The Hobart City Council has voted to progress detailed designs for a bike lane trial on Collins Street, but some councillors have started a campaign against the project.
The council met on Monday 27 May and approved the next stage of the trial, which involves further business consultation to arrive at a final design. Once this stage is complete, the council will vote again on whether the trial should proceed.
Councillors Elliott, Coats and Kelly and aldermen Zucco and Bloomfield voted against the project at the meeting, while councillors Reynolds, Posselt, Harvey, Kitsos, Dutta, Sherlock and Lohberger supported it.
Some of the opposing councillors have since posted on social media to protest against the removal of on-street car parking and have handed flyers to businesses urging them to email councillors if they have concerns.
While 59 on-street car parks will be removed for the trial, the officers’ report pointed out that the average occupancy rate of current on-street parking is only 58% and up to 130 spaces are still available in the nearby Centrepoint car park at the busiest times and more outside those times. For example, writing this at 4.07pm on a Monday, there are 445 available spaces in Centrepoint.
The trial will retain 27 on-street car parks over the three blocks, with an increase in the number of disability bays and the same number of loading zones.
Improving safety
The trial has been proposed to provide a safer environment for people riding, scooting and walking along Collins Street.
The first step in improving safety along the street was the installation of the signalised crossing in 2022. The separated cycleways, new pedestrian crossings and 30km speed limit would be the next step.
The latest Bicycle Network Super Tuesday commuter count recorded 147 people riding through the Molle and Collins streets intersection between 7am and 9am. There were another 16 people on e-scooters and many more people walking.
Show your support
You can show your support for the bike lane trial by:
- Emailling councillors to let them know what improved safety along the street would mean for you. If you have had a "near miss", let them know. electedmembers@hobartcity.com.au
- Letting businesses know when you arrive by bicycle, rather than allowing them to assume you have driven.
- Writing a letter to the editor or call radio talkback. Email addresses and numbers are on our website: https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/our-advocacy/media-and-politician-contacts/