Bike Lanes for Campbell & Argyle Streets

An artist's impression of a new bike lane along Liverpool St in Hobart. There are cyclists riding in the bike lane, and cars driving and parked on the street. — An artists impression of the design for the bike lane on Liverpool Street

What’s the plan?

Physically separated bike lanes along sections of Campbell & Argyle Streets in the Hobart CBD, with connecting lanes on Bathurst & Liverpool Streets.

A map highlighting sections of Campbell, Argyle, Liverpool and Bathurst streets in Hobart planned for new bike lanes

Lane design

On many blocks there will be a bike lane between cars & the footpath.

The bike lane & cars will be separated by flexible posts.

Sometimes cars adjacent to the bike lane will be parked, sometimes they will be general traffic — more so in peak hours due to the use of clearways.

A diagram showing a cross section of a street with footpaths, parking, general traffic and a bicycle lane separated by a flexible post

However in a number of blocks bikes will continue to share with traffic…

A diagram showing a plan for Argyle Street between Macquarie and Collins Streets. It includes a lane shared between bikes and general traffic.

… or will use a bike lane shared with a bus stop.

A diagram showing a cross section of a street with footpaths, parking, general traffic and a bicycle lane shared with a bus zone

Intersection design

The bike lanes will not continue through most intersections…

… but some intersections will have paint to help separate bikes from general traffic.

Our thoughts

The good

The first physically separated bike lanes in Hobart! (ignoring <100 m on Glenorchy’s Peltro St)
Much of the lanes are between parked cars & the footpath — so called Copenhagen style. This protects bike riders from moving traffic and minimises the risk of dooring.
The first bike lanes to reach Hobart’s CBD. They also make important connections between North Hobart, the Rose Garden Bridge & the waterfront.
Will encourage people to ride to work. This includes the many staff at RHH — largest workplace in the city — and Menzies, among others.
Less people in cars competing for lanes & parking — better whenever you want or need to drive somewhere.
All this with relatively minor changes to parking.

The less good

These bike lanes are not all ages & abilities (which is the plan). This is apparent looking at the map at the top of the page and is especially the case on Argyle St. A bike lane that disappears for couple of busy city blocks is like putting a section of 4WD track in the middle of a fast highway — only those that are capable of managing the more extreme section can pass while the average person can’t use any of it.
Bike riders share with buses at multiple points. Even at low speed buses are at considerable risk of causing severe injury & death to cyclists & pedestrians. They should be separated wherever possible. Turning buses at Campbell & Collins is of particular concern.
Intersections will not be protected.
The one ways lead to inefficient routes — from RHH Campbell St entrance to the Rose Garden Bridge for example. This will encourage use of footpaths.
The bike lanes are nominally trials and the physical separation is just flexible plastic, for now at least.
They’ve taken the better part of 5 years!

An artist's impression of a new bike lane along Campbell St in Hobart. There is a cyclist riding in the bike lane and cars parked on the street. — An artists impression of the design for the bike lane on a section of Campbell St

Where’s it at?

Funded by the Australian & Tasmanian governments.

Initially intended to be popup bike lanes during the covid lockdowns in 2020, building works finally commenced in November 2023.

The bike lane on Campbell Street opened in May 2024.
The changes on Argyle Street were complete in July 2024.
Construction of the lane on Bathurst Street was scheduled to be complete by June 2024 but is yet to begin.
The lane on Liverpool Street won’t be constructed until the lane currently closed for RHH redevelopment is reopened.

What can I do?

These bike lanes are on their way. A lot more need to be built though — see the Greater Hobart Cycling Plan — and progress is glacial. See how you can Get Involved.