Active transport

Better Active Transport Grant Programs

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, including a state-wide program and one for Greater Hobart, to assist local governments to deliver active transport solutions.

The Better Active Transport Grant 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 the importance that active transport infrastructure plays in providing other transport options for the community.

The 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

The Better Active Transport in Tasmania Grant Program is open to all Tasmanian municipal councils.

Round 1

Round 1 of the state-wide grant program was launched on Monday, 31 July 2023, and the period for 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 2

Round 2 of the state-wide grant program is now open, and will close 8 January 2024. Download the Grant Program Guidelines and apply via SmartyGrants

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 on this Plan).

The grant program is open to Hobart City Deal local government partners.

Round 1

Round 1 was launched in February 2023, and the period for 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 2

Round 2 of the Greater Hobart grant program is now open, and will close 8 January 2024.

Download the Grant Program Guidelines and apply via SmartyGrants

Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure

Bloomberg Philanthropies launched the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure (BICI) in late 2022, a competitive grant program that will foster change in city cycling infrastructure around the world. In partnership with the Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI), BICI will help 10 cities across the globe to implement ambitious cycling projects, setting a new precedent for what is possible.

The program was founded upon the belief that cities thrive when they provide safe, healthy, and sustainable transportation options, and that city leaders face an urgent need to build bigger, more connected and more innovative cycling infrastructure.

The Department of State Growth applied in partnership with the Clarence, Hobart, Glenorchy and Kingborough Councils.

Unfortunately, the application was unsuccessful.

The ten selected cities can be found here.

The department will continue to seek out alternative funding opportunities for innovative projects and to help get people moving where and how they want.

Tasmanian Walking and Cycling for Active Transport Strategy

The Tasmanian Walking and Cycling for Active Transport Strategy 2010 is a key component of the Tasmanian Urban Passenger Transport Framework, which aims to promote walking and cycling as viable and desirable forms of transport 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 for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Strategy is being reviewed and an update is planned for mid-2023.

Positive Provision Policy for Cycling Infrastructure

The Positive Provision Policy for Cycling Infrastructure (2013) ensures that making provision for cycling is considered and objectively evaluated at the start of the scoping of State Government transport projects, and in the development of maintenance contracts.

Cycleway Directional Signage Resource Manual

The Cycleway Directional Signage Resource Manual aims to provide a resource for cycle infrastructure owners to use when developing and implementing directional signage for cycle routes.

This is an example of the process that can be used to map and plan the direction signs required to navigate along a cycle route.

Principal Urban Cycling Network maps

State Growth has worked with local government representatives, cycling advocacy groups and community organisations to identify the highest priority cycling routes in Burnie/Devonport, Hobart and Launceston. These are called Principal Urban Cycling Networks.

Burnie/Devonport Hobart Launceston

Greater Hobart Cycling Plan

The Greater Hobart Cycling Plan (PDF 2mb) will guide the joint planning and investment of the Greater Hobart councils and the Tasmanian Government, to form an interconnected 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.

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.
• The Amy Gillett Foundation is the leading cycling safety organisation in Australia, driven by a core mission to reduce the death and injury of cyclists.