ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has been called out for an Instagram post that inaccurately described a new cycleway in Canberra. The post, which showed a photo of a path in the suburb of Denman Prospect, claimed that the path was part of a new cycleway under construction. However, the path is not a cycleway and has been open for several years.
Misleading Post Attracts Criticism
The post, which was shared on Barr's official Instagram account, attracted criticism from local cyclists and opposition politicians who pointed out the inaccuracies. The path in question is a shared-use path, not a dedicated cycleway, and it has been open since the early stages of the Denman Prospect development.
Shadow Minister for Transport and City Services, Nicole Lawder, said the post was misleading and demonstrated a lack of understanding of the city's cycling infrastructure. "The Chief Minister needs to get his facts right," Lawder said. "This path is not a cycleway, and it's been open for years. It's disappointing that he would try to claim credit for something that doesn't exist."
Government Response
A spokesperson for the ACT Government said that the post was intended to highlight the government's investment in active travel infrastructure. "The post was about the government's commitment to building more cycling and walking paths across Canberra," the spokesperson said. "The path in Denman Prospect is part of a broader network of active travel routes that the government is delivering."
The spokesperson also noted that the government has invested heavily in cycling infrastructure in recent years, including the construction of new cycleways and shared paths. However, they acknowledged that the post could have been clearer about the nature of the path shown.
Cycling Community Reacts
Local cycling advocates have also weighed in on the controversy. Ian Ross, president of the Pedal Power ACT cycling advocacy group, said that while the government has made progress on cycling infrastructure, it is important to be accurate about what has been delivered. "We appreciate the government's investment in active travel, but it's crucial to communicate accurately," Ross said. "Misleading posts can undermine public trust and confuse people about what infrastructure is available."
Ross also called for better communication from the government about cycling projects, including clearer signage and more detailed information on the types of paths being built.
Fact Check: The Path in Question
A fact check by local media confirmed that the path shown in Barr's post is a shared-use path, which is open to pedestrians and cyclists, but it is not a dedicated cycleway. The path has been open since 2018, and it is part of the Denman Prospect development's active travel network. The path connects to other shared paths in the area, but it does not form part of the government's planned cycleway network, which includes dedicated, separated cycleways on major roads.
The ACT Government has committed to building 90 kilometres of new cycleways by 2025, as part of its Active Travel Plan. However, the path in Denman Prospect is not one of these projects.
Political Implications
The controversy comes at a sensitive time for the Barr government, which has faced criticism over its handling of transport and infrastructure projects. The opposition has seized on the post as an example of the government's failure to deliver on its promises.
"This is typical of the Barr government: big on announcements but short on delivery," Lawder said. "They claim credit for things that don't exist, while Canberrans are still waiting for real improvements to our transport network."
Barr has not commented directly on the controversy, but his office has indicated that he will be more careful in future posts.
