The Albanese Government has officially allocated $5 million in funding for Canberra’s Garden City Cycle Route, announced in the Federal Budget this month.
The project will see a number of off-road paths and on-road separated bike lanes running over five kilometres through the inner north, and travelling through Watson, Downer, Dickson, Ainslie, Braddon, and the Canberra CBD.
Funding the Garden City Cycle Route was one of Labor’s commitments during the 2022 federal election.
Sadly, this was one of the only active transport projects that was allocated funding in the October budget.
Labor Senator for the ACT Katy Gallagher said at the time: “It is Labor that delivered the light rail network, it is Labor that has delivered major road projects like the Majura Parkway and it is Labor that has significantly expanded our walking and cycle paths”.
The 2021 Cycling Participation Survey shows that ACT residents have higher rates bike riding than the national average.
More people in ACT own bikes than the Australian average, roughly 67% of ACT households have at least one bike.
The addition of the Garden Cycle Route in Canberra is likely to further enhance active transport options and encourage more residents to actively travel.
Work on the Garden City Cycle Route is expected to commence in the 2023-24 financial year.