FAQ

The Safe Active Streets Program is an innovative program designed to allow pedestrians, motorists and bike riders to travel safer and easier in WA.

Safe active streets are designed to create safe and comfortable environments for everyone. 

Safe active streets create quieter local roads and a safer environment for cyclists and pedestrians.  Vehicle speeds are reduced to 30 km/h to allow people in cars and on bikes to share the street safely. With lower traffic speeds, streets become much safer for pedestrians and children. Additional tree planting and landscaping make them more attractive places to walk or ride.

These streets are an important new part of Perth’s transport network offering safer and more comfortable routes for people walking and riding bikes. They encourage an active transport connection between parks, the local schools, local shops, business districts and where people live.

They are part of the Safe Active Street Program to provide the public with more options to achieve their transport needs.

Along the route, signage and red asphalt will be used to identify the extent of the safe active street.

At major entry points to safe active streets, blue-and-white road patches, 30 km/h speed limit signs and raised platforms are installed to help slow traffic and alert people they are in a pedestrian and bicycle friendly space. Further signage is kept to a minimum to avoid a 'sea of signs'. Streets are designed to be identified easily, with distinctive road treatments that also help to lower speeds and encourage courteous interaction between street users.

Safe active streets can incorporate various measures to encourage slow traffic speeds, for example:

• Introducting a 30km/h speed zone
• Raising platforms at intersections
• Narrowing lane widths by introducing embayed parking and plantings;
• Changing stop/give-way signs to give priority to movements along the safe active street
• Using traffic islands and medians to restrict car movements at intersections, while allowing movements in all directions for people on foot and on bikes
• Introducing new pedestrian or bike crossings.

Currently high-speed cyclists utilise The Avenue/Birdwood Parade/Jutland Parade/Victoria Avenue, Waratah Avenue, or Princess Road as their preferred cycling route through the City of Nedlands. The selection of a safe active street avoids these established high-speed cycle routes.

A number of parallel streets were considered for this project. The Elizabeth Street and Jenkins Avenue route was deemed the preferred location because each have existing low traffic volumes and low traffic speeds to allow for the implementation of the safest and most coherent route that will promote access to the greatest number of local amenities (schools, shops, university, sports fields, parks).

The Department of Transport is working with local government authorities to deliver a plan (Transport @ 3.5 Million - the Perth and Peel Transport Plan for 3.5 Million People and Beyond) across numerous suburbs which will enhance Perth’s network of bike-friendly routes – the safe active streets project forms part of this network.

The City of Nedlands is excited to help implement this plan due to the numerous benefits that it gives the local community.     

Safe active streets aim to make streets safer for everyone and are convenient, easy and sociable way to get around. They are designed to create comfortable environments for road users with all levels of experience. Safe active streets allow mums, dads, children, senior citizens and others to make short trips on bikes to schools, parks, shops or visiting neighbours.

Safe active streets are located on local streets with low traffic volumes and speeds. The routes are selected to form part of a wider network connecting to off-road shared paths and linking important community destinations.

They also have additional tree plantings to provide a shady and cooler street for street users. Aside from the improved visual appeal of the street, more local people will be using the street increasing the natural surveillance in the area and improving community connections.

Highly unlikely. Many high-speed cyclists use the Strava App to map their cycle journeys. Elizabeth Street and Jenkins Avenue do not form part of a preferred route for established group rides (refer to heat map below).

Safe active street are designed for slow speed riding, consequently high-speed cyclists would avoid them. 

Yes, the safe active street will have no impact on waste collection days.

The project is being funded by the Department of Transport's Safe Active Streets Program. More information about this program can be found on the Department of Transport's website transport.wa.gov.au 

Yes, the design will discourage through or non-local traffic as it will be difficult to travel above 30km/h. While the route provides a direct link to local amenities and other bike routes, it has been selected partly because it is not major route for vehicle traffic.

Yes, there will be some inconvenience during the construction stages, however it is not anticipated that there will be any inconvenience once the works have been completed.  This project aims to increase residential amenity by creating a quieter and safer environment.

There will be no reduction to the existing on-street parking capacity. Formalised parking will maximise parking opportunities.  The designs provide for embayment parking on both or one side of the street.

Yes, as per WA road rules a driver may overtake a bike rider if there is enough space to do so safely (with a minimum of one metre passing distance), they have a clear view of the road ahead and they do not exceed the 30km/h speed limit.

The focus on the design is based around safety, residential amenity and users of the streets to provide a safer road environment for everyone. The design establishes a higher priority for pedestrians and cyclists (of all ages) but does not reduce the amenity for the vehicle driver. The key benefits include:

• Providing a safe environment for all road users (pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles)
• Promoting a low-speed environment that reduces potential accidents and resulting damage.
• Improving amenity for residents
• Maximising the opportunity for on-street parking
• Retaining the same number of parking bays, which are clearly defined in black asphalt
• Aiming to address the impacts from issues in other streets – for example changing priorities on some intersections will reduce vehicle speeds in the north-south direction
• Addressing safety for children and school travel
• A reduction in speed from 50km/h to 30km/h, but maintaining travel times, due to a redesign of current constraints that will ensure a smoother flow of traffic
• Clearly defined traffic lanes with red asphalt and flush kerbing.
• Adjusted intersections to align with traffic lanes. Side streets have stop signs and are black asphalt to clearly define the intersecting streets.

The City’s proposal connects with the planned sections for City of Perth and the Town of Claremont.

Perth has all the ingredients needed for great walking and cycling – a warm climate, flat topography and outstanding natural beauty.

As our population increases and more people live near centres of activity, walking and cycling can play a big part in helping to reduce congestion, improve air quality, support local business and encourage a healthy, active lifestyle.

The Transport Portfolio’s Cycling Network Plan prepared as part of Transport @ 3.5 Million - the Perth and Peel Transport Plan for 3.5 Million People and Beyond ensures more emphasis is being placed on providing high quality, safe and comfortable cycling infrastructure that is integrated with public transport services.

When will the project be constructed?

The project will be constructed in two stages. Stage one will commence on Elizabeth Street.  Stage two on Jenkins Avenue will then follow. It is anticipated that the total project cost will be between $2.0M and $2.5M fully funded by the Department of Transport.

Yes. We want to hear what you have to say about the proposed safe active street extension and how you feel it will affect you.

Your comments will be considered in the development of the final plan.

To find out more about the project, you can attend one of the Community Information Sessions that are advertised on this page. The sessions will give you an opportunity to learn more about the project, talk to one of the Design Team and to provide your feedback.

You can also contact the Design Team, by telephoning the City on (08) 9273 3500, or by email yourvoice@nedlands.wa.gov.au.

The Community Engagement Coordinator, Caroline Walker can provide assistance in relation to providing your feedback.