HEALTHY TRANSPORT HOBART

Fifty bicycle users wheeled through Hobart’s July Streets up Argyle, down Elizabeth and through Sandy Bay and Battery Point to Salamanca in a stylish display of cycle chic mixed with reflective wear. Another spectacular display of Human Powered Transport in a chilly winter evening. Special mention goes to the two kids riding on the back of the triple seated chariot. Fresh Tassie Apples and some snacks for the sweet toothed were gobbled up. Highlight of the night was Bicycle Tim’s free public outdoor cinema at Mawson place showing the Triplets of Belleville. A humble turnout of 10 showed up to the movie with at least 30 odd passers by making the most of the free entertainment including two bicycling cool cats on BMX’s. Read the rest of this entry »

So I headed to Melbourne to catch Mikael Colville-Anderson from Copenhagen Cycle Chic and say a big g’day to Healthy Transport Hobart’s Melbourne Correspondent Katie.  And wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. I never realised this city was so big. And there are so many sexy people on bikes. And there are so many bikes. And there is so much awesome bicycle infrastructure. And there is so many people. And there is so much life. The place oozes the desire to pick you up and suck you in and infuse you with the most potent hopeful antibiotic against shitty town planning and car centric development. Katie showed me just a couple of new bike lanes as our time was short but I sure got a taste and will sure be back. Thanks Melbourne correspondent. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the reasons I headed to Melbourne was to see Denmarks Bicycle Ambassador talk about his four goals for promoting urban cycling. And what a talk it was. The venue was mind blowing, the valet bike parking even better and the subject matter very stimulating. Mikael Colville-Anderson looked at the basic themes he believed should attract our attention if we are serious about urban cycling growth. A to Bism (make it quick), tame the bull in the china shop (pacify and eradicate cars where they are not needed, market it with sex appeal, not as a dangerous pastime and finally another one which has slipped my mind but will post it as soon as I remember. Read the rest of this entry »

After missing my flight and having to get up at 0400 the next morning not a lot seemed to be going right. But Qantas delivered me to Melbourne where I caught the sky bus into Southern Cross Station (No need for a timetable as the bus leaves every 10 minutes). Soon enough however my day got a whole lot better as I met HTH Melbourne Correspondent Katie and she walked me to the closest station of the Melbourne Bike Share Program. We had a bit of trouble deciphering what we were meant to do but after a few fruitless questions to local shops I took the plunge and swiped the credit card after working out that is would cost me $2.50 for a days worth of short trips. For $50 however you get a years worth of free trips less than half an hour around the city. Read the rest of this entry »

The paint is down on Molle St and the Hobart City Council has done a stellar job to include bicycle users in the street improvements. I rode the lanes the other day and was very impressed with the increases in my perception of safety from the speeding cars. The speed limit will soon be reduced to 50km/hr which will be a massive win for a better Hobart. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted for the love of a responsive bicycle culture community by Liam.C

Tickets and Flights are booked. Healthy Transport Hobart and Hobart City Council reps will be attending this saturday. Stay tuned for the juicy findings.

Posted for the love of promoting urban cycling by Liam.C

Riders of the finest bikes beware. Eat the finest bakery goods while watching your wheels parked out the front. Big congrats to Hobart City Council for these well placed new and shiny bike racks out side Jackman and McRoss Bakery on Cross Street. The more of these the merrier. Read the rest of this entry »

The letter to the paper (thanks for bicycletim for the very flat scan)

I am happy to say that I am very impressed with the new bike cage outside the new Menzies centre despite Kelvin Markhams assumption that a cage full of bicycles is somehow a negative sight (Letters, July 15).

Perhaps it would be wise for any opposition to the creation of a supportive environment for people to cycle in Hobart to look at the recent multi-story car park developments in and about the CBD and first ask if perhaps these spaces could have been saved for functions more aesthetically pleasing. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted for the love of talking to politicians about bike stuff by Liam.C

posted by Liam C for the love of mutha uckers on bikes

I never run red lights usually. But it was 0115 in the morning and I’d just been descending from Lenah Valley and chose to run the red lights on Elizabeth St as there was not a car to be seen (I thought)

(Police Car slows as I pull onto Murray St from the Bus lane on Maquarie St)

Police: ‘Do you know you just ran two red light back there’

Me: ‘Yes officer, my apologies’

Police: ‘Did you know we can fine you for doing that’

Me: ‘Yes officer. Unfortunately my experience with the traffic lights in the Hobart CBD in the early hours of the morning is that the sensors do not get tripped by bicycle and I can wait up to 15 minutes till the next car comes through before the light goes green’. Read the rest of this entry »