from the bike-qld mailing list. For those who realise just how rarely press releases lead to enlightenment, it relates to a bike path they're building out at Gatton (60km or so west of Ipswich for the geographically challenged). It's more of the usual gaff about how much they love cyclists, well, you'd hardly expect them to say what they really think in a press release, or would you? I draw your attention to this sentence:

"Getting people off the roads and onto their bikes will only bring positive results, "

When translated, it seems this bike path, like so many others seems to revolve around the idea of simply getting cyclists off the roads. The fact that I picked this up with nothing more than a cursory glance at the statement indicates it wasn't as well hidden as these things usually are in the jargon. This suggests one of two things, either:

1. We're finally starting to see some honesty in press releases; or (more likely)
2. The cyclists aren't really the ones they're trying to win votes from this time around.

I'm going with option 2, given that this is what I've long suspected about the majority of so-called bikepaths in existence. Now I don't get out to Gatton all that often (well, there's not much reason to really), but I'm sure one day I'll be passing through on the way to somewhere else. It might be interesting to hear what they'll think of someone on their bike and on the road, although I doubt the opinion of a political spin doctor is going to have much influence on my behaviour regardless.