Active transport

In recognition of the importance of active transport infrastructure, since 2018, the Tasmanian Government has made a total commitment of $15.5 million to improve cycling safety and infrastructure across Tasmania.

As part of this funding, two grant programs have been developed. The Better Active Transport Grant Programs include a state-wide program and one for Greater Hobart, to assist local governments to deliver active transport solutions. These programs aim to:

• provide an opportunity for local government partners to develop and construct upgraded, new or extended active transport infrastructure at priority locations
• increase active transport accessibility through improved amenity, ease of use and safety
• increase local government capacity to design and build active transport infrastructure
• improve recognition and understanding of active transport infrastructure's importance in providing other transport options for the community.

These two grant programs will run annually over a four-year period, or until funds are exhausted, and will be reviewed after the first two years.

Better Active Transport in Tasmania

This grant program is open to Tasmanian municipal councils state-wide.

Round One of the state-wide grant program was launched on Monday, 31 July 2023. Submissions closed on 28 August 2023. Successful applications are listed below.

• Launceston City Council – Forster Street bike path – $260,000 (construction)
• Northern Midlands Council – Hobart Road shared pathway – $436,500 (construction)
• George Town Council – Kanamaluka Trail upgrade – $388,200 (construction)
• Kingborough Council – Taroona bike lane upgrades – $350,000 (construction)
• Southern Midlands Council – Bagdad shared pathway – $370,000 (construction)
• Clarence City Council – Clarence Foreshore Trail – $140,000 (construction)
• Waratah-Wynyard Council – Wynyard to Smithton shared user trail feasibility study – $192,000 (planning)
• Devonport City Council – The Spreyton connector (Stage 3 of 4) – $1,270,000 (construction)

Round Two opened 20 November 2023 and submissions closed 8 January 2024. Successful applications are listed below.

• Burnie City Council – Burnie Active Transport Strategy – $200,000 (planning)
• Central Coast Council – Penguin to Ulverstone shared pathway concept design – $280,000 (planning)
• Clarence City Council – Clarence Foreshore Trail, Rosny Point – $500,000 (construction)
• Devonport City Council – East Devonport, Wright Street commuter link – $610,000 (construction)
• Glenorchy City Council:
  • Bayswater Road / Brooker Highway intersection access ramp – $65,000 (construction)
  • Bowden Street to Terry Street path realignment – $20,000 (construction)
  • Mentmore Street Intercity Cycleway crossing – $50,000 (construction)
• Kingborough Council – Old Station Road to Davies Road shared path – $200,000 (construction)
• Southern Midlands Council – Kempton to Mood Food shared pathway –$278,000 (construction)
• West Coast Council – Zeehan shared access improvements project –$1,192,053 (construction)
• West Tamar Council – Legana to Launceston shared user trail detailed design – $500,000 (planning)

Better Active Transport in Greater Hobart

This grant program has been developed to assist the delivery of the Greater Hobart Cycling Plan (see below under ‘Strategies, policies and guides’ for more information) and is open to Hobart City Deal local government partners.

Round One was launched in February 2023 and submissions closed on 22 March 2023. Successful applications are listed below.

• City of Hobart – Collins Street cycleway design – $30,000 (planning)
• Clarence City Council – Tasman Highway shared path design – $40,000 (planning)
• Glenorchy City Council – Granton Road shared path construction – $250,000 (construction)
• Kingborough Council – Summerleas Road pedestrian and cyclist underpass construction – $750,000 (construction)

Round Two opened 20 November 2023 and submissions closed 8 January 2024. Successful applications are listed below.

• City of Hobart:
  • Castray Esplanade shared path upgrade – $70,000 (construction)
  • Collins Street tactical cycleway – $170,000 (construction)
  • Augusta Road bike lanes – $50,000 (planning)
• Clarence City Council – Queen Street shared path – $75,000 (planning)
• Glenorchy City Council – Main Road, Granton shared path, stage two – $250,000 (construction)
• Kingborough Council
  • Algona Road shared pathway feasibility study – $40,000 (planning)
  • Channel Highway to Whitewater Creek Trail shared path – $125,000 (construction)

Margate and Snug Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety Crossings

This project will identify potential crossings along sections of the Channel Highway passing through Margate and Snug, and the development of an options analysis and assessment report.

Our objectives are to:

• identify the appropriate locations for potentially improved pedestrian and cyclist crossings, noting that the Channel Highway is part of the state road network through activity centres with schools, retail, on-street parking etc along the road corridor
• identify the appropriate solutions to assist pedestrians and cyclists crossing these locations on the Channel Highway
• develop concept-level options for pedestrian and cyclist crossings in Margate and Snug.

There is no funding for the construction of any crossings.

Public consultation on this project has now closed, but for more information you can visit engage.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/margate-snug-crossings for details.

Feedback received during the consultation will:

• inform the choice of potential crossing sites
• help shape the designs
• minimise the impact of any changes to parking and access to local properties or businesses.

Please note that Kingborough Council also had its own project to develop a master plan for Margate, and consulted on that project separately. Council has shared any feedback which may help identify safe pedestrian and cyclist crossings.

Margate to Huntingfield Shared Pathway

The department and Kingborough Council have funded a feasibility study to identify a route for a proposed shared pathway between Margate and Huntingfield, for people walking, wheeling and riding, on sections of both paved and unpaved pathway. This would improve access and connection with existing off-road paths, increase safety and encourage walking, wheeling and riding by providing an alternative to the Channel Highway.

The Project Development Report is available (PDF 2.7 MB). The report includes comments on the opportunities and challenges of the main route, as well as optional spurs.

Community consultation on the proposed shared pathway closed on Wednesday, 9 November 2022. This consultation was for the feasibility study only and is summarised in the report.

While this study considers a shared pathway, we understand that cyclists may still wish to use the Channel Highway. This study does not rule out further upgrades on the Channel Highway that may also promote active transport options.

Construction of this pathway project has not been funded, but this study and community feedback will help us and Kingborough Council make future funding decisions to progress the design development and construction of this pathway.

For further information, please contact activetransport@stategrowth.tas.gov.au. You may also write to us at our mailing address: GPO Box 536, Hobart TAS 7001.

Tasmanian Walking and Cycling for Active Transport Strategy

The Tasmanian Walking and Cycling for Active Transport Strategy 2010 (PDF 571.6 KB) is a key component of the Tasmanian Urban Passenger Transport Framework, which promotes walking and cycling through improved infrastructure, land use planning and behavioural change. The strategy is intended to guide development of walking and cycling as transport options in our urban areas over the long-term, by creating a more supportive transport system.

The strategy is currently being reviewed.

Tasmanian Walk, Wheel, Ride Policy

The Tasmanian Walk Wheel Ride Policy 2024 (PDF 411.0 KB) ensures that provision for walking, wheeling and riding is considered by State Growth.

This policy updates and replaces the previous Positive Provision Policy for Cycling Infrastructure. It includes all forms of active transport and active travel, and expands the scope to cover all departmental infrastructure and transport services projects. The policy emphasises the importance of early consideration of walking, wheeling and riding within departmental projects and activities, and clarifies the procedure for their inclusion.

Tasmanian Cycling Infrastructure Design Guide

The Tasmanian Cycling Infrastructure Design Guide (PDF 34.0 MB) or (PDF 15.5 MB) has been developed to support the design of infrastructure, in particular on-road treatments, that enable more people to ride. This can be new cycling infrastructure, or upgrades to existing routes. The guide seeks to complement existing guidance (such as Austroads) to achieve better design outcomes that respond to the local context.

The principles and treatments in the guide are applicable throughout Tasmania. The guide draws on national and international best practice and some of the concepts introduced are new to Tasmania.

Cycleway Directional Signage Resource Manual

The Cycleway Directional Signage Resource Manual (PDF 1.6 MB) is a resource for cycle infrastructure owners to use when developing and implementing directional signage for cycle routes.

This is an example of the process (PDF 1.2 MB) that can be used to map and plan direction signs for navigation along a cycle route.

Principal Urban Cycling Network maps

State Growth has worked with local government, cycling advocacy groups and community organisations to identify the highest priority cycling routes in our largest population centres. These are called Principal Urban Cycling Networks.

• Burnie/Devonport (PDF 1021.5 KB)
• Hobart  (PDF 853.7 KB)
• Launceston (PDF 682.6 KB)

Greater Hobart Cycling Plan

The Greater Hobart Cycling Plan (PDF 2.2 MB) will guide the joint planning and investment of the Greater Hobart councils and the Tasmanian Government, to form a connected network of cycling paths across Greater Hobart, encouraging increased usage and enhancing active transport options across the region.

Tasmanian

• Cycling South is the Greater Hobart Councils Regional Cycling Committee. Cycling South is an information resource on places to ride, people to ride with and new bike projects in Southern Tasmania.
• The Tasmanian Bicycle Council is the peak body for recreational and transport cycling in Tasmania.
• Bicycle Network is Australia’s biggest bike riding organisation, with a Tasmanian arm. Bicycle Network advocates for safer riding conditions, runs behaviour change programs, supports riders with membership services and runs events.
• Some Tasmanian councils also have bicycle advisory committees (or similar), such as the Kingborough Bicycle Advisory Committee.

National

• Cycling and Walking Australia and New Zealand (CWANZ) was formed in late 2017, as the successor to the Australian Bicycle Council. CWANZ is the Australasian lead reference group for walking and bike riding on transport and recreation networks. Members include senior and executive level leaders from all Australian state and territory transport agencies, New Zealand Transport Agency, local government representatives and leading representative organisations for walking, cycling, health and mobility. CWANZ provides a repository of key sources on walking and cycling.