Greens submission on Western Australian Bicycle Network Plan 2012-2021

The Office of Lynn MacLaren MLC, Greens WA spokesperson on Transport, and the Office of Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens spokesperson on Transport, presented their submission on the Western Australian Bicycle Network Plan 2012-2021 Draft for consultation.

The Department of Transport, in a recent Budget Estimates Hearing, reported that they had received 500 submissions, a clear indication of the importance to the community of improving cycling infrastructure across the state.

The submission is divided into four sections:
Part 1: Summary of the Greens Perth Bike Blackspot campaign
Part 2: Key concerns identified by the Greens
Part 3: Feedback on the 12 Key Recommendations of the Draft Plan
Part 4: Feedback on the 12 Chapters of the Draft Plan

In response to the launch of the Government’s Draft Western Australian Bicycle Network Plan, and in order to inform our response and directly engage with the community on the actual ways the WA bike network is failing cyclists, the Greens launched a smartphone application and a dedicated website where Perth’s bicycle users could report their concerns with the Perth bicycle network.The map of reports and key photographs sent in by cyclists are discussed in the attachment.

The submission is informed by Greens WA policy and consultation with community groups and members, including constituents and cycling organisations. We support the increased funding for cycling infrastructure detailed in the Draft Plan. However, there is still a way to go in making cycling a safe and enjoyable transport choice in communities across the state. We have made several suggestions in this submission towards this goal.