SHAKESPEARE STREET residents up Mount Hawthorn way have decorated their verge trees with Christmas baubles and signs saying, “all I want for Christmas is a bike boulevard!”
The WA transport department’s considering whether to install pilot bike boulevards in streets like Shakespeare, and Lake in Bayswater, which set aside a large strip for bikes and sees cars having to cede way to cyclists.
The idea is to slow down residential streets and encourage more folk onto bikes.
With half of all car trips less than 5km, Transport’s hoping more people will get onto a bike instead of hopping into the car for short jaunts.
Thirty houses on Shakespeare Street are behind the boulevard plan and have joined the “Bikes on Shakespeare Action Group” to decorate their trees.
Resident Melissa Ledger says a boulevard “will encourage everyone including mums, dads, children and the elderly to make short trips on bikes or on foot rather than in cars” and they’re not just for long-distance cyclists on high-end road bikes. Transport is still consulting, and Vincent city council has no objection as long as residents are happy and it’s not asked to pay for anything. If any other locals are keen on joining, get in touch with Ms Ledger at bikesonshakespeare@iinet.net.au. Transport has online surveys about it at http://www.transport.wa.gov.au
by DAVID BELL
Perth Voice Interactive 
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