The Institute, a think tank group seeking to actively promote new ideas to improve lifestyle in the Redlands, is pushing for the Redlands Greenway to be established along a route it says is already owned by either Council or State Government, involves no new land acquisition and has the potential to set the standard in personal transport infrastructure into the future.

Institute president Gunther de Graeve said the Redlands Greenway would provide a safe, fauna-friendly transit alternative to busways and freeways and would encourage the use of low speed, low-emission transport modes such as bicycles, Segways (personal two-wheel transporters) and electric scooters.

“Our proposed Redlands Greenway will provide a rapid, pedestrian-friendly link between the communities of Capalaba and Birkdale and Cleveland and Moreton Bay,” Mr de Graeve said.

“In this way, it will be a destination in itself, comprising points of genuine interest, linking our villages, improving both pedestrian and cyclist safety, and building healthier communities by encouraging more people to leave their cars behind to walk or cycle to destinations.”

When completed, the proposed Redlands Greenway will comprise 19km of sealed pathways directed along an existing route.

“Our plans, in short, may be implemented almost immediately, given the right support from all levels of government,” Mr de Graeve said.

Redland resident Andreas Dagelet, who hand-cycled around Australia in 2006, knows the importance of a transport network separated from roads.

He helped launch the Redlands Greenway proposal on Monday at Alexandra Hills, on the site of the transport corridor between Capalaba and Cleveland.

Mr Dagelet said people on bicycles used the road network because roads were the most direct route between two places.

“Good direct routes are needed as a safe alternative to roads,” he said.