The intersection of Collins and Molle Streets remains a dangerous location for pedestrians, cyclists, and cars alike.
Hobart City Council Greens Candidate Corey Peterson wants a safer crossing arrangement than a few “kerbing bulbs” currently proposed.
Peterson says, “the confluence of pedestrians, cyclists and cars into this currently uncontrolled intersection is an accident waiting to happen. Here you have a busier and busier Hobart Rivulet track used for non-car access to the city, a very large surface carpark catering to commuters using it at the same times as well as a couple of businesses operating out of the adjoining building and they are all forced to cross a 60 km per hour three lane thoroughfare without benefit of any safety features.”
Peterson continues, “I have been monitoring this intersection over the past few months and have counted over 160 people and dozens of cyclists crossing this road from 8-9 a.m. and another 180 from 4-5:30, which is also the peak period for commuter traffic on Molle Street. I watched as people with prams, travel bags, children on bikes all dodged traffic as they crossed the road.”
“It took a lot of effort by Sandy Bay residents and city workers to get pedestrian lights on Sandy Bay Road, Regent Street, and Bathurst Street near the 50 and Better Centre with fewer hourly crossings, so I would expect swifter action on this unsafe intersection. Safer solutions could include slowing the speed limit on Molle Street as well as pedestrian lights with the kerb bulbing or an under road crossing,” Peterson added.
“As we are encouraging more people to commute to work on their own two legs or to cycle, we need to ensure that we do not then dump them from Council-supplied tracks into unsafe areas just short of the city centre. Addressing this crossing issue ties in neatly with Council’s Sustainable Transport initiatives, especially considering the pedestrian getting hit yesterday just down Collins Street.”
As a candidate, Peterson believes that one of the Council’s main duties of care is to the safety of residents and providing safe street crossings is critical, especially in areas of such obvious heavy use from competing transport modes and businesses.
Corey Peterson
Sustainability and Resilience Promoter
Corey Peterson Greens Candidate for Hobart City Council
