People cycling to and from the city along the Perth to Midland Principal Shared Path will have a more enjoyable journey following completion of a new cycle path.

Transport Minister Simon O'Brien today opened the new one kilometre section of the principal shared path between Bayswater Station and Tonkin Highway.

Mr O’Brien joined members of the local community at Bayswater Station to open the new path that will provide users with an 8.8km cycling route from the Perth CBD to Tonkin Highway.

“This path highlights the quality of Perth's expanding bicycle network,” he said.

“Its completion demonstrates we can deliver world-class infrastructure that will benefit the health of Western Australians and the environment.

“The bicycle network showed a 207 per cent increase in traffic between 1999 to 2008.

“It is expected this path will support a substantial increase in cyclist and pedestrian traffic on the principal shared path and feeder routes of the network.”

The State Government funded and managed the project while the City of Bayswater undertook the design and construction works.

“The Perth Bicycle Network Local Government Grants Program is a key link between State and local government for developing shared path infrastructure,” the Minister said.

“Partnership with local governments is critical to the shared path network's success, since most of the network is on local roads under local government jurisdiction.”

The opening of the new path was one of the final community events for Cycle Instead Bikeweek 2009.

More information about the Perth Bicycle Network is available at  http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au or by phoning 9216 8313.

Minister's office - 9213 6400

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