Newsroom

A man rides a bicycle along the Riverbend path with a guitar slung over his back and bag on his handlebars, looking towards the Seaport building on the other side of the river.
Tassie Bike News Bites
Vote for Launceston Bike Library

The Great Regional Challenge is on again in Launceston and this time you can vote for a bike library where people who don't have a bike can borrow one. 

The project is looking for funds to buy bikes and store them. It is being led by the Tamar Bicycle Users Group, Reclink Australia, University of Tasmania and Youth Futures. 

The last bike projects to win funding through the challenge were the “park and bike” carpark bays at Tailrace Park, Heritage Forest and Hoblers Bridge and purchase of an adult trike for Reclink clients. Votes close on Sunday 28 May. 

Kingborough budget open for comment

Kingborough Council has released a draft 2023–24 budget, which is open for public comment until Sunday 14 May.

Cycling projects included for next year are:

  • construction of new Kingston MTB Park toilets
  • second stage feasibility study for a North West Bay MTB trail
  • Taroona bike lane improvements.

You can view the full budget and fill out a survey on the council’s website.

Huon group launches petition for more bike paths

Community group Circular Economy Huon has launched a petition to parliament about transport in the region, including a call for a network of bike paths.

The petition requests the House of Assembly to call on the Minister for Transport to update transport plans and implement a fair transport system for all southern residents.

The online petition is on the parliament website for signing until Wednesday 7 June.  https://haepetitions.parliament.tas.gov.au/haepet/Home/PetitionDetails/110.

Launceston drops speed limits on city streets

Launceston City Council is calling for comment on its plan to cut the city centre speed limit from 50km to 40km, and the speed on some arterial roads from 60km to 50km.

You can comment before Monday 8 May via contactus@launceston.tas.gov.au https://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/News-Media/Engagement-opens-on-proposed-speed-limit-changes

Bicycle Network has long campaigned for 30km speed limits where there are higher numbers of people walking and riding as this improves safety outcomes. https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/our-campaigns/low-speed/

Map of Launceston showing green where speed limits will be dropped from 50 to 40 km and red where the reduction is 60 to 50 km.

UTAS Burnie campus path change
Changes to the pathway access around the UTAS Cradle Coast Campus are happening from Monday 1 May.
 
You'll now ride on the new railway path while the coastal path is closed to allow work on the car park and penguin access through the area. The coastal path is due to re-open later this year.
 
https://www.utas.edu.au/about/campuses/cradle-coast
 
Satellite image of the UTAS west park campus in burnie with infformation boxes showing the dates for changed access.