Newsroom

Tassie bike news bites
Launceston car-free arvo

Taking advantage of the street closures for its Christmas Parade, Launceston Council is keeping St John Street and The Avenue closed to traffic on the afternoon of Saturday 7 December for people to enjoy the city by bike, foot or bus.

The closures are bordered by Paterson, Charles, George and York streets creating an inner car-free square.

The Tamar Bicycle Users Group will guide riders into town at 10 am from three parking spots: Tailrace park, Churchill Park and Inveresk car park.

The Avenue will have a scooter stunt course, face painting, jumping castle and entertainment once the Christmas Parade is finished.

Coastal pathway one step forwards two steps back

Good and bad news this week for the north-west coastal pathway with a new boardwalk in Wynyard but still no resolution of the Burnie erosion issues.

Wynyard Mayor Robby Walsh announced a new boardwalk along the Inglis River will open soon to provide a missing link in the coastal pathway route and improve access to the town’s waterfront attractions. 

On the same day Tasmanian Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson published an opinion piece in The Advocate blaming the Burnie Council for underestimating the cost of building its section of the coastal pathway. 

Work was halted on the Wynyard to Cooee pathway project after storm damage caused erosion that sparked an argument between the state government and Burnie Council over whose responsibility it is to fix it.

The minister called on the council to get on with the project and to work with the government on re-aligning eroded sections.

Summer sport easier with bikes

Bicycle Network will be offering valet bicycle parking at the Big Bash League games in Hobart and at Tennis Tasmania’s Family Fun weekend this summer.

The cricket matches on 24 December and 3, 13 and 24 January at Blundstone Arena will be covered, as will Tennis Tasmania’s family days on 11 and 12 January on the Queens Domain.

Note, that the Taste of Tasmania has elected not to provide bicycle valet parking at this year’s event.

North-East Rail Trail extension step closer

The legislation needed to kick off work on extending the North-East Rail Trail has passed parliament, with the next step now a development application from Dorset Council. 

The North Eastern Advertiser quoted Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson that the change in corridor manager had passed parliament and been approved by him and it's likely the council will become the official manager in February next year. 

While the council's federal grant money for the project will expire soon after, federal Bass MP Bridget Archer has said she is confident the government will renew funding for the project and the council has said it will continue with it regardless. 

Weighty ideas sought in Hobart

Australian Government representatives are heading around the country to find out what local communities think should go in the national obesity strategy.

They will be in Hobart on Monday 9 December for a forum between 10 am and 1pm at Rydges in Argyle Street.

If you have ideas on what could help battle the bulge, you can register for the forum or read the consultation paper and fill out the online survey by 15 December.  

Hobart e-bike expo done and dusted

Another successful E-bike Expo is over for another year, with around 1000 people visiting Hobart’s Regatta Grounds on Sunday 24 November.

Thanks to the bike shops and sponsors for making the event so popular: Roll Cycles, Ride Bellerive, Office of Climate Change, Teros, Electric Horseman, JJ Bikes, Tas Electric Vehicles, Ken Self Cycle Centre, Mr Ride Hobart and Pedaltec.

If you didn’t get along on the day, check out the photos of those who did and enjoyed the chance to talk to bike shops, e-bike owners and test ride a wide variety of e-bikes.

New Derby-Branxholm track delayed

The new Derby-Branxholm cycling track has been delayed and won't now open until the new year.

Dorset Council had planned to open the new track before Christmas but Mayor Greg Howard blamed the delay on the government's Crown Lands unit, which needed to sign off on a logging plan to remove trees on the track.

The track is nearly finished and once the area of land is logged, the World Trails crew will return to complete it.