Bayswater train station has been mentioned as a possible location for the live trial.
Camera IconBayswater train station has been mentioned as a possible location for the live trial. Credit: Supplied/Kristie Lim

Bayswater train station possible location for bike safety trial

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

SPEED treatments for cyclists and pedestrians such as bike path speed humps, could be coming to the Bayswater train station, according to the Department of Transport.

In areas with high numbers of pedestrians and cyclists, the Department used applicable treatments, widening, segregation, pavement markings and path realignments to increase awareness, control speeds and improve safety for all path users.

The Department is looking to trial preferred treatments in a live environment, following the installation of bike speed humps at John Connell Reserve in Leeming as part of the first phase of a closed trial.

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A Department spokeswoman said the results from this trial would inform future stages which were planned to start in the next six months.

“The trial and speed hump design was informed from examples in the Netherlands’ and is being undertaken to assess the safety of various hump configurations with different path users,” she said.

“After the next phase has been completed, work will be undertaken to analyse results and finalise a report of the trial findings.

“Once the Department has identified a preferred treatment that is safe for all users, it will be trialled in a live environment of which one location may be the Bayswater train station.

“Bayswater station has been mentioned as a possible location for the live trial as it caters for a large number of different path users (people riding bikes, walking, using scooters, gofers).”

She said future stages of the Bayswater to Morley Bike Boulevard would not use bike path speed humps as bike boulevard treatments were predominantly on roads.

East Perth cyclist Brad Serls, who works in Bayswater, said bike speed humps were a “bandaid” fix and more legislation and rider education were needed.

“Speed bumps are actually quite dangerous… I think the trial will be quite interesting to see how it goes,” he said.

“As a commuter myself, I’d like to see a little bit more policing of bike riders and basically respecting one another on the pathway.

“We want that respect from car drivers but we won’t show that respect to one another when on a bike path together.

“I think it is a bit of a bandaid-fix but something definitely needs to be done in order to just to let bike riders know that they need to respect one another – I think that is plain and simple to what it comes down to.”

He said while he had not seen a pedestrian get hit by a cyclist in Bayswater, there had been several narrow misses.

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