Ryan Posselt speaks of being hit by car as he pushes for more pedestrian infrastructure upgrades
A Hobart councillor has spoken of a frightening experience where he was struck by a car while jogging in the city recently, as he pushes for further pedestrian safety upgrades across the capital.
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A Hobart councillor has opened up about the frightening experience of being hit by a car in the city recently, saying the incident showed how vital it was that infrastructure upgrades were implemented across the capital to protect vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.
Ryan Posselt, who is the chair of the Hobart City Council’s Transport Committee, spoke of the unnerving episode while unveiling new pedestrian safety improvements near Goulburn Street Primary School in West Hobart on Monday.
“It was just a few months ago where I was personally hit by a car on Barrack St. The roads are unsafe for pedestrians and we need to do everything that we can to make our roads safer for pedestrians,” he said.
Mr Posselt said he had been going for a “lunchtime jog” with a friend of his when they were both hit by a car.
“We stepped off the kerb [at] a green [light] on the intersection of Barrack and Collins streets, and we were struck by a car. [My friend] broke her ankle and was transferred to hospital via ambulance,” he said.
The councillor was joined by Goulburn Street Primary School principal Michael Park and Road Safety Advisory Council chairman Scott Tilyard to launch the pedestrian-friendly infrastructure upgrades at the Forest Rd intersections with Frederick St and Liverpool Crescent.
With the help of a payment through the Community Road Safety Grant Program, the council has partnered with Goulburn Street, as well as South Hobart and New Town primary schools to develop school access travel plans.
The plans are designed to encourage kids to walk, ride bikes, or catch the bus to school and involve education programs, infrastructure upgrades, and collaboration with broader school communities.
The council endorsed Goulburn Street’s school active travel plan last year and has now revealed pedestrian safety improvements around the school, including a raised continuous footpath, tactile ground surface indicators, a new pedestrian refuge, kerb upgrades, and coloured concrete surfacing.
Goulburn Street Primary School principal Michael Park said at least 25 per cent of his school community walked to school and anything to encourage more children to hit the pavement and develop their independence was welcome.
Mr Tilyard said a number of pedestrians had been killed or seriously injured on Tasmania’s roads this year, including a 12-year-old girl who tragically lost her life at Bridgewater.
“Given that one-in-four fatal and serious crashes in urban areas are vulnerable road users – pedestrians and cyclists – these projects … just reduce the risk for pedestrians,” he said.
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