At a time when commuting cycling is growing (with all the usual environmental and health benefits) rarely has there been a better demonstration of the ’lip service’ that the State Government gives to cycling facilities than the Perth Arena.
To construct this exposition of colorbond steel the main Perth/Fremantle cycling route was diverted around the construction site with the vague promise of later reinstatement. It is now apparent that not only was there never any serious intention to restore the route, but that no funding has been given to construct an alternative. Certainly EPRA, who created the problem by removing a section of the bike path, have effectively washed their hands of the issue as they consider it to be outside the boundaries of their responsibility.
As if to add insult to injury, the building contractors have this week completely closed the Wellington Street section of the path forcing cyclists travelling into the city into the narrowed traffic stream, and cyclists travelling out of the city to use a complex route through the Milligan/Wellington Street lights, then cut across four lanes of traffic to access the cyclepath. No guidance has been provided just a couple of orange clad work people to tell you where you can’t ride.
I would suggest that to close a main cycle route without providing a safe alternative represents failure of ‘duty of care’. In case of a serious accident, which seems inevitable, the injured party will have the choice of sueing the party who authorised the route closure. That could be the MRD, PCC or EPRA.
Of course if they hadn’t removed the original route along the railway in the first place, this would never have been an issue.
Wellington St cyclist diversion
This solution is sure causing some grief – traffic policy on the run!
I suspect they might have had problems leaving the original route open since it’s now under a bus ramp. Just sayin’.
But hey, since the master plan shows the East Perth bike path never crossing to the south side of the railway to link up with the existing Subiaco path I wouldn’t be surprised if someone tries to ban cyclists from the entire precinct.
As usual they are not thinking about cyclists, if the Mitchell Freeway onramp into the city was blocked without an alternative, motorists would be ropeable, but we accept and ride around and get the general public doing a “blame the victim” when we get run into by cars. Also, to add to this, where is the bike path on the newly constructed Wellington street section in front of the station? I assumed, logically that there would be one – and was astonished that not only is there no lane or path but the lanes are very narrow and have vertical pavement barriers so anyone taking to them is likely to be crushed by the cars if they do not “take the lane” which will lead to road rage. Bring back Alannah McTiernan!!
Frome the City of Perth:
“As part of the Arena development BGC are currently conducting works along the northern side of Wellington Street, between Milligan Street and Elder Street. These works have necessitated the closure of the kerbside east-bound traffic lane and shared path. It is expected that these works will continue until late May, with the closure of the shared path and east-bound lane being enforced through out the works.
The City is working with BGC to find a temporary solution that will accommodate path users during these works. Currently directional signage is in place on the northern side of Wellington Street at the Milligan Street and Elder Street/Market Street PSP intersections to guide pedestrians to the southern footway.
The City has agreed with BGC, given the urgent need to accommodate cyclists, that a temporary bidirectional cycle path will be set up on the kerbside southern traffic lane of Wellington Street, between Milligan Street and Elder Street. The City understands from discussions with BGC, that this temporary bidirectional cycle path will be in place from tomorrow, 9 February, onwards. Please feel free to pass on information of this closure and diversions to your members.”
I added a link to the plan of the newest diversion. I think going East it is easier to use the road….
Does anyone know if there is a plan for a cross city bike path ie parallel to Wellington street ? and one that goes from the city to the river – thats the obvious gap in the bike paths in Perth.
@Ant1 – during the recent Reid Hwy bridgeworks, they carefully diverted both traffic lanes so there would be minimal disruption, but chopped up the bike lane and put up a nice little sign saying “Cyclists use other routes” without actually saying where that might be. Clearly MRD traffic management plans don’t have to include bikes.
@Ant2 – the master plan has an E-W bike path next to Roe St, but I can’t find any detail on how that might link back up to the Subiaco path.
@Juffy Thanks – infuriating that no link up is on plan E-W – its like we don;t exist, perhaps we need a mass cycle event to wake these guys up – not sure who the Responsible minister is – Troy Buswell?
There has been some general talk about extending the Roe Street cycle path towards Subiaco on the north side of the railway. Cyclists can then rejoin the existing cyclepath at the Thomas Street bridge. The main problem is who will fund the Roe Street extension as it will not be cheap. EPRA who created the problem, say that as it is outside their area of responsibility, and they do not have the funds (the colorbond edifice is way over budget since a car park was added to the design)
My guess is that nothing will be done in the hope that with the changes to Wellington Street and the sinking of the railway, the problem will simply go away.
Folderman – well I suppose at least that would take care of that death-trap section of path alongside City West station?
*trying to look at the bright side*
What would work nicely is if they extended the path along Roe St, then duck under the Sutherland St subway and make a short ramp up to join with the Subiaco path again – or even reuse one of the bus level crossings? I assume those bus lanes are redundant once the shiny new bridge thing (that obliterated the old path) is open.
Juffy, use of old bus lanes in Roe Street is an excellent idea and should be cheap to implement – we will see if the BTA can encourage the various authorities to investigate this. Would certainly improve my ride to and from work
Yeah, that was my thought – 90% of the bitumen is already there, so why not give it to us rather than tear it up? Could probably re-use the electrics and whatnot on the boomgates to make a crossing for us too, then a tiny bit of earthworks to realign the path where it does that dip/blind corner at Harbour Town.
We need to get at least one local politician and the papers interested in this issue otherwise we will lose out – anyone know a journo who might take up on it? I’d be more than willing to show up in a crowd for a picture looking aggrieved that our “highway” has disappeared and there is no replacement for the west any other paper.
Response received from MRD. No safe solution or useful future outcome offered.
Thank you for your query regarding the temporary closure of the shared path along Wellington Street outside the new Perth Arena site.
The section of path in question is under the care and control of the City of Perth. However, the works on the path are being undertaken as a component of the Perth Arena works and are being managed by the contractors responsible for completing the Arena. The latest advice I have received is that the path will be closed until the end of May.
It should be noted that the City of Perth is undertaking works to enhance the streetscape of Wellington Street too, so there are numerous works underway concurrently in the same area which may also have a further impact on traffic conditions.
The City of Perth has been working with the contractors responsible for the Perth Arena works to get a better outcome for bicycle riders. However, the options are limited given the site constraints and I am unaware of any proposals that do not include either crossing several traffic lanes, riding on the road or undertaking lengthy diversions around the work site.
Please also note that it is expected that works to replace the existing temporary concrete path that runs alongside the Arena site between Market Street and Wellington Street will commence in the near future. This will result in the existing temporary link being closed for a period of approximately 4 months while these works are completed. When this occurs it is most likely that the PSP will be closed just west of the Mitchell Freeway bridge and riders will be directed along the PSP link to the south past the RAC building towards Wellington Street. It is expected that the traffic management for these works will tie in with whatever traffic management is finally agreed upon in Wellington Street. Notice of the closure will be posted when a start date has been arranged.
There is no doubt that all the work underway in Wellington Street is going to inconvenience riders travelling into and through the City for quite some time to come. However, the inconvenience is not limited to bicycle riders as pedestrians and vehicle drivers are suffering inconvenience from the path and lane closures too. On a positive note, all the works are being undertaken at the same time at least has the benefit of reducing the duration of the disruption through the area.
I am sorry that I cannot provide you with a more positive response at this time. If you would like to discuss further then please do not hesitate to contact me again.
Regards,
Colin Ward
Acting Pedestrian and Cycling Co-ordinator
Sorry Juffy, word from the PTA is that they will no approve any new ‘at grade ‘railway crossing’; the PCC have apparently vetoed an underpass (space, public danger ect)and a bridge is also out. The BTA has proposed a temporary solution of using the contractors road between the Arena and railway with a path from that road back to the Milligan Street bridge which has not previously considered – we are awaitng a response. This would also overcome a hopefully large outcry from cyclists and pedestrians when they close the section of the DUP next to the Arena between Wellinton and Market Streets
Hah. Head, meet brick wall. Thanks for pursuing this Folderman, it can’t be a lot of fun dealing with all those acronymical bodies.
Crikey, they’re going to shut down that bit of path too? It just gets better and better. Pretty soon the best way through is going to involve the path next to the RAC building. I rode in (to Subiaco, from the east) on Monday and just stayed on Roe St rather than take the bridge at all. Bit squeezy under the freeway when a Landcruiser’s taking up most of the lane…
It is good to see some concerns at the this rapidly expanding path closure. It does appear that no-one is thinking of cyclists both in the short and the long term.
I for one am now taking the 20km river route to and from work instead of the 8km along the railway.
The long term plan is for Roe St to become a lovely tree-lined boulevarde with cyclepaths alongside and a “pedestrian boulevarde” fronting the new developments.
Why not kill 2 birds with one stone. Protect the walkers with a roof (Perth needs a covered east-west walking route). On top of this roof install a cycle-path. It can run from the freeway overpass near the end of the path to Subi, right through to at least the Horseshoe Bridge.
Maybe it can run on the roof of the new Arena car-park before crossing to the north side of the rail alignment.
This photo, shows that it is only a detour (closed in Oct 06). Just ask them when the original path be reinstalled (ie the detour finished).
This transit route is not some little suburban bike path, but just happens to be a significant passage through Perth.The problems that we are experiencing now around Wellington street, seems to be consistent with the entire policy on maintenance and improvement of bike paths through Perth.. The causeway is my other favourite… I just love the clatter of the little slabs under tire and enjoy the width of the shared path….
PSP on Market St closed this morning. Did I miss an update telling us that this would occur? We are diverted to William St via the PSP next to the RAC building, but on Willian St under the freeway, there isn’t even a shared path for us to ride on. Not impressed.