HEALTHY TRANSPORT HOBART

August 2008 ride heads down Maquarie St

What: Critical Mass Bike Ride Hobart

When: Friday 30th April, 5.15 – 6.15pm

Where: Franklin Square to Salamanca

Why: Supporting and celebrating cycling

What for: A bit of fun

Theme: Lowering speed limits

And check out the this vid of the spring critical mass in budapest thanks to copenhagenize.com

http://www.copenhagenize.com/2010/04/budapest-critical-mass-2010.html

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New flowers and a new rack

Stumbled upon a new bike rack in the city today, and guess what, someone had parked their bike there. Hobart City Council is to be congratulated on filling empty space with bike parking hoops, but many more are required. Whenever I walk or ride through the city I see bikes on poles and trees which could be parked in less pedestrian blocking ways. If I’d had the time I would have sat in the seat between the flowers, what a good way to make public seating more attractive.

Posted for the love of streetside c0lour by Liam.C

Kids bikes at Taroona Primary School

I recently received a letter from the Director of Traffic and Infrastructure with regards to the speed limit through Taroona between Oakleigh Avenue and Baringa Rd. The survey asked me as a resident whether I support the reduction in speed to 50km/hr or keeping it at 60 km/hr. I wholeheartedly supported the reduction and I hope further reductions to 30km/hr will happen as this is a section of road used by many vulnerable road users, not a race track. I find that to drive the bends at 60km/hr is a challenge and quite dangerous as the corners are so tight, while attempting to exit driveways and side roads can be hair raising if they are on a corner. Read the rest of this entry »

Nick McKim accepting a cycling promotion award in 2009

Excerpt from the Mercury Newspaper: http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/04/22/141331_tasmania-news.html

There was a historic swearing-in of the new Labor-Green Cabinet yesterday.

Premier David Bartlett revealed his long awaited ministerial line-up yesterday, including appointing Tasmanian Greens leader Nick McKim to the roles of Minister for Human Services, Corrections, Climate Change and Sustainable Transport and Alternative Energy.

Considering Sustainable Transport and Healthy Transport produce the same outcomes I am overjoyed to see that the Tasmanian State Government has had the intelligence to add a Sustainable Transport Folio to Nick McKim’s portfolio. This can surely only have positive impact on steering the government to begin proactively developing a realistic supportive environment for cycling, walking and public transport in the near future. Good luck.

Posted for the love of healthy public policy by Liam.C

Rain proof bike highways rock

The Goodwill bridge is another impressive feature of Brisbane City which links the south bank parklands to the cbd and does a very fine job of it. Opened in October the bridge does not carry vehicular traffic and is used by over 40,000 pedestrians and cyclists each week. Riding across it was an absolute dream and the views exceptional. The bridges role in encouraging healthy transport in the city is surely unquestionable. Read the rest of this entry »

My bike parked in the 'work in progress' cage

While there is no official word about it, about 2 years ago an article featured in the Mercury Newspaper featuring a girl known as ‘bicycle bec’ launching a new secure bike parking cage the council was going to build. 2 years later this cage has become a reality and I checked out what was happening and it looks very promising. As far as the councils provision of bike parking goes, they certainly have a lot of potential, but it will be interesting to see if enough is provided to stem the number of bikes chained to sign posts and fences around the city due to no reasonable alternative. Read the rest of this entry »

I found this up on the notice boards at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Looks like this Bicycle User Group may be advising the Hospital to promote health transport options for employees with the creation of a supportive environment for cycle commuting.

The old style bike infrastructure is notably below minimum standards

So I headed up to Brisbane to have a look at what they’ve got to over on the cycling infrastructure and promotion front. I headed out with my half cousin Jane of a tour of some of what the city has to offer. Read the rest of this entry »

Hobart would benefit significantly from reduced speed limits

Touted as the gold standard in increasing safety for pedestrians and cyclists, reducing speed limits to 50km/hr in Hobart is welcomed by Healthy Transport Hobart. The Mercury Newspaper reports that the Hobart City Council debated reducing the speed limit and Lord Mayor Rob Valentine will ask DIER to look at imposing it.

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/04/14/139691_tasmania-news.html

Posted by Liam for the love of reduced car speed