CITY of Cockburn residents are urged to have their say on bike paths following the announcement of a $50,000 grant from the Department of Transport Perth Bicycle Network Grants Program.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti announced the grant on April 3 as part of a $6 million network upgrade.

Residents now have until April 20 to provide public feedback on the plan.

Cockburn TravelSmart officer Jillian Woolmer said the path would improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians travelling along or crossing Rockingham Road.

This included school children and residents catching buses and going to local shopping centres.

“It is particularly important safety is improved considering there were four crashes involving pedestrians on Rockingham Road between Cockburn and Phoenix roads in the last five years, one resulting in a fatality,” Ms Woolmer said.

“Providing a safe and convenient path will also encourage more healthy activity to help address the growing obesity problem.”

The City plans to reduce Rockingham Road to one lane in each direction between Cockburn and Phoenix roads, to install median islands and a 3m wide asphalt shared path.

Subject to funding, development of the project’s first stage would start between Cockburn Road and Carrington Street mid-year, with the remaining stages in future years.

Construction of the path was identified in the City’s 2010 Bike Plan but was delayed while the City dealt with constraints along the road such as power poles and limited space.

Concept drawings of the plan can be viewed at the City’s Administration Building or Spearwood Library, both at Coleville Crescent, Spearwood.

The grant was one of 34 awarded to local governments across WA over the next two years through the grant programs.

For more information and to provide feedback visit https://comment.cockburn.wa.gov.au/bike-path-proposed, send an email to comment@cockburn.wa.gov.au or phone 08 9411 3444.

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