New Active Travel Plan to get more Canberrans outdoors

Encouraging more Canberrans to walk and ride across Canberra’s extensive path network will be aided by further ACT Government investment in active travel initiatives.

The government’s Active Travel Plan 2024–2030 aims to drive a connected, safe and convenient active travel network in the ACT.

The new plan outlines ways to help Canberrans choose active travel options over other modes of travel.

Active travel options include:

• walking
• cycling
• micromobility vehicles – such as e-scooters.

The aim is to make these options safer, more accessible, convenient and enjoyable – whether for transport, recreation or social activities.

Community feedback gathered over the past two years helped shape both the Plan and Design Guide. These documents support the design and prioritisation of the ACT’s walking and riding infrastructure and programs.

The Plan’s priority is safe infrastructure for walking and riding. It highlights key walking areas and outlines Canberra’s future cycling network.

Other actions include providing more secure bike parking and targeted programs to remove barriers and encourage people to use active travel and public transport.

New funding for active travel infrastructure

The ACT Government will provide a further $4 million in funding to support active travel improvements.

This is part of a 50:50 funding agreement with the Australian Government under the Commonwealth’s Road Safety Program.

The additional funding comes in addition to the $29.5 million in funding provided in the 2023–24 ACT Budget to support active travel, and brings total spending across the budget and forward estimates on active travel to over $94 million.

The Kingston Cycleway: a key active travel project

The Kingston Cycleway is a key active travel project proposed to receive funding under the Road Safety Program. The new high-quality cycleway connecting Kingston and the Inner South through to the City on the C2 cycle route will be delivered in two stages.

Construction of the first stage – a pop-up bi-directional protected cycle lane on Bowen Drive between the Kings Avenue underpass and Bowen Park – will begin in the coming weeks.

The government is trialling this infrastructure in Canberra, with funding also committed to investigate other corridors suited to pop-up cycle lanes.

Detailed design of the second stage, connecting Bowen Park with Cunningham Street via Eastlake Parade, will start in the coming months.

Additional projects proposed include:

• a new pedestrian crossing on New South Wales Crescent, improving safe access to Telopea Park
• improvements to the City to Woden C4 cycle route via the Lake Burley Griffin cycling circuit on Alexandrina Drive in Yarralumla, including raised crossings, lighting and signage
• improvements to the City to Belconnen C3 cycle route through a new raised crossing on Bauhinia Street, O’Connor
• upgrades to the cycling crossing point on the Adelaide Avenue on-ramp at the Hopetoun Circuit intersection, including a pedestrian crossing and cycle lane improvements
• a new raised pedestrian crossing on Bowman Street in Jamison
• pedestrian safety improvements on Beasley Street at the bus stops in front of the Torrens shops, including two new kerb ramps to facilitate crossing.

These investments build on the significant pipeline of active travel projects already underway.

Existing projects include the Garden City Cycle Route, new shared paths along Sulwood Drive and William Hovell Drive, and improvements to paths around Lake Ginninderra and the Tuggeranong foreshore.

With Canberra consistently ranking as one of Australia’s best cities for walking and cycling, it’s hoped the new plan will help even more Canberrans embrace active travel options.