Greater Hobart mayors want further infrastructure investment and more people on public transport

On a mission to encourage more investment in public transport while highlighting the benefits of it, two Greater Hobart mayors will challenge one another over who can take the most bus trips during February.

Metro bus driver Andrew Wiggins, Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnson, Associate Professor Verity Cleland and Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds on a Metro bus at Moonah. Picture: SUPPLIED

ON a mission to encourage more investment in public transport while highlighting the benefits of it, two greater Hobart mayors will challenge one another over who can take the most bus trips during February.

Hobart’s Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds and Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston will next month log their bus rides and they hope other politicians and community leaders will join in on the challenge.

The mayors have teamed up with the Menzies Research Centre for its study into bus travel health benefits that aims to determine if catching the bus can improve health.

Dr Verity Cleland who is a researcher at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research. She is looking for people to be in a study about the health benefits of using buses. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

RELATED: COULD BUS TRIPS BOOST YOUR HEALTH?

Cr Reynolds, who refused the council’s chauffeur-driven car upon her mayoral election, said she already caught the bus regularly and said others should too.

“Even if Hobartians caught the bus one day of the week it would have such a big impact on easing the city’s traffic congestion,” Cr Reynolds said.

“Kristie and I are very keen advocates for more public transport services in Hobart, which has the lowest public transport uptake of any Australian capital city.”

“We’re sending letters out to members of parliament and community leaders who we think can help lead by example in easing traffic congestion.”

MORE NEWS:

PREMIER PICKS UP SURPRISE “PRIORITY” PORTFOLIO

HURRICANES’ GEORGE BAILEY SAYS GOODBYE IN HIS OWN WAY

Ald Johnston said more greater Hobart public transport options were needed.

“I’m a big supporter of public transport which I see as important for the community,” she said.

“I would love to see more government funding for Metro and an expansion of the public transport offerings including light rail for the Northern Suburbs which Glenorchy City Council has been heavily pushing for some time.”

Menzies Institute lead researcher Verity Cleland said Tasmanians could see health benefits from bus travel.

“One of the things we know from evidence seen around the world is that people who use public transport are more physically active than those who don’t,” Dr Cleland said.

[e-mail]