• National Bike Strategy
• State Bicycle Advisory Committee (SBAC)
• Improving Interest in Cycling and Cycleways
• New Road Rules
• Tasmanian Walking Tracks
• The Tasmanian Trail

Cyclists are legitimate road users in Tasmania. In 2005, 'Australia National Cycling Strategy 2005-2010' (the Strategy) was endorsed by every state Minister for Transport including Tasmania?s Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources.

The Strategy was prepared following a review of its predecessor, Australia Cycling: The National Strategy 1999-2004 and an extensive evaluation of the results by the Australian Bicycle Council, which is a reference group to Austroads. The review included widespread consultation with relevant stakeholders involved with implementing the previous strategy to gain an understanding of its successes and failures.

The Strategy has been developed as a coordinating framework for identifying responsibilities that lie with the various governments of all levels, community and industry stakeholders to encourage and facilitate increased cycling in Australia. It sets out actions, with targets, timeframes and resources that will ensure the continued growth of this important component of Australia?s transport system and focuses on six key priority areas to achieve its vision.

The vision for The Strategy is more cycling, to enhance the well being of all Australians, specifically through:

• Increased participation in cycling; and
• Improved safety for cyclists.

The priorities of The Strategy are:

• Improving coordination of activities relevant to increased cycling in the appropriate portfolios of Australian State, Territory and Local Governments;
• Including cycling as an essential component in integrated transport and land use planning in all spheres of government;
• Creating infrastructure and facilities that support increased cycling;
• Enabling and encouraging safe cycling;
  Providing leadership and developing partnerships to support and
• promote cycling in Australia; and
• Developing the skill needed to undertake actions that will increase cycling.

A complete version of Australian National Cycling Strategy 2005-2010 can be viewed at the Australian Bicycle Council website at www.abc.dotars.gov.au

The Cycling Resource Centre is maintained by the Australian Bicycle Council in implementing the Australian National Cycling Strategy 2005 – 2010. The Centre is a repository for data, information and best practice relating to cycling planning, policy, programs and projects. Visit the website at www.cyclingresourcecentre.org.au 

The SBAC was established in 1991 to provide advice on all bicycle matters to the Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources:

Role and Function

To provide bicycle policy advice and recommendations to the relevant State Government Minister.
To oversee the development, monitoring and review of a statewide bicycling strategy. This strategy is to integrate the National Bicycle Strategy ? ?Australian National Cycling Strategy 2005-2010?.
To oversee the co-ordination of bicycling programs and infrastructure developments throughout the State.
To provide a consultative forum for organisations and government to consider bicycling matters.
To provide advice on priorities for spending on bicycling programs having regard to the national and state bicycling strategies.

Membership

• Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources
• Tasmanian Bicycle Council
• Local Government Association of Tasmania
• Tasmania Police
• Department of Education
• Department of Primary Industry, Water and Environment
  

Intercity Cycleway is Tasmania?s longest Cycleway. It was built on the reservation for the rail system which connects the Hobart port with the north of the State. Particular advantages of the Cycleway are that it:

• is direct;
• has an easy gradient;
• has very few road intersections; and
• links residential areas with the city centre.
  

Since opening, its success has been demonstrated by its many recreational users of all ages, including cyclists, skateboarders, roller bladers and walkers and is even used for baby strollers. The Glenorchy City Council has plans to extend the cycleway.

There have been a number of new cycleways constructed in Tasmania. Some of the more important ones include:

• The Channel Highway at Kingston;
• A trial section of cycleway on Sandy Bay Road in Sandy Bay between Churchill Avenue and Baringa Avenue; and
• The Cooee to Cam River Cycleway in Burnie.

Councils are showing increasing support for improving cycling in their areas:

• Many city councils and larger municipalities in Tasmania have adopted a bicycle plan or have established bicycle user groups (BUGS); and
• The Southern Regional Councils have established CyclingSouth which is a joint venture of the four Councils in the Southern metropolitan area of Tasmania ? Hobart, Glenorchy, Clarence and Kingborough. Also represented on the Committee of Management is the State?s bicycle advocacy group, Bicycle Tasmania.

CyclingSouth plays an important role in the orderly development of infrastructure. In conjunction with other cycling groups, it develops programs that encourage more people to enjoy riding their bikes and it plays an advocacy role for cycling at all levels of government. For more information go to www.cyclingsouth.org. Cyclingsouth has a full time executive officer.

There are particular sections in the Australian Road Rules, that affect the behaviour of bicycle riders, pedestrians and users of wheeled recreational devices and wheeled toys. The up to date ?road rules? are covered in the Traffic (Road Rules) Regulations 1999 which can be found at to www.thelaw.tas.gov.au (follow the prompts to the above regulations).

Cyclists must obey most road rules that apply to drivers. However, there are specific rules that apply to them and these are covered in Part 15 of the road rules.
Part 14 (Division 1) covers pedestrian rules.
Rules that apply to the users of wheeled recreational devices and toys such as skateboards, rollerblades and scooters can be found in Part 14 (Division 2) and Part 22 (Division 4).

Tasmania is recognised nationally and internationally as a haven for walkers regardless of their interests, skill levels and aspirations. The natural and cultural landscape provides walkers with a diversity of walking tracks and high quality recreational experiences.

In Tasmania, there are over 960 walking tracks with a combined length of 3,100 kilometres on crown land and other tracks managed by Local Government, community organisations and other agencies.

More information about walking tracks in Tasmania is available from this website:
www.parks.tas.gov.au/

The Tasmanian Walking Tracks Strategy uses four principles:

• Sustainable use;
• Quality Experience;
• Capacity to manage; and
• Catalytic benefits.

It has the following major recommendations:

• The upgrading, promotion and marketing of 60 Great Tasmanian Short Walks, including 28 short walks of less than 2 hours in length and 32 half day to all day walks;
• 8 Great Bushwalks which are overnight or longer through a range of outstanding natural environments, including:
  - Overland Track
  - South Coast Track
  - Port Davey Track
  - Freycinet National Park
  - Frenchman?s Cap Track
  ?-Douglas Apsley national Park
  - Tasman Coastal Track; and
  - Penguin Cradle Trail;
• An Implementation strategy, including signage, maps, brochures, tourism opportunities, funding and management; and
• A marketing plan, including promotion, standardising walking track development and matching of market segment expectations to opportunities.

The Tasmanian Trail is a long distance multi-purpose recreational trail extending 480k from Devonport on the north coast to Dover in the south. For Tasmania, this is a new concept in trails in that it is intended for many types of users, including walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders. The trail links up existing forestry roads, fire trails, country roads and occasionally crosses private land.

More information is available from this website:
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/recreation/tastrail.html