Bicycle Network welcomed a new addition to the Tasmanian office in January.
Alison Hetherington has stepped into the Public Affairs Adviser role so ably filled by Garry Bailey and before him Dr Emma Pharo.
Alison is a communications professional who has spent the past 25 years working in public health advocacy, law reform, political offices and local government.
She is a lifelong bicycle commuter and comes to the role with a desire to improve urban bike riding facilities around Tasmania.
“I was lucky to have a dad who was a rider who encouraged me to keep riding throughout my teens and to take it up again as a commuter. Without him pushing me I don’t know whether I would have had the courage to take up riding again in my 20s."
“I’ve lived in Hobart for the past 10 years and think it’s a great city for riding but realise for a lot of other women it’s too scary to get on a bike in traffic."
“There is so much potential here and in Tassie’s other regional centres to make riding easier for more people. It’s easier said than done, but we need to ram home with decision-makers how important it is for health outcomes and traffic congestion for them to invest in active transport facilities."
“I lived in the City of Yarra in Melbourne for more than 10 years and was on its bicycle advisory committee for some of that time. That experience showed me that with the political will and the funding, effective networks of bike lanes could completely change how people got around."
“In the few weeks I’ve been in the job I’ve been incredibly impressed with the efficiency and energy of the state volunteer committee and look forward to supporting them and other volunteers where I can."
“I’m already booked in to visit Launceston to talk to the Tamar Bicycle Users Group and local council, and look forward to getting around the state to see the projects and issues in other areas."
Alison can be contacted at the Hobart office at 210 Collins Street on 03 8376 8804 or email Alison.
