Active Transport Infrastructure

The plan for Western Australia’s walking and riding infrastructure

There are many initiatives and projects currently underway and completed to improve and expand our active travel infrastructure and connectivity, not only in metropolitan Perth, but also regional communities. Some of these key initiatives include:

• Completing the Principle Shared Path (PSP) network expansion which forms the backbone of the WA bike network and follows major road and rail corridors. High-quality shared paths provide for safer off-road travel, with minimal interruption from other traffic, and more direct riding and walking trips.

• The Long-term cycle network which identifies an aspirational blueprint of cycling infrastructure for all ages and abilities and seeks to make sure state and local governments work together to deliver continuous bicycle networks throughout WA.

• In just the past two years, 43 projects and close to 45 kilometres of high-quality path infrastructure across metropolitan and regional precincts have been built. Over the past six years, around $30 million has been invested as part of the Western Australian Bicycle Network Grants Program.

• Offered as part of the Department of Transport’s Your Move program, the Connecting Schools Grant is offered each year to eligible Your Move schools, to increase the number of students walking, riding and scootering to school. These grants allow schools an opportunity to improve bicycle access, wayfinding, bicycle education and end-of-trip facilities. This, in turn, supports students to increase their physical activity levels, and also reduces car trips and parking demand around schools. The program has experienced significant growth over the past five years; In 2022/23, a total of 51 schools – 46 metropolitan and five regional – shared in $225,000 of Connecting Schools Grant funding. The grants are administered by the Department of Transport and jointly funded by the Departments of Transport and Education.

• In March 2023, the Active Travel to School Roadmap was launched to reverse the declining rate of walking and cycling to school in Perth, focusing on significant collaboration across multiple government and industry partners to bring about system-wide improvements and change. Containing 24 initiatives, it seeks to address key urban planning, policy, individual and social factors, and enable more children to walk, bike ride, scoot and catch public transport to school.

The growing popularity of eBikes and eRideables in WA, such as eScooters, are also creating more demand for infrastructure that supports these alternative transport options.

The benefits of active travel

When you choose to walk, wheel or ride instead of using a car, it creates a range of benefits for you and the environment. In WA, transport contributes about 16 per cent of emissions, with around half of this from cars and light commercial vehicles. Therefore, choosing active travel modes as an alternative means reducing the number of cars on the road, which drives greenhouse gas emissions down.

Some of the other key benefits of active travel include:

For more information on active travel infrastructure and projects in WA, visit: