Cycling ideas on track – report

The Department of Transport's 2015 Cycling Imagineering Workshop report looked at innovative cycling solutions for Perth, focusing on five key areas in local roads, arterial roads, connections to schools, connections to rail stations and hospitals and roundabouts.

Each area was then broken down into a number of metropolitan examples that could benefit from improved cycling infrastructure.

The Queen Victoria Street and Stirling Highway to Canning Highway area was one such example discussed under the arterial roads banner.

As well as the boardwalk conversion, other ideas mentioned include removing one or two traffic lanes to create space for a wider cycling path, cantilever a new path on the side of the bridge and a high quality signal system with a countdown.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said the City believed the report tied in strongly with their investment in cycling infrastructure over the last few years.

"These are all interesting ideas that I am pleased are being examined, and [the boardwalk conversion idea] is part of the Visioning 2029 argument," he said.

"A priority for the Fremantle Council is to improve the safety of the northern end of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge and we have been working with Fremantle Ports and the Public Transport Authority to create a new dedicated shared path along the train line in this section.

"The popular South Terrace hub in South Fremantle is a location that we would also like to transform in a more cycling and pedestrian friendly area."

Bicycling Western Australia chief executive Jeremy Murray said the workshop used to create the report had provided a fresh look at cycling infrastructure.

He said he was particularly excited by improvements proposed for schools.

"One of the things talked about was that infrastructure is key to getting people to ride bikes," he said.

"If we can turn the tide now it could become a generational change for the better."

Transport Minister Dean Nalder also announced $3 million would be allocated for a couple of cycling projects that came out of the workshop, including education programs and reviewing width requirements for major shared paths.