City bus loop also helps tourists

HOBART TRAFFIC

I WELCOME the Lord Mayor’s comments on integrated transport (“Free cityloop bus idea,” Mercury, July 13). This is a priority, but not just to fix the traffic issues for Hobart, but rather in order to service the tourism numbers coming into Hobart. We as a city make our bread and butter as a tourist destination and should enable effective transport around Hobart (and dare I say it up the mountain) for those visiting our great city. What is also missed in his scheme is the ability for the thousands of cars commuting into Hobart every day to have adequate all-day parking so they can then get the inner-city loop and not treat Hobart suburbs as a parking lot. reports and so did we. The only problem was we had nothing to report. How times have changed. The one-way streets make getting around difficult. Some say only 10 per cent is through traffic and, if this is right, two-way streets would give easier access. Now David Walsh has banished the “cultural cringe”, the cherished village feel could be re-established without the least embarrassment.

Examine holiday respite

ANOTHER angle to traffic: why during school holidays is the commute quicker? Is this because of people not dropping children at schools during peak times, people taking holidays in school breaks, including teachers? Has a study been conducted into the effects of the above? This is not meant to be negative, but why do these students not catch public transport?

Blueprint will work

THE blueprint to get cars and traffic out of the city will work despite heavy criticism. I am a strong believer in slowing down cars. It is expedient to have a people and bicycle-friendly vehicle speed in our CBD. Adjusting parking fees will also contribute to freeing our city centre of unnecessary cars. An express bus lane would no doubt be a silver bullet to the traffic problem. Buses need to get to their destinations swiftly and safely. A boost to our public transport is a relished carrot and would enhance our public transportation immensely. Getting to work on time in the CBD is of para- A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. mount importance for so many of our commuters. Starting a day’s work after driving through heavy traffic is a headache and a bad start for the rest of the day. The use of fewer cars and more pushbikes in the CBD would make it more pleasant and people-friendly for everyone.

Dogs on bikes

TROUBLE started with Hobart traffic when the Greens took over Hobart City Council. They slowed traffic to a crawl, blocked off major streets and had a mindset that every man and his dog should be riding a bicycle whether they were physically able to or not. I personally will not go into the city as the council is money-hungry as far as parking is concerned and I wouldn’t drive through if I had another option such as a very overdue ring road.

Bring on bus trial

THERE is no light bulb moment in Lord Mayor Ron Christie’s proposal for a free city-loop bus. That aside, the idea has merit and should be introduced as soon as possible on a trial basis. There has been too much talk and no action for too long from Hobart City Council and the State Government. Drivers are increasingly frustrated, and the problem is getting worse by the day. So please, no more rhetoric or empty promises. We need action on our city’s transport problems, not more reports or transport talkfests!

Adding up footy revenue

JEFF Kennett is not very good at maths. Revenue to the state from visitors for seven matches under the current structure must be less than revenue from 11 home games with our own AFL team.

Islands of flattery

IMITATION is the sincerest form of flattery. I’d often wondered where the inspiration for the Tasmanian Government’s strategy of secretive dealings on selective “islands” of commercial development in the World Heritage Area came from (“Hodgman too ‘close’ to China, warn Greens”, Mercury, July 13).

Why cut solar subsidy?

IF you want to make Tasmania the battery bank for Australia, why are you cutting the subsidy to people who supply the grid from solar power on their homes by more than 66 per cent as of December? Why? We are helping.

Blow to cheaper power

THE Federal Government has been advised to shut down the Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme. This is another blow to making our electricity cheaper. Roof-top solar panels should be encouraged for every household.