HEALTHY TRANSPORT HOBART

2008 Hobart Ride to Work Day- Mawsons Place

Throw aside those car keys and join thousands of people across Australia for Ride To Work Day next Wednesday 14^th October. Just to add even more incentive to jump on the bike, there will be two free bike breakfasts happening which have some pretty tasty sponsors!

Hobart Waterfront – 6am to 9am at Mawson Place. At 7.55am everyone will get into formation for the great aerial bike photo.

Rosny Barn – Just behind Eastlands from 7am to 9am.

Cycle angels will be placed in major routes to cheer on cyclists and let other road users know it’s Ride to Work Day! Head to http://www.bv.com.au/ride-to-work/ to register and subsequently place yourself in the draw to win a Trek Bicycle.

Here are Five Tips from the Australian Bicycle network to get new riders prepared!

Step  1  Gear up

Dig your bike out of the shed and dust it down.  If you haven’t ridden for a while, chances are the chain could do with some oil and the tyres will need some air. If you’re not sure where to start, ask your local bike shop for advice.

Step  2  Go for a cruise

Go for a ride with the kids or invite some friends to ride with you. Check out your bike set-up and make sure you’re comfortable.

Step  3  Get the low down

Talk to regular riders at work. Ask their advice on how to get to work, where to park your bike, where to shower (if you think you’ll need to) and where to leave clothes.

Step  4  Ease into it

Before riding to work, consider going for a trial run on the weekend. Remember to time your ride – most people are pleasantly surprised to discover how time-efficient cycling to work can be.

Step  5  Ride to work

Enjoy your ride and celebrate when you arrive.  You’ve achieved something you’ve dreamed of – fitting more exercise into your day, saving money and helping to save the planet!

The nice but rather short lived bike lane on Beach Rd Kingston

HTH sent a rep down to Kingston several months ago to have a chat to the Kingborough Council Youth Development Officer Melissa Staples and a video team about the transport needs of young people in the Kingborough Municipality. They were doing a great job transporting a red couch all over the place to give the people they interviewed a comfortable environment to have a chat in. The basic conclusion from the report was that transport in Kingborough for young people could do with some serious improvements especially when it comes to supporting alternatives to the private car.  Examples of poor public transport infrastructure and supportive environments for walking and cycling were given. Unlike the chronologically advantaged, young people may not have a car or their drivers license which restricts their movement considerably when the alternatives are not easily available. Some HTH members who now live in Kingborough have some pretty cool ideas to improve public transport and bicycle riding between Kingston and Hobart and will hopefully be making them happen with the support of the Conversations in Kingborough Project.

And of course we rode to the meeting

If you are interested in this project contact Melissa Staples, Youth Development Officer, Kingborough Council: Ph: 62118228 or email mstaples@kingborough.tas.gov.au

One of the luxurious bus stops in Kingborough encouraging people to leave their car behind

The 30 letters ready to be sent

Those letters written at the last Critical Mass ride inviting David Bartlett to the Ride to Work day breakfast on wednesday 14th October have been posted off and those who wrote should expect a reply sometime soon. Thanks to everyone who took the time to sign one. If you have an issue you’d like us to write about next month then send an email to healthytransporthobart@yahoo.com.au and we will see what we can do.

Stamped and ready to go

Pedestrians Cross Murray St

New Hobart community group “Pedestrian Power” was launched last week on National Walk to Work day on Friday 2^nd October 2009 with a mass crossing of pedestrians at the Davey/Murray St intersection to highlight the need for improved pedestrian safety developments and the lack of time allocated to pedestrians to cross the road. The allocated 4 seconds proved no where near enough time for the 20 people crossing the intersection to get across before the cars started edging towards them. At peak hour periods it is not uncommon to see 10-15 people waiting at the lights on Maquarie and Davey St intersections with other streets most days of the year.

HTH members support walking as a legitimate form of urban travel due to the significant health benefits from the incidental physical activity it generates.

Speed of car traffic is an issue HTH feels very strongly about considering that the current speed of 60 km/hour through the city on Maquarie and Davey streets poses a bit less than an 85% risk of fatality for any pedestrian hit at that speed. If however the speed was reduced to 40km/hour the pedestrian fatality rate would drop to about 10% (Dora, 2009 cited in Cycling Getting Australia Moving, 2008).

The recently reduced speed limit to 30km/hr on Collins St Hobart

Given the number of pedestrians hit by cars and seriously injured in an around the city in recent months the reduction of speed limits would be a huge move in the right direction to improve pedestrian safety and thoroughfare through the city.

Email Helen Pryor or Michael Lynch if you are interested in “Pedestrian Power” at pedestrianpower@gmail.com

A small section of Murray St is now 40km/hr

Healthy Transport Hobart urban planning officer Liam, recently met with Tania from Tania Parkes Consulting http://www.taniaparkes.com.au/ with regards to the redevelopment of Shed No. 1 Princess Wharf, and discussed with her what health promoting design features she was considering to create greater health outcomes from the design.

Liam highlighted the increasing demand for bicycle facilities in Hobart and requests were made for some kind of facility for bicycle users attending functions and displays once the new development is completed. Tania’s main argument against building anything but bike racks was that the space available is minimal and they had cut down the no. of carparks to 35 meaning this was not a case of inequity as the venue was not there to provide parking for many people at all. Liam requested she have a look at the Heart Foundations “Healthy Spaces and Places” document for consideration.

The outdoor green pod that could be used at the wharf

Showers and Lockers for bicycle users

He also made her aware of the recent innovative designs for bicycle parking and facilities by the Penny Farthings Bicycle Parking crew in Brisbane http://www.pushbikeparking.com/ who make some really compact bicycle locker, shower and and parking facilities which Tania displayed enthusiasm for. The basic point of Liam attending the meeting was voice the demand for more than just bike parking hoops if bicycle users are to be included in urban design.

This crack should be avoided

Healthy Transport Hobart members have recently come across some cracks and holes in the road around Hobart that pose significant risk to bicycle users due to their size and position on the road. They are on the left hand side of the road could easily catch a cyclist unawares with serious consequences. While ok for cars due to their wheel size, we have sent letters to the Hobart City Council and Department of Infrastructure Energy and Resources to fix them as soon as possible. If you know of any other basic maintenance works that would make your journey easier by bike than let us know and we can write to the relevant authority.

Department of Infrastructure Energy and Resources

10 Murray Street
Hobart 7000

webmaster@dier.tas.gov.au

Dear Sir/Maam,

We write to highlight two sections of road that need attention immediately due to the state of disrepair they are in.

The first is on Antill street where it becomes Regent St at the crest of the hill and intersection with Fitzroy Place. There is a 3m long crack in the road approx 40mm wide that poses significant risk to bicycle users due to the angle it is on to the left hand side of the road. One of our members recently just avoided catching her wheel in it which if she did would have had serious consequences. Its position forces bicycle users to ride on the right hand side of the lane to avoid it. We request that some work is immediately done to fill the crack to that serious consequences can be avoided.

The second section is on Sandy Bay Rd just past Lipscome Avenue when travelling south on the east side of the rd. There is a hole in the road exactly 1m out from the parked cars in this area that bicycle users must avoid by moving into the middle of the lane. To those unfamiliar with the road or riding at night, this hole poses significant risk to their safety due to its size. We request that work is commenced immediately to repair it.

Can you please pass this on to the relevant department and inform us of improvements as soon as possible.

Thanks in anticipation

Liam Correy and Katie Kingshott

Healthy Transport Hobart