25 September 2014

, Liberal Member for Bass

Pushing ahead with cycling safety

Today the Liberal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improve cycling safety at a Bike Futures Seminar in Launceston.

The Liberal Government supports the Road Safety Advisory Council's recommendations about new signage for popular bike riding routes and a cycling safety campaign which utilises the strong message "A Metre Matters" to focus on motorists being aware of cyclists, and the importance of passing cyclists safely.

The Liberal Government has asked the Council to investigate and report back to Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding about a potential amendments to road rules to allow motorists to legally cross solid white lines only where necessary, to allow a safe passing distance.

Initiatives to improve cycling safety include:

• $100,000 for cycling warning signs to be installed on high use cycling routes across the State, which is expected to be rolled out by the end of March 2015. The new signs will be installed on high use cycling routes identified by the Road Safety Advisory Council in consultation with local government and cycling advocacy groups.
• A bike education program in schools, including of cycling related questions on the L1 test and online practice test.
• Adoption of Amy Gillett Foundation's highly successful "It's a two-way street" campaign collateral for use in Tasmania.

The Cycling Safety Package is complementary to the Liberal Government's Share the Road public education campaign for vulnerable road users, such as cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, which is expected to be launched in November.

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