What you said about Hobart’s scramble crossings in the CBD

Scramble crossings in Hobart’s CBD are sticking around after a 12-month trial, sparking furious debate. HAVE YOUR SAY.

New scramble crossings at the intersection of Liverpool and Elizabeth streets in Hobart CBD. Picture: Linda Higginson

The end of a 12-month trial — and approval to make it permanent — Hobart’s scramble crossings in the CBD remains a hot topic of debate.

The local council agreed to seek external funding needed for capital works to enable the crossings to be fully implemented.

Some CBD businesses claim the initiative has a negative impact on trade, however council officers claim its improving amenity and safety at key pedestrian hotspots.

A majority of Hobart councillors voted to continue the trial indefinitely on Monday evening, despite some reservations about the project.

New scramble crossings at the intersection of Liverpool and Elizabeth streets in Hobart CBD. Picture: Linda Higginson

The scramble crossings have been operating at the intersections of Elizabeth and Collins streets, Elizabeth and Liverpool streets, Murray and Collins streets, and Murray and Liverpool streets since September last year.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>

What you said

There have been crossings like this on the mainland for over a decade. Stop whinging people!

LD

Only HCC could proclaim that something so inconvenient to most people is a success. I guess so long as entitled inner suburbs residents are happy the rest of Tasmania must suffer a capital city CBD which fails us.

Km

Now u’ve [sic] seen it all..The anti everythings calling the crossings woke.........Good ol’ Tassie

Steve

Hobart City Council are amazing! None of their trials end in failure! Every single one a success!

Rob

I think the HCC are just getting in early for the 23000 people attending the stadium 7 Saturday afternoons a year. You won’t be complaining then.

Alex

So, they are a success are they? How did they operationalise success? What measurable indicators of success were recorded? Oh, that’s right. HCC thinks it is a success, therefore, it is a success.

Janet

Must be a nightmare for the delivery drivers and essential services!

Jenny

They got one thing right: Looking for ways to bypass the cbd. Completely.

Scott

Man, people really love throwing the word woke around. I never thought I’d see it applied to pedestrian crossings. But here we are.

Caroline

Great idea if you had hundreds of people crossing at a time like Melbourne, but for less than 10 it is another example of wasting money.

Robbie

It’s actually easier. When it was 2 way, it was so frustrating when pedestrians would charge across at the red walk signal as you’re about to turn. With this way, there is no second guessing. I think a little more time on the green for Elizabeth into Liverpool would be useful, but that’s getting better too. Most people have learned to turn off earlier onto Murray if they aren’t stopping outside Myer. As always Hobart’s biggest issue is the lack of a bypass.

Rich

Traffic is awful around the Liverpool/Elizabeth crossing. About 2-3 cars can get through on green before the light changes again!

Rebecca

Classic HCC solving problems that don’t actually exist.

Peter Gunn

hmmm...making it safer for pedestrians to move through the city... yeah, what a waste of money.

Alison

hmmm...making it safer for pedestrians to move through the city... yeah, what a waste of money.

SCOTT

So the HCC are calling them a success like they called the parking meters in North Hobart a success.

Baden

“Success”. Definition by a woke council that has driven cars out of the city by making it frustrating and annoying. Death by 1000 cuts for the CBD businesses.

Paul

These are a complete nonsense. The three stage process is slower for both vehicle traffic and pedestrians (who now take risks by crossing more frequently on a don’t walk sign. A failure by any measure.

David