Shared paths can be a nightmare
THE artist’s impression of the welcomed proposed Tasman Bridge widening shows nice wide pathways, but they are shared between pedestrians and cyclists.
Existing shared pathways in Hobart, such as the Intercity Cycleway and the Rose Garden Bridge, are a nightmare for pedestrians, and hardly better for cyclists. Pedestrians are told to keep to the left. They always have the fear of a cyclist speeding past them from behind. If another cyclist is approaching, then the situation is very similar to that faced by cyclists on a country road when being overtaken by a car with another car approaching from the opposite direction.
Accidents in both these are frequent and serious.
On the Tasman Bridge, however, if there are wide lanes on either side of the bridge, one could be reserved for pedestrians and one for cyclists. Then, pedestrians could walk two or three abreast, enjoying the views, and converse in comfort; cyclists could ride two abreast easily.
It would only require some extra access at each end of the bridge. Heaven on a stick for both parties.
David Brewer
Glebe situations
CHARTER FLIGHTS TO ASIA
SO the way I figure it, Hobart now has an international airport, spare quarantine rooms due to lessened interstate travel restrictions, not using their international quarantine allotment and a big trade to Asia. So why hasn’t the government looked into charter flights to get Tasmanians home and ship freight direct to Asia.
Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore all have COVID under control better than Australia.
Politics should be put aside. Travel caps were to flatten the curve so as to not overwhelm the medical system. Please let Australians come home. David Campbell
Hong Kong
COUNCIL SPENDING FLAWS
READER Robin Aitchison’s letter about the Hobart City Council waste at Salamanca asked how much the debacle cost (“Salamanca waste,” Letters, October 27). Two and a bit million, so I’m told. The work is of a high quality, but the changes are flawed because there is no large carpark nearby. And now it appears the Hobart City Council will conduct a fire sale of our assets. It will all be blamed on COVID, of course. But financial trouble has been brewing for years.
The inability of our council to focus solely on its core business is the real problem.
Tim Beaumont
Battery Point
POOR RECORD ON BRIDGES
ONE can only hope the Tasman Bridge upgrade has been given due consideration. In COVID times for $ 130 million, the price of a block of flats in atrocious condition, they are going to superimpose loadings to an existing structure that is 61m high and 1.4km long.
Assuming that the existing structure has been sufficiently over- engineered to withstand the superimposed dead and live loadings. Bearing in mind that cranes can only be legally operated in a wind factor of less than 25km/ h. All this is going to occur without major disruption to existing traffic. It would be prudent to refer to the last two attempts of building land- based low- level bridges in the city precinct which were nothing short of a debacle.
Phil Georgeff
Dover
TRIPPED UP
A QUICK look at the Tasmania State Growth website reveals that we, the community, certainly have a full plate of road Transport Related Infrastructure Projects ( yes, road TRIPs). If not yet funded, many seem to be well advanced in the planning stage.
Most of the projects appear, of course, to be attempts to tackle apparent and increasing traffic congestion at peak times. Are we building TRIPs which reinforce commuting by car rather than alternatives? Where is the long- term planning for public TRIPs. Robin Harwood
Moonah
RED LIGHT ROADBLOCK
SILLY me, I always thought the traffic lights in Hobart were not synchronised, however, they are. Once the green light appears and the green light at the next intersection is green it is synchronised to turn red as one approaches it.
Please get the synchronisers retrained so one can pass through at least two green lights before encountering another red one.
Stewart Edwards
Mount Stuart
OPENING COSTS
THE premier announced the borders to NSW would be opening on November 2. However, this week it is now November 6. Will the government compensate the people who booked flights to finally see their families? Stephen De Launay Scottsdale