Council falling short of best bike option

Greens Alderman and Senate candidate Helen Burnet says the plan on offer for a Sandy Bay Road Bikeway is set to fail those people it should be serving.

On Wednesday 29 May the Hobart City Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee will be provided advice that painting lanes on Sandy Bay Road is the most appropriate option [1].

“A golden opportunity for a bike facility designed for everyone in the community is slipping away,” Alderman Burnet said.

“We want our kids to feel confident enough to ride to school, we want people to ride to work and uni, we want tourists to hire bikes and ride them along the route.

“This will only happen if we have bike lanes separate from traffic. The proposal before Aldermen falls well short of delivering to the community an option that will be taken up by people aged 8 to 80,” Alderman Burnet said.

Alderman Burnet pointed to the fact that seven schools are clustered around Sandy Bay Road. “2000-3000 students could be provided with a healthy and independent alternative for getting to school and yet they are not catered for with what is proposed. This sells them short and is not forward-thinking nor sensible in this day and age when there is a need for healthy options.

“On the weekend people ranging in age from 8 to 80 (and beyond!) came together in the bid for the construction of safe cycleways for Hobart. They want bike lanes that can be used by all. Painting lanes on Sandy Bay Road will not cater for most bike users. It will not provide that degree of separation from moving nor parked cars. Council should listen to the community.

“Sandy Bay Road has an ever-increasing car usage and it is unfortunate that what we have as the recommended option is a bike facility that will not fully encourage bike riders.

“What this proposal delivers is protected on-street car parks. It does not really encourage vulnerable bike users – often women and children, which to me is the most important priority.”

1. See Item 6 of the agenda for meeting on 29 May 2013 at http://www.hobartcity.com.au/Council/Council_Meetings/Infrastructure_Services_Committee

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Greens Alderman and Senate candidate Helen Burnet