Albany opens arms to bike safety
Albany is set to begin a transformation into a cycle city after a final strategy was passed by the City council on Tuesday night.
The Cycle City Albany (2014-2019) Strategy was adopted - with infrastructure projects subject to endorsement by the Department of Transport - to encourage cycle tourism and building a "share the road" culture. Mayor Dennis Wellington said a definitive plan would now be drawn up.
"We've got funding from the State Government up to $900,000 (and) we'll be starting on cycleways now that the whole strategy is in place," he said.
"I think it's something that the whole community will appreciate."
Works carried out this financial year as part of a three-year funding agreement with the Department of Transport include a feasibility study for Hanrahan Road and Princess Royal Drive and the first stage of a Middleton Road on-road cycle lane from St Emilies to Tasman Street.
Also considered high priority is a shared path on Albany Highway and a shared path on Barnesby Road to link the school zone to the Centennial Park and North Road precinct.
Albany Bicycle Users Group member Catlyne Hos, who was part of a control group that consulted on the project, said it was great to see a unanimous decision to adopt the strategy.
"The number one concern was cycling from the CBD to Frenchman Bay Road and the Munda Biddi Trail," she said.
"It's very exciting the feasibility study will look at that unsafe piece of road.
"I would like to see Albany transformed into a place where it is safe to cycle anywhere without having to wear high-vis and dressing up like you're going into a war zone."
Current works being carried out include a link at Golf Links Road and Troode Street that will start up again on October 1, due to be completed by November 1.
