2005-06 Highlights

• Partnership with Bicycle Victoria for the 2006 Main Roads LifeCycle Great Western Australian Bike Ride. The sheer scale of this cycling event is something that WA has never seen before and it will significantly raise the profile of cycling in WA.
• The commencement of the “Missing Link” path between Bardon Park and Banks Reserve on the Maylands river foreshore. 21-Years in the making this is proof of the power of persistence and grass roots lobbying support.
• Western Australia is now the most cycling state in Australia. A recent national report showed that WA has overtaken Victoria to become the main cycling State in Australia. The Cycling Promotion Fund has also announced the sixth consecutive year of bicycles outselling cars in Australia. Nationally, cycling was the fourth most popular physical activity.
• BTA Cycling Jerseys – this raises awareness out in the WA cycling community. Now at key events such as mass rides and breakfasts etc. members of the BTA can make a statement. We have received good sponsorship support and we hope to grow both the range and number of items with a BTA brand.

Advocacy:

• We continue to have valuable input to a wide variety of bicycle related policies and planning at the State level through the WA Cycling Committee (formally known as the WA Bicycle Committee).
• BTA had input into several internal Main Roads Strategic Planning workshops. Along with other key stakeholders (motoring, freight, and the disabled) the BTA was invited to present its issues from the cyclist perspective.
• The issue of legalising cycling for all ages on footpaths in WA continues to drag. This issue has been considered by road safety representatives and we believe there is widespread support for its adoption. We are now waiting for the regulatory amendments to be made.
• We have recently been taking a proactive approach to advocacy with the release of a number of media statements that have resulted in a good media profile.
• We recently completed a 'Head Start' prioritisation contract for Main Roads WA to identify and prioritise possible sites for the installation of Head Start facilities at signalised intersections. This is an important step, which sees Main Roads recognising the benefits of consulting with the wider cycling community through the BTA before commencing the rollout.
• Mount Henry Bridge – following professional consultations between John Reddel of the BTA and the contractors working on the expansion of the Mount Henry Bridge we are pleased to report a win in the shape of revised designs to accommodate a more cycle friendly approaches to the shared path under the bridge. This has required extended and extensive pressure from John.
• Bikes In Bus Lanes – following pressure from the BTA a trial of Bikes in Bus Lanes was conducted a trail of bikes in bus lanes in Beaufort Street Inglewood and continues to be evaluated by Department for Planning and Infrastructure and we are still awaiting an outcome. However we are aware that PTA is planning to share the new bus lane planned for South Street between Karel Avenue and the freeway at the new Murdoch Interchange Station. This will be the first authorised shared bus lane in WA.

Events

• In the past year we have held a BUG Workshop, sponsored by the Dept for Planning and Infrastructure, to help those aiming to start new groups.The number of BUGs in Perth increased to twenty with the formation of BUGs at Peel and Albany.
• We continued our annual presence at the Bike-To-Work Breakfast
• WWOW – the Working Woman On Wheels workshop was held in the run up to Bikeweek and the Bike To Work Breakfast to assist and encourage working women to consider and try cycling to work.

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