Hundreds of bike riders turned out in force on Tuesday 25 March to vote for separated bike lanes on Collins Street in Hobart.
A public meeting was held by the City of Hobart to discuss the bike lanes being installed on Collins Street as part of a two-year trial.
The meeting was triggered by a petition with 1000 signatures from Hobart residents that had been gathered over several months by the Confederation of Greater Hobart Businesses following advertising on social media, The Mercury newspaper, and posters in shopping centres and buildings.
Four motions were put to the meeting and Alison Hetherington from Bicycle Network moved the motion:
This meeting supports the Collins Street Improvement Trial as endorsed by Hobart City Council on 16 September 2024
Alison talked about the safety benefits for riders of being separated from traffic and how the bike lanes were another road safety measure, just like traffic lights or seat belts.
“We don’t debate other road safety measures as though they’re optional or based on public opinion…why would we do it for separated bike lanes?”
“Separated bike lanes are part of the Safe Systems approach and that approach recognises we are all human, we all make mistakes. So when we’re driving, it’s much better to hit a barrier or a bollard and damage your car than damage another human being.”
This was the only motion overwhelming supported by the audience. Other motions against the bike lanes and one motion about valuing consultant expertise and research were voted down by the meeting.
Other pro-bike lane speakers had the chance to rebut motions they disagreed with or make comments in an open-floor session.
The City of Hobart said that around 1000 people attended the meeting and the votes were all carried on a show of hands.
The public meeting was triggered as part of a process towards an elector poll of all Hobart City Council residents. The Confederation of Greater Hobart Businesses has 30 days from the public meeting to present another petition with 1000 eligible signatures to the council to trigger a poll.
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