On front foot for path usage

The City passed 14 recommendations, urging the State Government to allow all cyclists on footpaths and the subsequent implementation of 10 km/h speed limit on all paths.

The Integrated Cycling Strategy also recommended the State Government improve data collection for cycling crashes throughout WA to improve road safety.

Additional recommendations included improving cycling infrastructure around public transport hubs, as well as reducing vehicle speed limits to 30-40 km/h in high-use pedestrian and cyclist areas.

City of Stirling engineering design manager Paul Giamov said lifting the ban on cyclists over 12 years old on footpaths would go some way to doubling the amount of cyclists by 2031.

"It should remove many of the obstacles to pedestrians extending their"walking" range on a bike and creating a coherent cycle network for longer distances and, because wherever similar strategies have been implemented across the world, it has done just that," he said.

The 162-page strategy also recognised a fault in the public perception that cycling on roads was more dangerous, with most crashes recorded on recreational shared paths, the second-least occurring on roads with no bike lane.

"By implication, shared paths required much greater attention as the indications were that they were"unsafe for the numbers they were carrying"," Mr Giamov said.

Officers recommended the City allocate $2 million a year to the cycling strategy and seek 50 per cent of the funding from the State Government.

Bicycling WA chief executive Jeremey Murray welcomed the City of Stirling's decision and said it would encourage more families to cycle.

"We applaud the City of Stirling for taking such a proactive approach that will encourage more people to take up bike riding and at the same time provide more riding options for existing riders," he said.

Road Safety Minister Liza Harvey said it was too early for the State Government to take a stance on the age limit permitted on footpaths.

"It's too early at this point in time to say if this is definitely going to happen or where it might happen, but it is an option we are considering," she said.

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