The National Cycling Participation Survey 2019 is out and the data suggests that 14.8% of Tasmanian residents ride a bicycle in a typical week and more than one third have done so in the past year.
Glenorchy Council are seeking to survey users about their use and views of the current facilities at Glenorchy MTB Park as part of the development of a new masterplan.
Funding for the George Town Mountain Bike Trail has now been received by the George Town Council, allowing them to proceed with the project.
The City of Hobart is developing a mountain bike network plan to improve riding experiences on the the lower slopes of kunanyi / Mt Wellington and is seeking input from users up until 31 August 2019.
An extra 16kms of trail opened as part of the Wild Mersey Mountain Bike network on June 15, 2019 almost doubling the size of the trails available.
According to the Examiner Newspaper both major parties have committed to extending the $1.47million federal government grant for the North East Rail Trail.
The grant which was set aside for the recreational walking and cycle path is due to expire in March 2020 and the North East Recreation Trail Committee was concerned that the promised money would be lost if the work had not begun by then.
Things are looking good for mountain biking on the West Coast with the Liberal National's Senator, Steve Martin, promising $2.5 million to fund the west coast's entire mountain biking strategy and Labor's Justine Keay announcing a $1.2 million funding commitment to develop the Mount Owen trails.
At their December 2018 meeting, the West Coast Council have decided not to proceed with the proposed gravity trails in Queenstown (the final stage of the West Coast Mountain Bike Project started in 2014 as a job creation program following the closure of the Mt Lyell mine) and instead seek new proposals and funding to try and construct a product that will attract riders to the West Coast.
The Snug to Margate cycleway was officially opened on 12 December 2018.
The Tasmanian Government has now reviewed the two competing proposals for the North East Railway line and decided to give both parties part of the line to develop. The full media release from Treasurer Peter Guttwein is below.