Newsroom

Bike Week a reminder of bike benefits

Tasmanian Bike Week, 3–11 March, is the chance to get on a bicycle and remind yourself of why it’s one of the easiest, cheapest, healthiest and most enjoyable ways to get around.

There’s a jam-packed program for Hobart, featuring an e-bike (electric bicycle) expo, a 17km ride just for women, family-friendly treasure hunt and social rides.

Bicycle Network Adviser Alison Hetherington said Bike Week was the chance to celebrate the benefits of riding a bike, especially the emerging range of e-bikes.

“More Tasmanians are enjoying the speed and ease of e-bikes, which help to flatten Hobart’s hills while getting you to your destination faster.

“With all the complaints about Hobart’s traffic congestion, bikes and e-bikes are an obvious answer. Whether you live a ridable distance from Hobart or whether you park on the outskirts and bike into town, you’ll avoid the worst of the traffic snarls.

“Bicycle Network is organizing an e-bike expo on Sunday 11 March so anyone interested can talk to the experts and have a go. We’ve even got Domino’s Pizza making deliveries during the day on their e-bikes.

“Bike Week is also a reminder of the need for more places to ride that are separated from traffic. All the parties this election have committed money to bike specific infrastructure, but in most cases it won’t build enough separated cycleways.

“We know that some 60% of people say they would like to ride more often but are scared of riding close to traffic. If governments built many more separated cycleways then riding would be a genuine transport option for many people.

Bicycle Network activities during Bike Week: www.biketas.org.au/what_s_on_bike_week_2018

  • Women on Wheels 17 km ride – Sunday 4 March, 10 am, at Salacia Avenue, Wentworth Park South, Howrah
  • E-bike expo – Sunday 11 March, 10 am – 2 pm, Regatta Grounds, Hobart
  • Super Tuesday bicycle count – Tuesday 6 March, 7–9 am, metropolitan Hobart
  • Kingborough Treasure Hunt – Sunday 4 March, 2–5 pm, Peter Murrell Reserve, Huntingfield Avenue. Family friendly, suitable for mountain bikes.
  • Lenah Valley historical 12km ride – Friday 9 March, 10am, Putters Golf, 10 Main Rd, Moonah
  • Artlovers’ 26km scenic route to MONA – Saturday 10 March, 10am Cenotaph car park.
  • Convoy to e-bike expo – Sunday 11 March, 10am, Tasmanian Hockey Centre car park.