Cycling on footpaths is legal in Western Australia from Tuesday after the government changed the law in response to safety concerns.
The change brought WA into line with the rest of Australia, the road safety minister, Liza Harvey, said. Previously only children under 12 were allowed to ride on footpaths.
“From today, it is legal for parents to ride side by side with their child along a footpath,” Harvey said.
The new rules allow all cyclists to ride on footpaths but Harvey said they were aimed at low-speed riders such as parents with children and leisure cyclists.
All other states now allow adults to ride on footpaths except Victoria and New South Wales, which restrict the right to children under 12 and accompanying adults.
Last month New South Wales dramatically increased fines for cycling offences such as failing to wear a helmet and running a red light, which campaigners criticised as a disincentive for people to ride.
Two cyclists were hit and killed by cars around Perth on the same day last month and there have been calls to force motorists to maintain a one-metre distance from cyclists.
The WA government has said it is increasing the amount of bike paths, with the transport minister, Dean Nalder, announcing on Tuesday that Perth’s Shakespeare Street would be the city’s first bike boulevard that gives priority to cyclists.
