The annual greater Hobart bike count held on 4 March this year has found a small rise in rider movements with women now accounting for half of all e-bike recordings.
“It’s not surprising to see a 27% jump in the number of women noted riding e-bikes this year,” Bicycle Network spokesperson Alison Hetherington said.
“E-bikes are an easy way to sneak exercise into your day, let you ride in your work clothes and carry bigger loads so you can add errands into your commute – they are ideal for busy working women.
“Our annual Super Tuesday count records riders as they move through sites throughout greater Hobart which gives city planners a better idea of the preferred active transport routes.
“We identify female riders where we can because they tend to be a touchstone for which routes are safer and more appealing to a broader cross section of the community,” she said.
Chair of Cycling South, the collaboration of greater Hobart councils, Ryan Posselt, said it was pleasing to see rider movements in this year’s count remain at their post-COVID rebound levels.
“Last year we saw a rebound in the number of cycling movements following a couple of years of lower levels post-COVID.
“The number of bicycle and e-bike movements through intersections in the two-hour morning peak increased to 3969, up from 3793 in 2024, while the number of e-scooter movements increased from 460 to 468.”
“That’s thousands of people who may have otherwise driven a car to work, which is why we are working to make cycling routes across the city safer to give people greater choice.
“The biggest increase was on the Rivulet Track connecting to Collins Street, which may have resulted from the increased attention on that route because of the proposed bike lanes, but also continued the upward trend since 2022 when lights were installed at Molle Street.
“E-bikes are obviously playing a role in helping people to ride to work, with around 1 in 4 riders in Hobart commuting on an e-bike. Women made up half of all e-bike riders, showing that they really level the playing field when it comes to giving women transport choice,” he said.
The Super Tuesday bike count was carried out by volunteers at 52 sites across greater Hobart on Tuesday 4 March between the hours of 7am and 9am. It was a warmer than average morning with fine weather the rest of the day. The full report of all sites can be viewed at www.cyclingsouth.org/cycling-data
Top ten sites
- Intercity Cycleway at Tasman Bridge – 253
- Collins and Molle streets – 205
- Morrison, Murray and Castray intersection – 196
- Intercity Cycleway at Bay Rd – 182
- Davey and Argyle streets – 175
- Marieville Esplanade and Sandy Bay Rd – 142
- Campbell and Bathurst streets – 124
- Channel Highway at Taroona schools – 110
- Intercity Cycleway at Sunderland St – 108
- Churchill Ave and Sandy Bay Rd –103
Sites with biggest increases
- Collins and Molle streets intersection – highest ever (205)
- Bathurst St at Elizabeth St – highest ever (87)
- Howrah Road and Foreshore Trail – highest ever (70)
- Bathurst St at Harrington St – second highest number (68)
- Melville St at Murray St – highest ever (66)
- Rose Bay Esplanade and Topham St – second highest number (62)
- Alexandra Esplanade and High St – highest ever (50)
- Ferry terminal Bellerive – highest ever (47)
- Clarence St at Cambridge Road – highest since 2017 (43)
- Clarence Foreshore Trail at Queen Street – highest ever (41)
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