Bike group focus on gridlock cycle

THERE is a way out of gridlock, along a future path where cars do not reign supreme.

This is the vision of the Bicycle Network Tasmania, which is lobbying for safe paths through neighbourhoods where pedestrians and cyclists of all ages can feel safe to travel under their own steam.

Di Elliffe, from the network, said Hobart’s traffic congestion could be dramatically reduced if Greater Hobart provided safe bike paths that lured motorists on to bikes.

“If you got even five per cent of drivers out of cars you could slash the congestion,” she said.

She said a safe active transport route was needed across the neighbourhoods of Greater Hobart, offering designated “slow streets” to pedestrians and cyclists who were taking the healthy and sustainable route to school and work.

Ms Elliffe has just returned from a study of bike strategies in Portland, Oregon, regarded as one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world.

“They have neighbourhood greenways where people can’t drive at more than 20km/h, which means cyclists are driving at the same speed as cars.”

She said the greenways gave top priority to pedestrians, followed by bike riders, public transport and cars with multiple occupants. Cars with a single occupant were ranked last.

The Bicycle Network has just made a submission to the Hobart City Council’s Transport Strategy, which is looking at future transport demands to 2030.

The network wants to see the implementation of a Hobart bike plan, filling in gaps to create safer connections for cyclists.

One of the network’s current campaigns is to develop a fully connected Collins St cycleway.

HCC infrastructure committee chairwoman alderman Helen Burnet said council was liaising with cyclists about how to make the city more bike friendly.

Ald Burnet said the next stage of the council’s Transport Strategy would call for public input into local area traffic management.