WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC CYCLING FACILITIES REVIEW Prepared and published by: WestCycle Incorporated With funding and support from: Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries Contact: WestCycle Incorporated [email protected] www.westcycle.org.au Acknowledgements: WestCycle would like to acknowledge the contribution of the Western Australian cycling community in the development of this document. Photography: Alex Mahoney Photography, BMX Queensland, Chameleon Photography, Cycling Victoria, Department of State Development QLD, Glen Eira City Council, Joe McCarthy, Lorna Henson Photography, Nick Cowie, Paula Shaughnessy, Perth BMX Photography, Rob Frith, Steve Lloyd Webdabs, Strava Metro, Toowoomba Region, WestCycle Incorporated Design: Media on Mars, Fremantle, WA Copyright: The information contained in this document may be copied provided that full acknowledgement is made. Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 01 INTRODUCTION 4 02 WHERE WE ARE 10 03 MOVING FORWARD 36 GLOSSARY 38 REFERENCES 40 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 Cycling is one of the most popular Host events using simplified of criterium racing takes place sport and recreation activities in event approvals, logistics and on tracks made from the road Australia. In Western Australia, management processes network and requires full or nearly 500,000 people (18.5% Provide enhanced spectator partial road closures. of the population) ride a bike opportunities There is only one time trial course regularly, with 85% of these people Cater for bike education in Western Australia. The majority (425,000) riding for sport or and skill building of time trials take place on course recreation rather than transport. It is well recognised that other sport made from the road network Despite these high participation and recreation activities require and require full or partial road rates, cycling infrastructure dedicated facilities for training and closures. development in Western Australia competition and this is reflected by to date has largely focused on bikes the significant investments made TRACK CYCLING as a mode of transport. Although in Western Australia to dedicated There is only one velodrome that this infrastructure can and is used infrastructure provision. Over can be used for track cycling or for leisure cycling and training, recent times a significant amount racing. Recently receiving a there has been limited dedicated of money has been spent delivering $2.5 million upgrade to resurface facility provision in Western major new or upgraded facilities the track and fix roofing issues, yet Australia for cycling as a sport and for basketball, netball, cricket, rugby, it is still inaccessible to the majority recreation activity. Australian Rules Football, hockey, of Western Australians and unable This lack of dedicated facility athletics and shooting. These to host some international and provision is one of the greatest activities all have lower participation national events. barriers to the long-term growth rates than cycling, however, for a and development of sport and variety of reasons, we have not seen BMX RACING recreation cycling in Western paralleled investment in sport and There are no international or Australia. It forms a significant recreation cycling facilities. national standard BMX tracks in barrier to participation with some The Western Australian Strategic Western Australia as none of our sections of the population citing the Cycling Facilities Review has tracks have an 8m starting ramp. lack of dedicated safe and accessible been developed by WestCycle, We are losing our top riders to places to ride, train and compete in consultation with the cycling the eastern states and overseas as a primary reason for not riding a community and funding support as there is nowhere appropriate bike or taking part in cycling events. from the Department of Local for them to train and race. We are also unable to host international The lack of provision stems from Government, Sport and Cultural and national events. the misconception that sport and Industries, to establish a high level recreation cycling, unlike other understanding of current provision activities, has no requirement for and need for dedicated sport dedicated facilities. On the contrary, and recreation cycling facilities in THE FUTURE OF SPORT access to safe and sustainable Western Australia. AND RECREATION dedicated facilities can yield The current provision of dedicated CYCLING IN WESTERN significant benefits to riders at every sport and recreation cycling facilities AUSTRALIA IS DEPENDENT stage of every cycling pathway, from in Western Australia is as follows: ON THE DEVELOPMENT local grass-roots to state, national OF A NETWORK OF and international level. ROAD RACING SAFE, ACCESSIBLE Dedicated facilities for sport and All road races run on courses made AND SUSTAINABLE recreation cycling can: from the road network. There are CYCLING FACILITIES. THIS no dedicated road race facilities or Provide an environment for NETWORK NEEDS TO recreation, training and events closed road circuits in the state. The only dedicated criterium track SUPPORTS RECREATIONAL that is not affected by other users RIDING, TRAINING or activities is not appropriate for regular AND COMPETITION AT Help raise the profile of cycling racing due to its short length, Be a home to clubs, organisations poor condition and configuration, EVERY STAGE OF EVERY and community groups isolated and peripheral location CYCLING PATHWAY. and high hire costs. The majority 3 01 INTRODUCTION 4 SOMETIMES CYCLING IS TRANSPORT. A WAY OF GETTING Transport Leisure TO PLACES. SOMETIMES CYCLING IS SPORT Cycling OR RECREATION. THE RIDE IS FOR FUN, FITNESS, PERSONAL Challenge/ Training CHALLENGE OR GLORY. Competition Figure 1: Reasons for riding a bike The Western Australian Strategic 01 INTRODUCTION Cycling Facilities Review has Sport and recreation cycling participation nationally and in been developed by WestCycle Western Australia with funding support from the Western Australian cycling organisations and their growing memberships Department of Local Government, The value of dedicated sport and recreation cycling facilities Sport and Cultural Industries, to The position and role of this Review in the Western Australian cycling establish a high level understanding planning hierarchy of current provision and need for dedicated sport and recreation 02 WHERE WE ARE cycling facilities in Western Preliminary studies of the road, track and BMX sport cycling disciplines in Australia. Western Australia, including their histories, format and operation, facility Cycling is diverse and people requirements, review of existing facilities, identification of gaps and ride bikes for many different desired improvements reasons (Figure 1). This Review, The role of the road, bike lane and shared path network in recreational however, focuses on the sport and cycling and desired improvements recreational cycling disciplines of The benefits of cycling facility hubs and minimum requirements for state, road, track and BMX. Facilities for regional and local cycling hubs mountain biking are addressed separately in the Western 03 MOVING FORWARD Australian Mountain Bike Strategy. The vision for sport and recreation cycling facilities in Western Australia Cycling as a mode of transport is and supporting strategies and recommendations considered elsewhere in relevant policy guidance. This Review is comprised of three sections: 5 SPORT AND AGE 6 - 13 AGE 14+ TOTAL RECREATION CYCLING ACTIVITY RATE (%) ACTIVITY RATE (%) ACTIVITY RATE (%) PARTICIPATION Swimming 48.8% Swimming 10.1% Swimming 14.4% Cycling is one of the most popular Soccer 48.7% Cycling 7.3% Cycling 10.8% sport and recreation activities in Hiking/ Australia, with more people riding Cycling 37.7% 4.4% Soccer 8.2% a bike regularly for leisure, training, Bushwalking challenge or competition (10%) than Athletics 31.7% Aerobics 3.2% Dancing 6.0% play soccer (8.2%), tennis (4.4%), Basketball 30.5% Soccer 3.1% Basketball 5.0% cricket (4.4%), netball (3.9%) or Hiking/ Australian Rules Football (2.9%) Dancing 30.3% Dancing 2.9% 5.0% Bushwalking (Figure 2).1 Cricket 25.7% Tennis 2.4% Tennis 4.4% Participation levels are even higher in Western Australia. Nearly Netball 20.5% Netball 1.8% Cricket 4.4% 500,000 Western Australians Tennis 20.0% Basketball 1.8% Athletics 4.0% (18.5% of the population) ride Gymnastics 18.1% Cricket 1.7% Netball 3.9% regularly, with 85% of these people (425,000) riding for sport or Figure 2: Top ten sport and recreational activities in Australia recreation rather than transport.2 Young Western Australians have Western Australia the second one of the highest levels of cycling fastest growing road and track participation in the country. Across community in Australia (behind the state, 47% of 0 – 9 year olds and Tasmania). 37% of 10 – 17 year olds ride a bike Membership of BMX Sports at least once in a typical week.2 Western Australia (BMXWA), the Participation is even higher in state’s peak governing body for regional Western Australia, with BMX racing, and its 19 affiliated 63% of 0 – 9 year olds and 42% clubs has doubled in the past of 10 – 17 year olds riding at least five years.5 weekly.2 Over 2,000 people are now Around 61% of households in members of the West Australian Western Australia have access Mountain Bike Association to at least one working bike, (WAMBA), the state’s significantly above