A new plan designed to encourage more people in Fremantle to ride a bike is now out for public comment.

The City of Fremantle’s draft Bike Plan 2019-2024 will set the City’s priorities for bike infrastructure projects, programs and promotional activities for the next five years.

Acting Mayor Rachel Pemberton said the new plan maintained a target to double the number of people riding a bike to work in Fremantle.

“Our Strategic Community Plan aims to have Fremantle recognised as a pedestrian and cycle friendly city and sets a target to double riding to work from 2.9 per cent of commuter trips to 5.8 per cent,” Ms Pemberton said.

“Over the past five years the City has undertaken a range of activities to encourage more cycling, from infrastructure projects like more on-road bike lanes, dedicated cycle paths, intersection upgrades and bike parking to free bike hire, annual bike week events and planning scheme amendments requiring end of trip facilities.

“As a result we’ve seen a 13 per cent increase in people riding in a recent city centre bike count, showing we are making progress. Improvements in bike infrastructure and the growing popularity of electric bikes has led to many more people getting around Fremantle on bikes.   

“Cycling has so many benefits – it’s great for your health and fitness, it’s convenient because you don’t have to worry about parking and it’s better for the environment – so we’ll continue our efforts to make cycling in Fremantle as convenient, connected, safe and enjoyable as possible.”

The draft Bike Plan was informed by a community engagement process undertaken late last year in which residents were asked to share their experiences of cycling around Fremantle and identify areas where bike facilities were good or needed improvement. 

The plan identifies four primary routes that connect major destinations such as the Fremantle and Perth city centres and four secondary routes connecting activity centres like shopping areas, schools and sporting facilities as priorities.

It also outlines planned infrastructure upgrades including more green bike lanes along on Parry Street and William Street, improvements to on-road bikes lanes on Marine Terrace and an upgrade to the intersection of Queen Victoria Street and Parry Street.

The City will also continue to participate in initiatives like the Department of Transport’s ‘Your Move’ program and engage with schools to encourage more cycling.

Public comment on the Bike Plan is open until 1 July 2019.

For more information and to make a submission visit the City’s My Say Freo website.