Newsroom

Welcome to Glenorchy’s separated bicycle lane

Work on Tasmania’s first urban separated bicycle lane in Glenorchy is nearly finished, providing a connection between the Intercity Cycleway and the city centre.

The short, separated bi-directional bike lane is part of the revitalization of Glenorchy’s city centre which will involve wider footpaths, slower traffic speeds of 40km/h, more street plantings, new seating and lighting and more bicycle parking stands.

As well as the separation, the lane gets its own bicycle lights at the crossing of King George V Avenue on to Peltro Street.

The lane is painted in green at conflict points with driveways to alert riders and drivers to slow down and look.

The ramp up to the Main Road and Peltro Street intersection is still to be completed, although a temporary ramp is in place.

Bicycle logos still need to be painted on the road surface and line marking at the bicycle and pedestrian crossings over King George V Avenue fixed.

Once those items are fixed the lane is ready to go, providing an example to other council areas of what separated bicyle facilities could look like.

The council has had to remove a handful of on-street car parks to create the bicycle lane but there is plenty of off-street parking in the area.

By narrowing traffic lanes and slowing drivers the council is hoping to make the city centre more “cycle friendly”, although the Peltro Street lane is the only dedicated bicycle lane being installed.

Bicycle Network has been campaigning for a protected bi-directional lane to be built in Collins Street in Hobart, as well as other key streets through the city.

A network of separated lanes running through the city centre that connect with the Intercity Cycleway, Rivulet Path and Sandy Bay Lanes could provide university students and staff, city commuters and new city residents with a cheap, quick and healthy way to get around.

Bicycle Network is co-hosting a seminar with the Tasmanian Bicycle Council about separated bicycle lanes in a few weeks for local and state government engineers, planners and decision makers.

The seminar is being held with funding and venue support from the Department of State Growth and the University of Tasmania.