Local councillor numbers are being cut this election
Some of the ways councils can make it easier for you to ride your bike include: Don’t wait to be contacted. If you want to make it easier for more people to ride more often, send us your responses to the questions listed and we’ll publish them on this webpage. Reach out to your council’s candidates and ask them how they plan to make your streets and open spaces more bike friendly, and let them know their response will be published on our website. If you get a response to these or your own bike-related questions, send it to us at tasoffice@bicyclenetwork.com.au and we’ll publish them on this web page. If you are a candidate in the elections and would like to let people know your answers to our questions above, let us know. If your council is not listed, don’t worry, we’ll add it when you send your statement. The following candidate responses have been received: 1. I strongly support the 2026 Bike Plan. However, I note the Council’s reference to the potential for increased bike uptake by women, yet the plan lacks statements on how it will enable this cohort. 2. As a cyclist, I’d personally like to see intersection projects be prioritised. 3. I would support bike lanes if it meant moving and/or reducing some on-street car parking. I would also like to see any moves or reductions consider people who are aging, have caring responsibilities, and people living with disability. 29/07/26 1.I do not support. 2. I promote sharing the road and raising safety awareness. Hobart is not geographically ideal for cycling. It is good as a sport for people who enjoy it, but not for everyone. 3. I do not support. 1.Yes, I do, while understanding that adjustments may occur along the way. 2. As part of the Tasmanian Government’s: Walk, Wheel and Ride Strategy, released in June this year, there are a number of ways that the City of Hobart can collaborate to achieve some of what has been outlined in that Strategy, such as improved bicycle lanes, end of trip facilities and crossings. With 11.5% of Tasmanians riding a bicycle in a typical week, having the options to choose active transport could be harnessed to convert car trips under 2.5km. The Strategy also discusses outcomes, such as providing well-connected and well-designed wheeling and riding networks, as well as well-designed streets and public spaces. I would welcome suggestions put forward by the expert staff at the City of Hobart, in collaborating to make this possible. 3. Yes, in consultation with the community. 29/07/026 Follow this link for Ryan’s full position on bike riding in Hobart. 1. Yes, I support the council bike plan and expect it to be realised over time to create a city that is bike friendly and safe for riders of all ages and abilities. I have supported all bike related initiatives, plans and strategic documents since first being elected in 2007. 2. I wholeheartedly support the philosophy, direction and the focus of the plan for primary, secondary, neighbourhood and recreational routes. I support this structure and priority approach as per the majority decision of council. I support the development of detailed designs of the various priority routes as they are developed over-time. “While this plan does not define the future form of each corridor, project development will prioritise safety, comfort and connectivity for all ages and abilities. We will invest in a bike network that connects neighbourhoods to schools, parks and sportsgrounds, local activity centres and major destinations.” 3. I support the removal of parking spaces as required to deliver the objectives of the Council Bike Plans to provide safe, connected bike lanes for all ages and abilities. This may also require speed limit reductions. I also see this in the context of climate change, cost of car ownership and the cost-of-living crisis. Bike use, along with public transport use will increase as the cost of living continues to worsen and people seek affordable transport and mobility options. Safe bike lanes are essential. 31/07/26 1. Absolutely. 2. I would prioritise the Augusta Road Better Streets project because it connects local schools, shops and neighbourhoods to the city, while making the area safer and more pleasant. I also see huge value in the potential walking and cycling connection around Battery Point. Battery Point is the main waterfront area that is cut off from the public. Waterfront shared paths improve liveability. For quick wins, I would also support practical improvements that help people feel safe and confident riding. I’d prioritise better bike lane markings, safer crossings, improved signage, more bike parking and traffic calming in neighbourhoods.3. Yes, but only where the benefits are clear and there is genuine community consultation. 1/08/26 1. I fully support the 2026 Hobart Bike Plan and I cannot wait to see it fully implemented in the future! 2. As a Mount Nelson resident, I understand the anxiety that comes with using active transport in the area. I would prioritise all projects but would have a special interest in our mountainous suburbs so all residents can have the option to safely utilise active transport across our city, no matter where they live. 3. Yes but only alongside in depth community consultation and supported by excellent planning and design. 11/8/26 The following candidate responses have been received: 1. I’m supportive of the current cycling strategy Clarence has in place but wouldn’t like new ideas restricted by it. 2. Kangaroo Bay Rivulet Track is a priority one for me, this should be done as a proper paved, shared-use commuter and recreational path linking the Foreshore Trail to Eastlands, Warrane, Mornington and the Meehan Range Mountain Bike Park which could then go on to link with Pass Rd. As Pass Rd and the South Arm Highway commences construction soon, I will be watchful that the track along here is done right to promote proper commuting along both these tracks. The Foreshore Trail is Clarence’s gold when it comes to our cycling network and once again I’m keen to see further upgrades like the ones its currently having and its extension to Droughty Point. As part of the Rokeby Hills Landcare Group, I’m also currently advocating on formalising and bringing many well used mountain bike tracks within the reserve into council ownership. 3. Clarence has been gifted with open space opportunities to create good working cycling network without the need for reducing or removing on street parking for bikes lanes. 29/07/26 1.I am conscious of the need to support active transport opportunities within the City of Clarence, and I was delighted to support the Clarence Cycling Strategy 2025-2035 when it was adopted at our meeting of 7 July 2025. 2. Clarence is spoilt with a popular range of tracks and trails across our city that cater for walkers, bicycle riders, mountain bike riders, and horse riders. As one of Tasmania’s fastest growing municipalities with people choosing to live here because of the extraordinary lifestyle we offer, we must ensure we keep pace with this growth and continue to expand our network of tracks and trails.In addition, there are 16 key actions identified in our 10-year cycling strategy, including “Action 10: Provide secure and appropriate bicycle parking”. Pleasingly, bicycle parking is now a requirement of all new developments. In our recent collaborations with the Department of State Growth on their projects within the City of Clarence, bicycle parking and storage has been included in the Rokeby Park & Ride Project, the upgrade to the Bellerive Ferry Terminal and the development of a new Ferry Terminal at Natone Street, Lindisfarne and I will continue to advocate for inclusion of high standard bicycle storage facilities wherever possible. In addition, I am a passionate supporter of our City Heart Plan that was adopted in September 2025 and includes the specific goal of: “Create a continuous and robust network of active transport (bicycle, e-bike, and e-scooter) lanes including new and upgraded cycleways and increase the provision of micro-mobility parking and storage facilities at key destinations.” 3. The short answer, absolutely. 29/07/26 1. Yes. I support improving cycling infrastructure where it is practical, safe and represents good value for ratepayers. Clarence has some fantastic opportunities to expand recreational and commuter cycling, particularly by improving connections between existing paths, schools, shopping centres and transport hubs. Any investment should be evidence based and balanced alongside other community priorities. 2. My priority would be improving connectivity by filling gaps in the existing cycling network rather than creating isolated sections of infrastructure. I also support better links between cycling, park-and-ride facilities, and ferry services, as well as safer routes to schools and key community destinations. Well designed shared paths and safer crossings can benefit cyclists, pedestrians and families alike. 3. I don’t believe there is a one-size-fits-all answer. In many parts of Clarence, on-street parking is already under pressure, and removing parking can have significant impacts on local businesses, residents and families. I would assess each proposal on its merits, considering safety, traffic impacts, parking demand and community consultation. Where suitable alternatives exist and the overall community benefit is clear, I would support changes. However, I would not support removing important parking without a compelling case. I hope this answer the questions. Please feel free to reach out with any further questions. I’m actually a cyclist myself! I’ve competed in 2 Ironman 70.3’s, Hobart and Cairns, cycling is something that brings me a sense of freedom, and I know first hand the dangers on the road when riding a bicycle of any kind. 29/7/2 1.Yes. I support the direction of Clarence City Council’s Cycling Strategy 2025–2035 and its goal of creating a safer, more connected and accessible cycling network for people of all ages and abilities. As a Greens candidate, I believe active transport should be an important part of Clarence’s future. Safe cycling infrastructure supports healthier communities, reduces transport emissions, eases cost-of-living pressures and creates more connected neighbourhoods. 2. I would prioritise projects that create safe, connected and practical everyday cycling options—not just recreational routes. Key priorities would include: 3. Yes, where evidence shows this is the safest and most effective way to create a connected cycling network. Road space is a limited community asset, and we need to balance the needs of all users—including drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, people with disabilities, businesses and residents. Creating safer cycling infrastructure may sometimes require difficult decisions, including changes to parking arrangements. However, these decisions should be community-informed, carefully planned and consider local impacts. My goal is not to remove choice—it is to create more transport choices, so that more people can safely walk, ride, wheel or drive depending on their needs. A Clarence where people can safely ride to school, work, shops and recreation is a healthier, more connected and more resilient community. 7/8/26 1.Kingborough has run at significant underlying operating deficits in recent years, so before we commit more ratepayer money to any capital works program, including cycling infrastructure, we need to be honest about what we can actually afford and what should come first. That doesn’t mean scrapping the plan. It means making sure every dollar spent on it is going toward projects that get genuine use, not just what looks good on paper. Right now only 0.5% of people in Kingborough commute by bike. We need to ask hard questions about whether spending matches actual need across the whole municipality, not just Kingston. 2. I’ve advocated for the Margate to Huntingfield shared path, and I’ll keep pushing for it. That stretch carries a lot of heavy vehicle traffic, and there’s no safe separation for anyone on a bike right now. That’s a genuine safety issue, not a nice to have. Projects like this, where there’s a clear safety case and a clear gap in the network, are where our limited capital works budget should go first. I’m less interested in symbolic gestures and more interested in the handful of projects that actually reduce risk for riders and can be built within a realistic budget. This project would be jointly funded by State Government. A significant contribution from the state is required to get this happening. 3. No. Kingborough is a big, spread out municipality. More than half our residents live outside the main population centres, in places like Margate, Snug, Kettering, Electrona, Gordon, and Bruny Island. Public transport in those areas is patchy at best, so for a lot of people driving isn’t a lifestyle choice, it’s the only option they’ve got. Taking away parking to make room for bike lanes would hit those people hardest, while only serving the 0.5% of commuters who currently ride. I want to see cycling infrastructure built where it makes sense, like Margate to Huntingfield, but not at the direct expense of the majority who have no real alternative to their car. 29/07/26 1.Yes. The Kingborough Cycling Strategy 2021-2030 is an important strategic document for our municipality, and Greens on Kingborough Council played a significant role in advocating for its development and championing its recommendations. My Green colleague on Kingborough Council, Cr Amanda Midlgey, especially deserves credit for her work as Chair of Kingborough Bicycle Advisory Committee and Chair of Cycling South, engaging with the community and council staff on this important issue. It is a testament to the excellent work of council staff and committed members of the community and council that we have a robust plan to improve cycling infrastructure in Kingborough over the short, medium and long term. 2. If elected, I will prioritise the implementation of the projects listed in the Kingborough Cycling Strategy 2021-2030. The plan contains many worthy projects that would benefit thousands of residents and visitors across Kingborough. I do not want to prejudice the proper prioritisation process by picking winners now; instead, if re-elected, I will work tirelessly to deliver the full plan in a timely, cost-effective and equitable way, so every Kingborough community has access to better active transport options. For transparency, below is the list of projects that I or members of my family are personally looking forward to using: 3. Yes. In addition to the benefits to health and wellbeing, sustainability, liveability, leadership and design excellence goals that are enhanced by separated active transport lanes, I recognise there can be economic and productivity benefits also. The economic benefits to local businesses can be achieved through people spending more time in a shopping precinct, rather than pulling in for 5 minutes in a car to grab one thing and leave. Or, it can be from reduced transport costs for people living in currently car dependent areas. When mobility and transport costs are made cheaper, people have more disposable income, which can result in greater aggregate demand. Currently, car-dependent residents are spending between $5000-$10,000 per car owner, per year, for their car ownership in car dependent localities when the costs of fuel, registration, servicing and tyres, and car loan repayments are factored. If we make active transport easier in our towns and cities and if we develop safe, separated active transport links between peri-urban and metro areas so car ownership is no longer essential, the significant costs of car ownership can be reduced. The household savings can then be redirected towards local spending in businesses that have more local job creation potential and improve local economic activity. Or maybe people will just have more savings or more money saved for holidays! Either way, improving active transport options and more frequent and reliable public transport will bring down the cost of living for residents of Kingborough which I wholeheartedly support. See the Institute for Sensible Transport infographic entitled How Cycling Makes Cities & Towns Better for Everyone, in the Kingborough Cycling Strategy 2021-2030 which explains the situation well. 1/8/26 1.Kingborough has been operating with significant underlying deficits, so any new capital works, including cycling projects need to be assessed against what the community can realistically afford. I don’t believe the bike plan should be abandoned, but spending must be directed toward infrastructure that will genuinely be used. With only around 0.5% of residents commuting by bike, investment needs to reflect actual demand across the whole municipality, not just Kingston. 2. A key priority for me is the Margate – Huntingfield shared path. That corridor carries heavy traffic and currently offers no safe separation for people on bikes, making it a clear safety gap rather than a cosmetic upgrade. In a tight capital works environment, projects with strong safety justification and obvious network gaps should come first. This path would require joint funding, and a substantial contribution from the State Government is essential to progress it. 3. No. Kingborough is geographically large, and many residents live in areas with limited public transport, including Snug, Oyster Cove, Kettering, Electrona, Gordon, Middleton and Bruny Island. For many people, driving isn’t a preference; it’s their only practical option. Removing parking to install bike lanes would disproportionately affect those residents while benefiting a very small number of current bike commuters. I support cycling infrastructure where it clearly improves safety and fills genuine gaps, but not when it directly reduces access for people who rely on their car. 2/8/26 1. Yes, in principle, however, I don’t want to pretend that we can fund everything on the wishlist at once. Kingborough has been running at a deficit, and when money’s tight, every project needs to earn its place, cycling infrastructure included. I don’t want to see the bike plan dropped, but we do need to ask, project by project – will this actually get used, or does it just look good on paper? It is my understanding that roughly 0.5% of people here commute by bike, so I want to see spending that reflects where people actually are across the whole municipality. 2. I’m aware of the need for a Margate to Huntingfield shared path, and I will support and advocate for it. This is a high traffic area and there is no safe separation for either pedestrians and cyclists, so this is a genuine safety concern that needs to be addressed. This is a great example of a ‘need’ vs a ‘nice to have’ project. We will need to continue advocating for this project as it will require a significant contribution from the state government to get it off the ground. 3. Unfortunately not. Kingborough isn’t compact. More than half of us live outside the main centre – from Margate, all the way down to Gordon and Bruny Island in between. Public transport in these areas is limited to non-existent. For most people in our municipality, a car isn’t a preference, it’s the only realistic way to get around. I think there’s a place for good cycling infrastructure, such as the Margate to Huntingfield shared path that I mentioned. But any cycling infrastructure has to be added where it fits, not carved out of parking that the majority genuinely depend on. 2/8/26 1. It needs improvement and I’m looking forward to its revision and more concrete directions.As a member of Kingborough Council’s Bicycle Advisory Committee, co-founder of Streets People Love Hobart and regular Bicycle Network volunteer, I am familiar with Kingborough’s strategies and policies related to cycling and the general direction Kingborough is heading with its infrastructure. Kingborough is slowly rolling out off-road shared paths, which work for covering distances but they’re not safely connecting riders to their destinations in built up areas like Kingston CBD, Margate and Kingston Beach. Kingborough Council seems to have an aversion to building bike infrastructure in built-up areas. When the Channel Highway through the Kingston CBD was rebuilt, Kingborough Council had a chance to make riding there safe enough for everyone but what we got was “ride with the cars” in one direction and in the other direction an on-road bike lane that disappears through a chaotic round-about before reappearing squashed between the door zone of parked cars and 40km/h+ cars given no space to move over. The Kingston Place Strategy which guided the design of this area, recommended that the speed limit in Kingston CBD be reduced to 30km/h but this has been ignored. Tasmania’s Road Safety Advisory Council states that people walking and riding are at high risk of serious injury or death when they’re hit at more than 30km/h, and that they account for one in four serious casualties in our towns and cities. Yet Kingborough has prioritised speed and traffic volumes through Kingston’s main street instead of safety, amenity and healthy, low cost and low impact transport. Kingborough Council recently implemented a wide range of safety improvements for pedestrians at Kingston Beach including modification to kerbs, wombat crossings and perceptual countermeasures. No provisions for riders and the speed limit is still 40km/h in a high bike and pedestrian activity area. Coming up soon will be improvements to central Margate following the Margate Mainstreet Masterplan. The plan includes a 3m+ wide shared path but mentions, in some constrained sections, on street parking would have to be displaced. If Kingborough Council doesn’t change its direction, we’ll get more compromised bike infrastructure that does little to enable the everyday person to choose riding over driving. 2. It is important that the merit and priority of projects is independently assessed and that the council prioritised projects that maximise value for money and equitable benefit for the people of Kingborough. There are however some projects I have been actively advocating for that require the collaboration between Kingborough Council and the state government. The Channel Highway corridor from Taroona to Bruny Ferry Terminal is a high priority for me and all ages and abilities from Kingston to the ferry should be very doable. The section that I’m advocating for now is the Margate to Huntingfield shared path that would connect Margate to Kingston, enabling riders to avoid the 80km/h highway, walkers to avoid walking in 60/kmh traffic across the North West Bay River bridge, and pram and mobility device users to be able to actually travel between Margate and Huntingfield. The Channel Highway between Huntingfield and Kingston needs a complete overhaul with its surroundings and usage having drastically changed since it was built and never upgraded. Residential development along here is some of the densest in Kingborough yet active transport is only given a crumbling skinny footpath and an on-road bike lane with 60km/h traffic. This section needs separated/protected bike lanes and wide DDA compliant footpaths separate to fast moving bikes, and there’s plenty of space for it. There are many more great projects in Kingborough’s bike network plan that I will continue to put energy into advocating for in the future. This includes lobbying the state and federal governments for the funding that makes many of these projects possible. 3. Yes, there are situations where this is important. As our built up areas grow and increase in density, providing 4+ lanes for cars and little for pedestrians and efficient transport stops making sense. Main streets and the businesses and people living there will not reach their full potential if the outdoor space is dominated by motor vehicles, traffic and noise. Re-allocating more space to people and quiet, efficient transport like bikes, electric transit and walking makes places more attractive and enjoyable, encouraging people to stick, stop, stay and spend. 4/8/26 1. Yes. I believe Devonport already has an excellent network of shared pathways. 2. I would like to see the remaining pathway links completed and existing paths well maintained, safe and accessible. As a former councillor, I also put forward a Notice of Motion supporting the development of a pump track in Devonport, so I have long been a strong supporter of cycling and recreational opportunities for our community. 3. Each proposal should be considered on its merits. I recognise the importance of both safe cycling infrastructure and convenient parking for local businesses, so any changes should involve proper community consultation. 29/07/26 As you might be aware, Council recently release a drat 5-year walking & cycling strategy for community consultation by 28th May 2026. The Strategy was adopted by Council at its meeting 22nd June 2026 – Devonport Walking & Riding Strategy 2026-31 | Devonport City Council. Additionally, am proud to highlight : In regard to your questions, I enthusiastically supported the Devonport Walking & Riding strategy 2026-2031 and its objectives. 1/8/26 Responses received: 1. Burnie City Council has adopted an Active Transport Strategy that aims to make walking, wheeling and riding safer, more accessible and better connected across our municipality. I support that strategic direction because it encourages healthier lifestyles, improves accessibility and provides people with more transport choices, while recognising Burnie has unique geographical challenges. 2. My priority is completing practical projects that improve connections between where people live and where they need to go. That includes safer shared pathways, better links to schools, parks and sporting facilities, and continuing to close gaps in our existing network. I also believe we should continue pursuing external grant funding wherever possible so we can deliver these improvements without placing unnecessary pressure on ratepayers. 3. Each proposal should be assessed on its own merits. In some locations, dedicated cycling infrastructure may be appropriate if it clearly improves safety and has strong community support. In other areas, retaining parking will remain important for residents and local businesses. My approach is to find practical, balanced solutions rather than applying a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Burnie is not a flat city, so our active transport network needs to be realistic and focus on the places where it will make the biggest difference to everyday life and recreation. 29/07/26 1: I don’t know what the current council bike plan is but it sure as hell needs the connection from the Emu River to the Blythe River as a priority! 2: As I may have hinted at in answer 1, the missing link in the Burnie section of the Coastal pathway is a priority project for me. A proper link from the Coastal Pathway to Fern Glade could be a great option to look at as well and I also feel the current disused train line corridor around the Burnie Foreshore area would be a safer option than the current riding amongst the kids, surf members, diners and picnickers at the grassed area. 3: I cannot answer this one way or the other until I see a detailed plan. I mean what parking, what streets etc? 29/07/26 1) Yes I do support the Burnie Council bike plan. 2) I would prioritise the actioning of bike stands in the cbd to enable cyclists to secure their bikes enabling them to leave them unattended. 3) I do not support removing or reducing car parking spaces to replace with bike lanes. We have an aging population and disabled who need more, not less, easily accessible parking spaces close to shops. 3/8/26 1: As you are obviously aware, we adopted our first active transport strategy with targeted our 2040 vision to build over 45km of new cycling and walking routes, connect transit paths to the Coastal Pathway and of course, install secure CBD bike parking. I definitely support the plan, because it prioritises safer paths and crossings for riders in the city centre and with a lot of people riding to work, this is a priority. It will also encourage more people to become active in our community. The work that has been done in this strategy, really captures the reasons behind the need for an active bike plan.2: I may have answered this one in question one. But making safer crossings or riders is fairly high for me. If we get this right, it means that we can encourage more people to choose either cycling or walking for everyday travel. Over the years, we have sadly lost cyclists on our roads. Prioritising our identified ‘black spots’ is also a priority for me. And making sure that we have resting areas along our key active routes that are shaded and easily accessible for people we need to support with disability needs and generally all age groups. We have to promote the benefits. Ensure people feel safe and ensure they have a safe space to leave there bike when they go shopping. 3: There are a few different reasons why i would support this, Firstly, it would provide a definite boost for foot traffic in our CBD. To some retailers, it can be seen as too much of a reduction in car parking at the front of their business. But when we are talking about protected bike lanes, that separate the two, it helps with cycle safety and lets be honest, shoppers that either walk or cycle, would probably shop more than those in a car. We are lucky in Burnie in many ways, and I believe that we are well equipped with off street alternatives when you look at the multi storey car park for example. We are not looking at every street, but we need to have bike lanes for both safety and practicality. If you look at a city like Brisbane, there are bicycle lanes all through the city and it works. 5/8/26 The following responses have been received I don’t support bike lanes in the CBD. I also don’t support taking away parking spots from vehicles in an all ready congested city as Launceston. I have seen the issues in Hobart and I do not want them in Launceston. I do support bike tracks and bike lanes in the suburbs. 29/07/26 1. Yes. I support continuing to improve cycling infrastructure where it is well planned, evidence-based and forms part of a balanced transport network. Cycling is one important piece of the broader transport picture, alongside walking, public transport and private vehicles. 2. My focus will continue to be on delivering safe, connected infrastructure as part of broader street renewal projects, improving links to key destinations and ensuring projects provide benefits for all users. I also believe there is significant opportunity to better connect our recreational trails and active transport network. 3. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Every street is different and every proposal should be assessed on its own merits. I would support changes where there is a clear community benefit, appropriate consultation and a demonstrated need. Equally, I recognise that convenient parking remains vital for many residents, businesses and visitors, so striking the right balance is essential. 30/07/26 1. Yes, I support the direction – though Launceston doesn’t have a single bike plan. Cycling sits inside the Launceston Transport Strategy 2020–2040, then pops up throughout a number of other plans, including emissions and sustainability. I grew up riding a bike everywhere in Germany, but I don’t ride in Launceston: the hills are real, and most of our streets don’t yet feel safe enough to ride on. I’d like to widen it into a plan that includes not just cycling, but walking and wheelchair users. Mobility scooters, walking frames, prams. A plan that takes into account the challenges and opportunities of how we get around Launceston when not driving. 2. Let’s finish what’s already committed to. The separated bidirectional bike lane on Margaret Street between Paterson and Frankland for example is funded and ready to go. And let’s connect what is heavily used – parks, trails and playgrounds The City Heart Place Plan already maps a CBD network of ‘quietways’ – slow streets that are “comfortable and welcoming for people to walk and cycle on without requiring expensive separated cycleways.” We live in a hilly city so we can pair it with the community e-bike library trial, already in the Four Year Delivery Plan 2026–2030. Our hills aren’t going anywhere, and an e-bike will get an ordinary person up them. 1. Yes. I support active transport, the principles of the Launceston Transport Strategy, and the vision of Launceston as a bike-friendly city. I would also support refreshing and reinvigorating a dedicated Bike Plan built around the principle of all ages and all abilities, developed in genuine partnership with Bicycle Network, local riders, schools, businesses and the wider community. A good plan should set out a clear long-term vision for the network we want to build, identify the projects required to deliver it, and maintain a prioritised pipeline of shovel-ready, costed projects so Council is well positioned to secure State and Australian Government funding whenever opportunities arise. 2. My priority would be completing safe, connected networks rather than isolated sections of bike lane. That means focusing on safety improvements, closing missing links, improving routes to schools and key destinations, and prioritising projects that deliver the greatest community benefit. I also see an opportunity for Launceston to take a regional leadership role by convening neighbouring councils to develop a shared long-term vision for cycling routes that cross municipal boundaries. People do not stop riding at council boundaries, and our planning should not either. A coordinated regional master plan would strengthen funding applications, improve connectivity, and help ensure investment occurs in a logical sequence across Northern Tasmania. 3. Yes, where there is a clear net public benefit. Every location is different, so these decisions should be evidence-based and shaped through genuine community consultation. Where relocating or reducing on-street parking significantly improves safety, completes an important network connection, or enables many more people to ride safely, I would support it. My approach would always be to bring people into the conversation early, explain the trade-offs honestly, and work towards solutions that deliver the greatest long-term benefit for the community. 6/8/26 1. Yes 2. I’d focus on projects like protected bike lanes, safer crossings and improving the bike paths we already have. I’d also prioritise connecting missing sections so people can get where they need to go without having to ride on busy roads. We should be aiming to make cycling safer and easier. Always open to feedback from riders as to gaps in the network or required infrastructure. 3. I would need to review any particular proposal on its merits as to the impact on nearby residents and business.12/8/26 The following shows how councillors have voted on significant cycling projects over the past 5 years where there has been a contested decision or where voting patterns are unusual. Most cycling projects in most councils are implemented without a vote. If there is a vote we have missed, please email us at tasoffice@bicyclenetwork.com.au. 27 November 2023: Adoption of the northern suburbs local area mobility plan which recommended several separated cycleway projects. Councillors Zucco, Bloomfield, Kelly and Coats all voted for this plan. Councillor Elliot was on Leave of Absence. 22 July 2024: Adoption of the Hobart Transport Strategy which has clear goals to improve cycling infrastructure and specifically names cycleways on Collins Street and Augusta Road. Lord Mayor Reynolds was an apology. 16 September 2024: Collins Street transformation trial that includes 30km speeds, separated cycling infrastructure, more pedestrian crossings and outdoor dining and seating. 14 October 2024: Increase council funding for the Collins Street trial by $170,000 following Minister Abetz’s decision to override a state government grant process to withdraw already announced funding. Alderman Zucco was on a Leave of Absence. 31 March 2025: Design for the final half block of the Collins Street trial that had been paused in November 2024, that included a bus board platform and separated cycleway on one side. 26 May 2025: Adoption of the North Hobart Neighbourhood plan which recommended investigating separated cycleways along Argyle, Burnett, Elizabeth and Federal streets. 25 May 2026: Adoption of Hobart Bike Plan which brought together previous decisions of the council in one place. Councillor Elliot was suspended from the council by a code of conduct determination. 12 December 2024: The council provide in-principle support to Dorset Council for the extension of the north-east rail trail from Scottsdale to Lilydale Falls and council officers prepare a report outlining costs and consequences of the trail for Launceston. 4 April 2022: Build separated cycleways in the main street of Kingston as part of the Transforming Kingston project. Councillors Grace and Wass were apologies. Saturday 5 September – election notice published Monday 7 September – candidate nominations open Tuesday 22 September – candidates announced Monday 5 October – polling period starts Wednesday 14 October – National Ride2Work Day Tuesday 27 October – polling period closes Page authorised by Alison Hetherington, 210 Collins Street, Hobart TAS 7000Council elections this year are critical for keeping safer places to ride your bike on the agenda, with reduced councillor numbers across the state
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Matthew Garwood:
Daniela Cavalletti:
But … Plans and lanes alone don’t change behaviour. The Safe Transport Assessment starts in 2026/27 with safe school crossings. I’d like to pair that with bike education in schools, so children learn to ride safely on a road and start a generational change towards cycling. These things all cost money, of course. The City of Launceston’s Delivery Plan counts grant-funding for active transport as one of Council’s own measures of success. And Launceston has won state active transport funding before. While right now the State’s Better Active Transport program has no open round, the Federal Budget has committed $500 million to active travel infrastructure over the next decade. I’d advocate for Launceston to apply for every state and federal active transport program it qualifies for. Funding that comes from Hobart or Canberra is funding that doesn’t come out of rates. 3. This requires a case-by-case assessment, and collaboration with residents and the business community that might be affected by any change in parking. Where a street is a route people genuinely need and there’s no safe alternative, then parking might have to yield to bike lanes. And that doesn’t exclude the option of moving parking to a nearby alternative. Often road and cycle ways can comfortably coexist, as many other cities have shown. Like everything, it’s a case of getting used to a new traffic flow and changed awareness of each other on the road. And the trade-off isn’t needed everywhere. In the City Heart, the Place Plan’s ‘quietways’ put bikes on calm streets where cars and bikes can share the road comfortably, and no parking has to move for that. What I want is choice, for residents and visitors both: you should be able to decide how you cross this city on any given day, and be safe whichever way you choose. 3/8/26Paul Mallett:
Kyle Barrett
Councillor voting record
Hobart City Council
Voted for: Sherlock; Harvey; Dutta; Posselt; Lohberger; Kitsos.
Voted against: Zucco; Kelly; Elliot; Bloomfield; Coats
Voted for: Reynolds; Sherlock; Harvey; Dutta; Posselt; Lohberger; Kitsos.
Voted against: Zucco; Kelly; Elliot; Bloomfield; Coats.
Voted for: Reynolds; Sherlock; Harvey; Dutta; Posselt; Lohberger; Kitsos.
Voted against: Kelly; Elliot; Bloomfield; Coats.
Voted for: Reynolds; Sherlock; Harvey; Dutta; Posselt; Lohberger; Kitsos.
Voted against: Zucco; Kelly; Elliot; Bloomfield; Coats
Voted for: Reynolds; Sherlock; Zucco; Harvey; Dutta; Kelly; Bloomfield; Posselt; Lohberger; Kitsos.
Voted against: Elliot; Coats
Voted for: Reynolds; Sherlock; Harvey; Dutta; Posselt; Lohberger; Kitsos
Voted against: Zucco; Kelly; Bloomfield; Coats. Launceston City Council
Voted for: Garwood: McKenzie; Gibson; Dawkins; Harris; Razay; Palmer; Britton.
Voted against: Walker; Pentridge; Cai.Kingborough Council
Voted for: Cordover; Fox; Midgley.
Voted against: Wriedt; Westwood; Glade-Wright; Bastone; Street.Key DATES
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