Perth Voice Interactive

A BODGY press release from Perth city council claims it’s spending the most on its cyclists.

In the statement, lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi boasts of a $3.4 million spend on cycle infrastructure across the city.

“That is the highest per capita spend for any capital city in the nation, and more than double that of what other local WA councils are spending.”

The Guardian Express bought the spin hook, line and sinker, faithfully repackaging the release.

But the vast majority of the cash was from the state government: the PCC’s contribution for cyclists from its $190 million budget was a relatively paltry $500,000.

The capital’s claim of being number one on bikes left neighbouring Vincent mayor John Carey a little baffled: he’d pushed for his council to spend $2.4 million on bike stuff this year, from a total budget that’s three-quarters smaller.

by DAVID BELL