Experience in other Australian states and around the world has demonstrated that focussing efforts on the suppressed and underdeveloped riding types will generate the largest growth in bicycle riding. This is not to say that other riding types do not need support, or facilities, merely that people who currently do not ride should be able to use future facilities.
Mountain bike riding is a popular and growing riding type in Tasmania and good progress has been made by state and local government to develop a number of high level plans and high quality facilities.
This progress is to be applauded but due to the current low levels of funding or strategic commitment to other forms of bicycle riding, Bicycle Tasmania is committed to the suppressed and underdeveloped riding types.
Bicycle Tasmania’s Facilities Development Campaign does not aim to capture every route and potential facility in Tasmania. It is up to members, the community and decision makers to make the case for development of other bicycle facilities in Tasmania. However, following extensive consultation and research, Bicycle Tasmania holds the proposed facilities within this plan as a priority. What we choose as our priorities is up to Bicycle Tasmania Members and the community.
What can be clearly demonstrated from this analysis is that the greater the focus of facilities development on off-road and separated facilities the greater the potential number of bike riders who will use it.
In the Tasmanian situation, while mountain bike, recreational road cycling and competitive cycling are catered for, people who would like to ride from their homes to where they want to go are not. This is clearly indicated in the current numbers of bicycle riders in each group.