New practical guide for more accessible active travel design

The Department of Transport (DoT) has published a new practical reference guide to promote and facilitate the design of bike riding infrastructure that is more accessible to people of all ages and abilities. 

The publication: ‘All Ages and Abilities Contextual Guidance: Selecting and Designing High-Comfort Bicycle Facilities’ was developed by DoT in consultation with key state, local government and advocacy stakeholders and is among a suite of active transport planning and design guidance for Western Australia.

A recent DoT People’s Pulse survey revealed that around 42% of people would be motivated to walk, wheel or ride more if there was an increase in accessible paths and facilities.

The guide focuses on encouraging practitioners to select and design infrastructure that will provide a high level of service to novice and less confident bike riders.

DoT Executive Director Urban Mobility Justin McKirdy said the new guidance will support the implementation of the State’s long-term cycle network, which is intended to be a low stress, high comfort network that appeals to the broadest spectrum of bike riders and supports the activity as a viable, everyday mode of transport.

“This guidance is a significant step forward for the planning and design of bike infrastructure in WA,” Mr McKirdy said.

“A key aim is to give more people the confidence to ride more often and get them safely and comfortably to where they want and need to go.

“The all ages and abilities approach is global best practice, and we emphasise that at its heart is fairness, safety and enabling all people to use the network.

“Our aim is to make WA a place where bike riding, along with other forms of active travel, is an easy and accessible choice, and to create a network that everyone can enjoy.”

The guidance will remain under review and be updated regularly with new information to reflect emerging best practice and industry feedback.

For more information and to access a copy of the current document, visit our Planning and designing for active transport page.