In May, Mayors of the five greater Hobart councils of Brighton, Clarence, Glenorchy, Hobart and Kingborough launched the Draft Hobart Regional Arterial Bicycle Network for public consultation.
The draft plan is part of a collaborative project between the five councils, which has received funding under the Federal Government’s Cities for Climate Protection program.
The document crosses municipal boundaries and identifies where arterial cycling routes are needed across the region to facilitate safe and efficient transport by bicycle.
Hobart Lord Mayor, Alderman Rob Valentine, said producing the regional bicycle network plan demonstrates Local Government’s important role in tackling climate change and sustainable transport provision.
“In the past year, each of the councils involved in formulating this regional plan has installed facilities to assist cyclists,” Lord Mayor Valentine said. “We are planning cycle facilities in our individual municipalities, and now for the first time we can begin to see what a regional bicycle network might look like.”
Host of the launch and Mayor of Kingborough, Dr Graham Bury, said the regional plan was launched alongside the latest bicycle infrastructure addition in Kingborough’s residential and commercial centre, Kingston.
“The Channel Highway through the Kingston shopping area has been upgraded and Council has taken the opportunity to provide bike lanes for cyclists,” he said. “The design has provided designated space for bike riders and has also calmed traffic and improved the area for all road users.”
The project has been bringing speakers to Hobart over the past few months to highlight the benefits to the wider community of providing excellent facilities for cyclists.
Clarence Mayor, Jock Campbell, said a seminar by visiting Danish urban planning expert, Lars Gemzoe, showed examples from Australia and around the world of the social, environmental and health benefits of providing facilities for cyclists.
Glenorchy Mayor, Adriana Taylor, said promoting cycling with quality infrastructure will be the key to achieving a future vision of a sustainable region with a strong and healthy community.
Mayor Tony Foster of Brighton said that following the community consultation period, which closes on
20 June, feedback received will be used to finalise the regional arterial bicycle network plan.
“We would hope that both the State and Federal Governments will be assisting the councils in realising this vision for the Hobart region,” he said.
For further information contact Stuart Baird at Hobart City Council on
(03) 6238 2194.
