The finishing touches have been put on the new Bathurst Street bike lane in Hobart’s CBD, completing the latest addition to the city’s cycling infrastructure.
Since work began on Sunday night, the existing parking spots have been shifted about one metre to the right and converted into a separated cycle lane.
Four parking spaces have been permanently removed, while the remaining spots will disappear during afternoon peak hours each day as the road becomes a clearway.
Emergency services, which had raised concerns about the potential impact of the bike lane on traffic flow, worked with the City of Hobart to address their concerns for several months prior to its installation.
Council CEO Michael Stretton tells Pulse one key adjustment involved removing the option for vehicles in the far-left lane to continue straight before Argyle Street.
This lane now functions exclusively as a right-turn lane at all times, a change designed to reduce what Stretton described as “traffic turbulence” outside the Tasmania Police headquarters.
“Bathurst Street will remain three lanes during peak hours,” he said. “During non-peak times, it will operate with two lanes, as transport modelling has demonstrated that two lanes can adequately cater to traffic during these periods.”
“It is important to note this project is a 12-month trial with no permanent infrastructure, making it easily adjustable, if for instance, Tasmania Police experience any unreasonably adverse impacts.”
The bike lane is the latest to be added to the CBD cycling network and follows that of nearby lanes on Argyle and Campbell streets.
The next project will involve the installation of bike lanes on both sides of Collins Street, a plan that has faced strong opposition from local businesses and will likely become the subject of a non-binding elector poll in the new year.
