Bicycle Victoria and past Bicycle Tasmania President Tim Stredwick featured in this article on the Sandy Bay Rd Cycle/Walk way debate on Saturday 28th August with a photo from Fridays Critical Mass Ride. Our good friends at Drs for the Environment featured in this article below on 25th August:

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/08/25/168181_tasmania-news.html

Petitions stir bike lanes war

HUNDREDS of people have signed petitions with concerns about proposed bicycle lanes along Sandy Bay Rd.

Petitioners are opposed to the loss of parking spaces and vehicle access and have safety concerns.

Hobart City Council is proposing bicycle lanes in Sandy Bay Rd from Marieville Esplanade to Taroona to promote walking and cycling.

Alderman Damon Thomas tabled two petitions at Monday’s council meeting. One, with 469 names, asks that parking be kept on two sides of the road, especially from Maning Ave to Long Point Rd, while another, with 87 signatures, is concerned about access for elderly at St Stephen’s Hall.

“Safety would be the predominant issue raised with me. I have to keep an open mind but it’s illogical to think there would not be considerable unrest with a plan to take away parking from 70 per cent of that road,” Ald Thomas said last night.

“This is a big social issue, especially with an ageing population.”

Ald Thomas said the amount of traffic in Sandy Bay Rd was already treacherous and pointed to frequent use by police and ambulance vehicles.

Cycling groups have already expressed support and yesterday Doctors for the Environment Australia welcomed the plan.

Tasmanian members said high-quality infrastructure would encourage new riders and that people who drove to work were more likely to be overweight or obese.

“Commuting cyclists are likely to be healthier, happier and more productive in the workplace,” Dr Zoe Ling said.

Medical student member David Gill said riding to work also had global public health benefits because it reduced contribution to climate change.

In the proposal, the short stretch from Marieville Esplanade to the casino in Drysdale Place would have a four-metre wide shared footpath for walkers and cyclists on the river side of the road.

From Drysdale Place to Long Point Rd there would be one two-way cycle path 2.5m to 3m wide on the river side. Bus stops for outbound buses would be in the traffic lane.

Lower Sandy Bay shopping area would have a shared zone and from Wayne Ave to Cartwrights Reserve there would be one-way bicycle lanes each side.

Public comment is invited. The proposal is on display at the Hobart City Council until Friday.