COTTESLOE MLA Colin Barnett says he and his wife may get on their bikes when an election-promised $24 million cycling network connects the Perth CBD, City Beach, Cottesloe and Fremantle for commuters and tourists.
“Lyn and I have been thinking of getting a couple of bikes since I announced the mountain bike trails in the Porongurups recently,” Mr Barnett said.
The Liberal Party’s cycling strategy, released two weeks ago, includes promised funding for sections to complete five new cycle paths.
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READ NOWOn the coast, $15 million is promised for a 30km Indian Ocean Ride through Cottesloe from Fremantle to Hillarys, including separate and protected lanes on West Coast Highway.
The strategy offers $3.75 million for a 9.6km city to surf route from the Perth CBD to City Beach, $3.5 million for a Kings Park cycle loop and $1.5 million to upgrade foreshore paths along the Swan River.
Mr Barnett said all the paths could become major attractions for Asian tourists, particularly for the booming participation in cycling by Singaporeans.
However, Cottesloe residents have long waited for the inland cycling path on the Fremantle Railway line to connect where it stops at Swanbourne and restarts in North Fremantle.
Mr Barnett said the coast route could also be used by commuters and while it was a ”good idea” to continue the railway line path through Cottesloe, there was a limited amount of money and “only so much one can do in one go”.