NEW PLAN TO BUILD BICYCLE HIGHWAYS IN TASMANIA
The drive to work could get faster if Bicycle Tasmania’s new campaign plan is successful in convincing the Tasmanian Government to invest part of the 2012-2013 State Budget in cycleways and bike lanes connecting people from where they live to where they want to go.
Bicycle Tasmania has public a plan to significantly improve the accessibility and availability of bike paths and bike lanes in Tasmania along with a comprehensive rational and reasoning for why this needs to happen.
The construction of facilities recommended in Bicycle Tasmania’s plan by the state government would triple the number of people riding in Tasmania by 2020 and see a significant reduction in congestion in Hobart and Launceston according to Bicycle Tasmania Facilities Development Manager, Liam Correy.
To celebrate the launch of the plan, each member of State Parliament will receive a ‘gift bicycle’ bearing their name and a copy of the plan to remind them of the opportunity to allocate funds in the 2012-2013 Budget to bicycle facilities.
The plan, ‘Creating Healthy Connections’, follows a year of consultation and research into the most attractive new cycleway developments possible in Tasmania and, if successful, will provide improved opportunities for people to ride to work, school, down to the shops or on social outings.
Bicycle Tasmania President Jeff Dunn said the organisations membership was growing strongly as more and more people joined because they wanted to see improved bicycle facilities. The Tasmania State Government had not yet committed to building new bike paths and lanes as part of its annual works program despite over 97,000 Tasmanians riding a bike each week.
The plan reveals that while state, local and federal government have made statements around bike riding being a sound investment for improving health and low cost transport options, the current rate of funding, planning and construction is well below what is required to meet the demands of the Tasmanian community.
Bicycle Tasmania’s Facilities Development Manager Liam Correy said that reallocating a fair portion of the states multi million dollar roads budget to bicycle facilities would make a world of difference to improving bike riding facilities enabling more people to ride from where they live to where they want to go.
“Bicycle projects are jobs rich and reduce transport costs, increase physical activity, create sustainable behaviour change, reduce oil vulnerability, increase livability, contribute to social cohesion, reduce emissions, reduce road congestion and benefit business”.
“The most attractive incentive to invest in bicycle facilities for a government short of cash, is that the benefit cost ratio is much higher than normal road projects. For each dollar spent on cycle ways government gets back between $2 and $20 in benefits for the community” Mr Correy said.
Key projects from the plan include:
• Footpath improvements and speed reduction around primary schools to make it easier for children to ride to school
• A 2.5km cycleway connecting Eastlands to Mornington
• A 3.5km cycleway connecting Glenorchy and Tolosa Park
• A 1.5km cycleway connecting the Intercity Cycleway with Lutana
• A 1km foreshore cycleway connecting Marieville Esplanade with Salamanca
• A 7km cycleway connecting the northern suburbs of Launceston with the CBD
• 50 km of connections to the North West Coastal Pathway
• A 60km cycle trail between Bridgewater and Maydena
• A 85km cycle trail between Launceston and North Eastern Tasmania
• A 15km cycle trail between Orford and Buckland on the East Coast
This is just a small selection of the 52 proposed projects available in the plan.
More detail can be found at www.biketas.org.au
Download Bicycle Tasmania State Budget submission:
Bicycle_Tasmania_State_Budget_Submission_2012-2013.docx
• CYCLEWAY IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED
Tim Morris MP
Greens Acting Leader
The Tasmanian Greens today backed calls by Bicycle Tasmania to improve and extend the state’s network of bicycle tracks, as a crucial measure for the state’s health, environmental and economic future.
Greens Acting Leader Tim Morris today attended the launch of Bicycle Tasmania’s ‘Creating Healthy Connections’ plan for improving accessibility and availability of cycleways and bicycle lanes in Tasmania, and acknowledged receipt of bikes donated to the Greens MPs.
“The Greens are committed to investing in cycling infrastructure to make it easier for people to leave their cars at home,” Mr Morris said.
“This plan from Bicycle Tasmania contains a long list of positive ideas for improving access to cycleways for all Tasmanians, which is vital if we want to increase participation in cycling and reduce car use.”
“As well as the environmental benefits from bicycle transport, we need to think about the benefits that will flow to the community through reduced cost-of-living pressures and the promotion of a healthy and active lifestyle.”
“With its spectacular scenery and unique attractions, Tasmania is also well placed to become a cycling destination of national and international renown.”
“The Greens believe that the economic success of international examples, such as the Otago Central Rail Trail in New Zealand could be replicated on Tasmania’s north-west coast with shared cycleway linking Devonport to Wynyard.”
“A cycleway starting in Devonport would provide the perfect departure point for bicycle tourists arriving on the Spirit of Tasmania, encouraging them to explore the north-west instead of turning east at the highway.”
Mr Morris called on the Minister for Sport and Recreation Michelle O’Byrne MP to clarify whether the $150,000 set aside for the now scrapped cycleway proposal between Hobart to Smithton was available for other cycleway projects.
“Last year the Minister indicated that the $150,000 could still be available to progress the North West Coastal Pathway, but there has been no indication since how the money will be spent.”
“The Greens are keen to see that money to be put towards detailed planning work for unbuilt sections of the north-west cycleway,” Mr Morris said.
