Residents want more consultation on Bayswater to Morley bike boulevard

TWO Bedford residents are calling for more community consultation ahead of the construction of stage two of the Bayswater to Morley Bike Boulevard in light of “poor involvement” with affected property owners.

The City of Bayswater and Department of Transport developed the bike boulevard as part of the Safe Active Streets Program.

Edward Street property owners Tony Freeman and Len Katich said they were not notified about stage one of the bike boulevard, which opened in September 2017.

It is along Leake Street and May Street from the Swan River foreshore to Adelphi Street.

The pair will be affected by stage two of the bike boulevard, which is planned to extend along May Street, Edward Street and Catherine Street to Russell Street, connecting to John Forrest Secondary College.

Mr Freeman said stage one needed to be evaluated and adjourning property owners needed to be consulted prior to the planning of stage 2.

“With the congestion you create with the two-way traffic and cyclists coming through here, I don’t believe it is as safe as it could be,” he said.

“If you have got parking down both sides and two cars, you don’t have enough clearance.”

A Department of Transport spokesperson said construction of stage two was planned to start in 2018 and residents would be contacted about the project that they could provide feedback on.

Mr Katich said the bike boulevard created confusion for road users so they would slow down.

“We are basically guinea pigs as they are trialling this as a new concept,” he said.

Mr Katich said Edward Street residents needed to know what benefits the boulevard presented before stage two proceeded.

“If you are going to be doing this, you need to tell the community that this infrastructure is there,” he said.

“Not just our locals but everyone in the Bayswater catchment area so they can tell their kids to take this route if you are going to Morley.

“We are not anti-bike, we are not anti-development, we are not anti-new ideas but we are anti-non-consultation with adjoining house owners.

“This potentially will be here for the next 50 years so locals that live here are going to be stuck with it whether bike boulevards turn out to be a great idea or a poor idea.”

A Department of Transport spokesperson said routes were planned along quiet local streets and speed limits were reduced to 30km/h to enable people in cars and on bikes to share the street safely.

“The Department of Transport will monitor usage of cars and bikes along the route prior to construction and will continue to do so after its completion to determine if cars have slowed down and bike use has increased,” the spokesperson said.

“A road safety audit will be held after all signage on the bike boulevard is installed and will determine whether adjustments are required.”