The Tasmanian election has been called for 23 March, so bike advocates have less than one month to get better bike infrastructure on candidate's agendas.
Bicycle Network has set up a webpage that details our main asks of candidates.We've added candidate contact details for each electorate and a report card on what parties promised at the last election.
We need your help to let candidates know that we have public support for what we are asking. The webpage has a one-page list of asks for you to talk about with candidates, and it's a great idea to tell your story and ask for specific paths/cycleways in your area.
Please consider asking questions at candidate forums in your area, writing a letter to the editor, calling talkback radio, engaging on social media, sending candidates an email or asking for a meeting.
Your personal experience as someone who rides a bicycle, or would like to ride a bicycle, are powerful stories that help candidates understand the need for safer cycling infrastructure and help to get support and encourage more people to ride.
What are we asking for?
We write numerous submissions each year detailing what needs to improve to get more people riding and to look after people who are riding.
We try to keep our election asks brief and linked to current issues. Reducing cost of living pressures, getting people more active and cutting climate change emissions and transport congestion are on most candidate's agendas.
Our asks focus on getting the safer infrastructure needed to encourage more people to ride, integration of bikes with public transport and developing programs to help people get riding.
- Cycling Infrastructure Fund
An ongoing Tasmanian Cycling Infrastructure Fund would help build the cycling facilities needed for encourage more people to choose active transport.
- Fund new All Ages and Abilities cycleways under the Greater Hobart Cycling Plan.
- Develop regional commuter cycling plans for Launceston, Burnie and Devonport and other willing urban centres.
- Fund All Ages and Abilities cycleways for regional plans once they are agreed.
- More public transport choice
Some people don’t catch public transport because the start or end stop is too far to walk. Providing better access to stops and secure bike parking can help more people catch the bus/ferry.
- Roll out secure bike and scooter parking at bus stop hubs on high frequency routes and at ferry terminals.
- Run an independent trial of bikes and scooter use on urban low-floor buses.
- Help to ride
Many people have never tried an electric bicycle. E-bikes are easy for most people to ride to work, shops and childcare/school. E-bikes can carry loads of up to 30kg. Cargo e-bikes can help people carry loads of up to 100kg.
- Fund an e-bike loan scheme for people to see how a bike would suit their lifestyle.
- Fund a no-interest loan scheme to help people buy e-bikes then pay them off over a number of years as they save on petrol, parking, registration and mechanic costs.
- Fund e-bike subsidies.
- Fund statewide rider education programs that help people build confidence to ride, pick routes, choose the right bike and maintain it.
As the election campaign progresses we’ll keep you updated on what the parties and candidates are promising for bikes. We will also post details about forums and events that may be worth attending on social media.