Charles Calls for Sandy Bay cycling lane

Twenty-three year old Greens candidate, Madeleine Charles, is ready to push for the implementation of Copenhagen styled bicycle lanes along Sandy Bay Road.

“If I am elected to Hobart City Council, I will be immediately pushing for investment in the invaluable infrastructure.”

Ms Charles refutes arguments that this investment would only benefit a small minority of the community. She added that segregated cycle ways assist all road users, as motorists will not have to move out of their lane in order to pass cyclists and the initiative would reduce potential accidents and their severity.

A 2006 study conducted by the European cycling federation on the increased safety of Copenhagen cycle tracks highlights an increase in cycling to 18-20% and decreased motor traffic by 9-10%.

“Not only will the infrastructure assist students who do not feel comfortable riding on Sandy Bay Road because of safety and traffic concerns, it will also assist the cost of living for all commuters who travel on the Sandy Bay road. Furthermore, there will be a reduction of carbon emissions and the safety of all road users will also be improved”.

“I hope to work with the University of Tasmania to ensure that students have facilities on campus to store their bikes in under cover parking. I also aspire to work in conjunction with the students from the university and employ student projects to develop these initiatives” said Ms Charles.

“However such initiative will be reliant on constituents voting in the local government elections”.

Ballot papers for the local government election must reach the Electoral Commission by the 25th October.

Authorised by Madeleine Charles, 208 Elizabeth Street, Nth Hobart