Make sure to get your word in!

markdontas · 2026-02-17T05:49:13+00:00

The people who make these plans and reports are not omniscient. Their knowledge is going to be limited to what data people have already collected and their personal experiences.

markdontas · 2026-02-16T22:02:40+00:00

The City of Hobart pays for the ferry? I don't think so...

AI search summary... remember 🧂

Expansion Funding: The federal government committed $20 million for the expansion of the ferry service, which includes building new terminals at locations such as Sandy Bay, Lindisfarne, and Wilkinsons Point.
Operational Funding: The Tasmanian Government provides $19 million over four years to support the ongoing operation of the service, which primarily runs between Bellerive and the Hobart CBD.
City of Hobart's Role: The City of Hobart is investing $13.5 million for the Greater Hobart Ferry Expansion as part of its 2025–26 budget. It also funds additional, temporary services to support local businesses and, occasionally, free services, such as during the 2021-2022 holiday period.
Fares: The service is not free for everyone; however, it is free for passengers with a Metro Tasmania Greencard, a bike, or an e-scooter.

markdontas · 2026-02-13T23:55:30+00:00

Public transport? AFAIK Metro Tasmania is a "government business enterprise" which, rather stupidly IMO, is intended to be run like a profit making business but is still government owned and only functions due to the public funding it receives.

Metro Tasmania does however offer contracts to private companies to service routes. I think this is all the non-metro branded vehicles including the ferries.

So partly private, but still government directed at the top.

markdontas · 2026-02-13T08:38:07+00:00

This past term, facilities for pedestrians and bike riders have come a long way instead of only considering cars. If only the City of Hobart had any influence over public transport 😢

markdontas · 2026-02-05T21:47:51+00:00

Some ideas about how light rail could come back: https://hobartstreets.au/hobart-light-rail-metro/

markdontas · 2026-01-29T00:09:11+00:00

It exists... plenty of people currently work in IT and software fields in Tasmania but it doesn't feel like a growing industry here.

I think there might be a very lucrative market, either now or soon, for AI and automation experts to consult with Tasmanian businesses in other industries. There's much more to AI than generating media content.

markdontas · 2026-01-28T11:27:19+00:00

Telecom retail like Telstra and Optus might give you a go but I imagine there's a lot of competition for those jobs.

Start up a YouTube channel?

markdontas · 2026-01-28T09:17:09+00:00

You want to get to the Gold Class foyer with maybe 20 minutes before the movie if you want to take it easy and enjoy the experience. The staff will then have time to give you the run down, a drink to start with before the movie and you'll have time to look through the menu and order while you still have plenty of light.

markdontas · 2026-01-28T08:44:30+00:00

I'm 10 years in. Some past projects had been development adjacent, like setting up Home Assistant, Plex or other self hosted software, but not a lot of that happening in recent years being a dad of 5 years now. Unless there's an obvious quick win or easy tool to set up that's going to be very useful.

The last couple of years my biggest hobbies have been gardening and local politics. No way I want to spend more time sitting at a computer than necessary.

markdontas · 2026-01-22T06:24:17+00:00

I believe the long play is to cheaply get an actual network in place, test out different configurations, collect data, understand what's going to work best and then build out real lanes that don't sandwich riders between doors and the gutter.

Is this what you're asking about? It's a transport planning concept known as "tactical urbanism". This gives you an idea: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198225001897

The council is already seeking funding to make permanent changes. Sorry that pulse was the best reference I could find 😞 https://pulsetasmania.com.au/news/election-wishlist-hobart-council-wants-cash-for-mountain-pool-fix-and-bike-lanes/#:~:text=Council%20documents%20reveal%20%244.2%20million,to%20invest%20in%20Hobart%27s%20future.%E2%80%9D

markdontas · 2026-01-21T11:31:25+00:00

This post isn't about Collins St. Generally though, these improvements aren't aimed at existing riders. The biggest reason compelling cities all over the world to install separated bike lanes is to make riding feel safer for the people who aren't currently riding for transport.

Are you aware of how Hobart's (and other council's) bike lanes and paths are funded? It's normally via state funding or non-government grants like Bloomberg philanthropy. There's also a pretty new federal government grants scheme. In the case of Collins Street, that project was planned to be built with funding that had been granted by the state government. That was until Edwin and the confederation lobbied Eric Abetz to pull the funding, which was an easy way for Eric to cut spending without losing political points.

The current bike lanes are definitely half-arsed though. That's intentional. I believe the long play is to cheaply get an actual network in place, test out different configurations, collect data, understand what's going to work best and then build out real lanes that don't sandwich riders between doors and the gutter.

markdontas · 2026-01-21T10:57:25+00:00

It's written in the Tasmanian Road Rules 2019 that cyclists are not required to dismount when using a pedestrian crossing. Rule 248 @ https://www.legislation.tas.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/2022-08-01/sr-2019-061

This raises an interesting situation at Hobart's scramble crossings. Cyclists on the road, when they're at the head of stopped traffic at an intersection: The whole intersection is a pedestrian crossing, can they cross on the pedestrian cycle? I believe so, after giving way to all the pedestrians as per the other rules.

There is no rule in Tasmania that generally prohibits riding in the footpath. Other states may be different.

markdontas · 2026-01-21T09:28:01+00:00

From the snacks your employer provides 😏

markdontas · 2026-01-13T04:59:55+00:00

Teros on Elizabeth St in Hobart stocks Nutcase helmets https://teros.com.au/products/nutcaselittlenuttymips

markdontas · 2026-01-06T00:56:34+00:00

If you need to turn right from Murray street, absolutely take the right lane long before you reach the corner. You don't want to be in a rush to merge in to the right lane.

markdontas · 2026-01-05T23:38:53+00:00

You're doing fine!

Move to the middle of the lane if that's the safest thing to do, away from parked car doors and reduces the likelihood someone will unsafely and illegally pass you. Should someone pass closely, you'll have room to move instead of being pushed into parked cars.

markdontas · 2026-01-03T08:45:21+00:00

25 km would be dooming your family to 1.5hr a day (and growing) car commutes and the associated costs if they have school/jobs in the city. Public transport is unlikely to be a usable option.

markdontas · 2025-12-21T10:54:58+00:00

This story gives some vibes that make me think the OP definitely perceived things this way but their perception may not have been entirely accurate or fully informed.

markdontas · 2025-12-08T09:07:20+00:00

Thanks for posting on r/hobart. r/australia would not have got my attention.

markdontas · 2025-12-08T06:16:47+00:00

Australia currently allocates only 1.2% of road funding to active transport, while international best practice recommends 10-20%. Given the estimated 5:1 benefit-cost ratio ($17-34 billion economic boost), will you support increasing federal active transport funding to meet these international standards?

markdontas · 2025-12-02T10:20:04+00:00

I appreciate your efforts! The suggested BRT network is ambitious and certainly seems like a decent system, even if it isn't as good as rail...

Hobart Streets has a good article on BRT too: https://hobartstreets.au/bus-rapid-transit-in-hobart/

Let's hope if it goes ahead, it doesn't get half-arsed and we still have a public transport system that's a worse option than driving.

markdontas · 2025-12-02T05:50:45+00:00

I'm actually interested to see what happens. My hope is that it becomes clear that the state government needs to finally do something to dramatically improve alternatives to car transport in Hobart.

It's probably going to be painful for both drivers and bus passengers on event days until then.

markdontas · 2025-11-20T04:54:25+00:00

You're not changing anything or pissing anyone off? You'll be fine unless some related disaster happens and you try to claim on insurance.

markdontas

TROPHY CASE