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Tassie bike news bites

Legislative Council candidates pledge cycle safety

At least one candidate in all three Legislative Council seats up for election on 4 May have signed on to our Safer Cycling Pledge.

The Safer Cycling Pledge calls on candidates to support measures that would improve infrastructure and legal support for people on bikes.

If I am elected to the Legislative Council, I pledge to:

  • support the sealing of road shoulders on routes popular for cycling
  • support protected cycleways in urban centres
  • support programs which help people choose active transport options
  • support legislative changes which create safer conditions for vulnerable road users like bicycle riders.

Candidates who have signed on to the pledge are:

Nelson: Vica Bayley, Deborah Brewer, Blair Brownless, Madeleine Ogilvie, Richard Griggs, Meg Webb.
Montgomery: Leonie Hiscutt, Cheryl Fuller
Pembroke: Jo Siejka

To see what the candidates say about their support for bike riding visit our VoteBike Legislative Council page.

Kingston to Margate under microscope

The State Government has announced a planning study into the Channel Highway between Kingston and Margate.

A key focus of the study is the safety of the intersection between the highway and Howden Road.

But it will also identify better transport options for people choosing to walk, ride a bicycle or catch a bus between the two towns.

The government is calling for community comment about the stretch of road and options for riding a bike via an interactive map: https://stategrowthtas.mysocialpinpoint.com/channel-highway-kingston-to-margate-planning-study#/

The Kingston Council’s recently opened Snug to Margate offroad shared path has been attracting lots of praise, could that be extended to Kingston or would you prefer an on-road separated option?

Comments will be accepted until Sunday 26 May.  

East coast path promises up in air

East Coast communities have been left wondering whether announcements of $3 million in funding for shared path projects for Dolphin Sands and St Helens will go ahead if Labor wins the federal election.

Funding was set aside in the budget and announced last week for a multi-user track on Georges Bay foreshore and off-road path from St Helens Point Rd to town and a shared path in Dolphin Sands.

However, the grants were not signed off before the election was called and Labor has not committed to honour announcements made by the government that have not already been signed off.

Feedback sought on Kingston Park bike connections

Kingborough Council is looking comments on its plans for bike connections to the new Kingston Park at the old High School site before 12 May.

The main playground section of the park will be connected to the Whitewater Creek track, which will be widened before the underpass and its surface upgraded. This is a good move to allow families to ride to the park to play and ride home.

There will be eight bike parking areas, including an electric bike charger and a repair station.

Pardalote Parade which runs between Channel Highway and the new Goshawk Way will be a shared path but it will not have separated connections at either end – bike riders will have to go on the road or footpath to connect to the main park.

It is disappointing that the council has not created a safe continuous corridor for bike riders through the new site, especially as it could have serviced new residential areas that have been proposed for the edges.

This development illustrates the need for Kingborough Council to implement a Bike Plan which includes networks of separated bike lanes to connect new housing areas to existing shops and transport.  

Hobart council bike committee re-forms

The City of Hobart is calling for nominations for two community representatives on its Bicycle Advisory Committee, which meets every two months during the day on a weekday.

If you are interested in joining the committee, email coh@hobartcity.com.au with your CV and letter outlining why you would like to join the committee before Friday 10 May.

Terms of Reference can be downloaded from:www.hobartcity.com.au/hbac