Wider paths key to bike safety
Transport Minister Dean Nalder is looking to reduce the growing number of inner-city accidents involving bicycles and pedestrians.
Mr Nalder told _The West Australian _ he was "exploring options" to separate cyclists and pedestrians on paths where "conflict rates are high".
One option is widening paths to up to 5m.
"The evidence of conflict is largely anecdotal or by direct observation where there are large numbers of pedestrians in recreational areas," Mr Nalder said.
"There is also clear evidence of conflict between cyclists and pedestrians in areas such as the principal shared path (PSP) alongside City West station, where crashes have occurred.
"At this location, slow points have been trialled to slow cyclists down on the approach to the pedestrian crossing points.
"Another example is at the Claisebrook station overpass where a green surface was applied along with the words 'shared zone', which has been very effective."
Mr Nalder said separate bike and pedestrian paths along Riverside Drive and the South Perth foreshore had worked well.
But environmental constraints often prevented the full separation of riders and walkers, so widening paths could be an option.
Mr Nalder said the recently upgraded section of path along the Kwinana Freeway, from the Narrows Bridge to Thelma Street, had been widened to 4m.
"For future projects such as the Mitchell Freeway PSP between Glendalough station and Hutton Street, the design of the structures will accommodate a wider path," he said.
"The overall path width requirement is being determined in the early part of the design process.
"This process of assessing the path width requirements will be standard practice going forward, rather than taking the current standard three-metre width as an approach for all paths."
Mr Nalder said the WA Government had spent $100 million over the past five years on bike infrastructure, with the latest shared path on West Parade in South Guildford nearing completion.
He said the $1.1 million path was a direct result of population growth in South Guildford and would provide better connectivity and create a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists.
