Government tips $4.7m more into cycleways around Tasmania

A controversial inner-Hobart cycle lane is among the projects to be funded under a $4.7m state government push to get more people walking and cycling. Here’s the details.

Kingborough alderman Aldo Antolli, Minister for Transport Eric Abetz and Kingborough mayor Paula Wreidt speak to the media at Kingston on Monday, July 15, 2024.

A controversial inner-Hobart cycle lane is among the projects to be funded under a $4.7m state government push to get more people walking and cycling.

Minister for Transport Eric Abetz on Monday announced the successful applicants under the Better Active Transport Grant programs.

Those projects include $170,000 towards the Collins Street tactical cycleway, $200,000 towards a shared path between Old Station Road and Davies Road in Lower Snug, $500,000 for planning a shared trail between Launceston and Legana and $278,000 for a path from Kempton to the local Mood Food.

Mr Abetz said he was aware of complaints about the Collins Street cycle lane.

Minister for Transport Eric Abetz.

“Not only have I been lobbied by businesses about it that I’m also recognising from a little stopover at the Metro depot that bus drivers aren’t very happy with them either,” he said.

“That is something that for future planning clearly needs to be taken into account, not only businesses — very important though they may be, but also on the flow of traffic including other public transport mechanisms, such as big buses being able to get around corners without blocking traffic.

“So There are a few issues there, which I’m sure we’ll be working through.”

Kingborough Mayor Paula Wriedt welcomed $200,000 from the government for a path upgrade between Old Station Road to Davies Road.

“We know we have a very active community in Kingborough,” she said.

“We recently did a survey as part of developing a new sport and recreation strategy for the area and the number one activity that people actually enjoyed the most and took part in was walking.

“So now we’re going to have some linkages that are going are going to ensure that people of all abilities can safely do that, whether it be on a bike, or walking with a mobility device of some sort.

“It’s really encouraging us, as a council to co invest with the state government and further encourage our community to keep being active and being healthy.”

Proposed bike lanes to be installed in Collins Street Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Minister Abetz said that since 2015 the government had committed $15.5 million to active transport to significantly improve community infrastructure in urban and regional areas alike.

The City of Hobart on Sunday announced parts of Campbell Street would become a no-stopping zone after motorists failed to heed clearway restrictions following the installation of a bicycle lane there.

Emergency services personnel had been among those to complain about cars being left in the clearway, she said.

Seven parking spaces next to the Dunn Place carpark will become no stopping zones to improve traffic flow while a tow operator is identified to keep the clearway clear.