Published on Tuesday, 3 October 2023 at 8:32:21 AM

Bassendean’s Safe Active Street has successfully demonstrated how clever design features, combined with a speed limit reduction to 30 kilometres per hour, has created a safer shared street space. The route, which links Guildford Road to Sandy Beach Reserve via Whitfield Street, was constructed with funding from the Department of Transport’s Safe Active Streets pilot program and opened to the public in January 2021.

The Safe Active Street links important community destinations: Bassendean Shopping Centre, Bassendean Oval, Bassendean Skate Park, Palmerston Square, Bassendean Primary School, Ashfield Flats, and the Swan River at Sandy Beach Reserve. The route also forms connections to local shared paths and train stations at both Bassendean and Success Hill. Design features include red asphalting, raised plateaus and slow points. Bike repair stations, water fountains, shaded rest areas and wayfinding signs were also installed.

In its interim report on the program, the Department of Transport has reported an increase in the number of people walking and cycling along the Whitfield Street Safe Active Street route, and a decrease in vehicle volumes and speeds. The largest increase in walking was seen around Bassendean Shopping Centre and the largest increase in cycling was seen near Sandy Beach Reserve.

These positive shifts in user behaviour are encouraging. The Department of Transport’s full Safe Active Streets Pilot Program Evaluation Report will be available in 2024.

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