The City of Hobart has released two mobility plans for public comment before 13 August, which include recommendations for separated cycleways on Augusta Road, New Town Road and Creek Road.
The plans for the northern suburbs and Battery Point include suggestions to improve walking and cycling routes to common destinations such as shops and schools.
Residents and visitors to the areas were invited to nominate issues for consideration on an online map late last year.
Northern suburbs plan
In the northern suburbs, the most common topic was poor cycling conditions and the most frequent request was for protected bike lanes, followed by more kerb ramps and safer crossing points.
The plan acknowledges that the existing roads can be uncomfortable and stressful for riders and that separated cycleways are needed: “Physical separation is an essential element of any bicycle facility on busy streets that carry more than 3000 vehicles per day at speeds above 30 km/h."
It recommends building separated cycleways on Augusta Road, New Town Road and Creek Road in the short term and Forster and Giblin streets in the longer term.
Traffic calming is recommended in the short term on Pedder, Wellwood and Haig streets to make cycling more comfortable by discouraging through traffic. This includes creating a cycling cut-through at the Giblin Street end of Pedder Street to allow people riding to continue while cars would continue to reach a dead end.
Other longer term projects are a shared path along the length of the New Town Rivulet to the Intercity Cycleway and beyond to Cornelian Bay, and a shared path to connect Lenah Valley Primary School, New Town Primary School and Hobart City High School.
Augusta Road cycleway
There are four options for a separated cycleway on Augusta and New Town roads that use the existing 15-metre road width:
- 1.5 metre wide cycleways with parked cars on both sides of the road.
- 2 metre wide cycleways on both sides of the road, with parked cars on one side of the road.
- A 2.8 metre wide bi-directional cycleway on one side of the road, with parking on both sides.
- A 3 metre wide bi-directional cycleway on one side of the road, with parking on one side.
Creek Road cycleway
Space is tighter on Creek Road but a 2.6 metre wide bi-directional cycleway with narrow separators is proposed to get students to schools safely.
Battery Point plan
The most commonly nominated issues in Battery Point were footpaths and on-street parking, but cycling conditions also attracted some comments.
The plan notes that many people riding through the area are trying to avoid heavy traffic on Sandy Bay Road, rather than starting or ending a trip in Battery Point.
On-road painted lanes on De Witt Street are recommended to help with traffic calming and provide some cycling wayfinding. Existing large street trees along this street make a separated cycleway difficult to deliver and if traffic calming measures are unsuccessful, the plan recommends the installation of traffic diversions.
Other recommendations that could improve cycling include creating slow, shared traffic conditions on Montpelier Retreat and Hampden Road, and the narrow shortcut through Knopwood and James streets.
You can fill out online surveys or email more detailed responses to both plans before 13 August via: https://yoursay.hobartcity.com.au/moving-together