Through support from the Australian Government's Road Safety Program, the City of Hobart is set to roll out separated cycle lanes in a first for the capital.
The development application for the $1.725 million trial, co-funded equally by the Australian Government's Road Safety Program and the Tasmanian Government's Vulnerable Road User Program which is delivering a program of separated cycle paths and on-road bicycle lanes, was approved by the Hobart City Council Planning Committee on Wednesday night.
As part of the Greater Hobart Commuter Cycling Network Plan, the City is implementing separate bicycle lanes along sections of Argyle Street, Campbell Street, Liverpool Street and Bathurst Street.
The new trial bicycle lanes will connect the existing on-road bicycle lanes on Argyle and Campbell Streets, the Rose Garden Bridge and Queens Domain, the Inter City Cycleway and Sullivans Cove.
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the trial was part of the plan to ease congestion and improve safety in the City by offering easier use of alternative forms of transport.
"We are approving and encouraging more residential apartment developments in central Hobart, and it is critical we provide improved choices for people to get around efficiently and safely in the city," Cr Reynolds said.
"Every resident who is choosing to ride a bike is one less car on the road, which means less congestion and less pollution for everyone.
"We're seeing many cities around the country and the world providing safer and separated lanes and it's important that we also join this contemporary approach to the management of city streets."
Hobart City Mobility Portfolio Chair Ryan Posselt said the trial bicycle lanes would provide an important missing link in the City's current bicycle lane provisions.
"A connected network of cycling paths and separated cycling lanes will support more people to ride to, through and around the city," Cr Posselt said.
"It will enable those who are too scared to ride in traffic to give it a go, supporting more bikes, e-bikes, scooters and other personal mobility devices decreasing congestion for other users."
Bicycle Network Tasmania Public Affairs Manager Alison Hetherington said such investment in cycling infrastructure was greatly needed and would bring great confidence to alternative transport users.
"We know the majority of the population would consider riding instead of driving but they don't want to mix with traffic," Ms Hetherington said.
"Creating cycleways that are physically separated from traffic helps more people feel confident to ride.
"Campbell Street will be Hobart city's first separated cycleway, linking the northern suburbs to the waterfront via hospital, TAFE and university campuses.
"E-bikes make it much easier to ride instead of drive, but we need this sort of cycling infrastructure if more of us are going to make that choice."
The proposed changes will introduce trial bicycle lanes between the kerb and parking spaces.
In some locations, a peak-hour 'clearway' lane will be introduced, which means that parking will not be allowed when traffic is heaviest.
This will result in some parking spaces being removed adjacent to some junctions to improve safety and efficiency for all road users.
Work will start later this year and is set to be completed in 2024.
