Biking in a pandemic: Has COVID-19 changed the way you cycle?

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Consultation has concluded. Congratulations to our prize winners and thank you to all who participated - you've provided valuable information that will help us plan into the future. 

Are you cycling more than before? Or maybe you've just jumped on a bike for the very first time? We'd like to hear about it.

The world as we know it has changed over the past few months. Social distancing measures, reduced public transport use and more time spent at home has found many of us looking for alternative ways to recreate and get around.

Our regular tracking of cycling activity around Fremantle shows that there's been a massive surge during COVID-19 restrictions. MetroCount's bike counter at Leighton Beach saw 230 average daily riders between June 2019 and February 2020 increase to a daily average of 740 between April and May this year. Daily rider counts at South Beach have similarly seen large increases from mid-March.

In 2018 we asked you to share your experiences riding in and around the City of Fremantle area to inform the Bike Plan Review. This information contributed to the development of the Bike Plan 2019-2024 which establishes the long term bike network and sets cycling priorities. Now, with the recent increase in numbers, we'd like to know more about your recent experiences and how we can support you to keep riding.

Having a clear picture will help us with recovery planning, long-term improvements and applications for funding in conjunction with the priorities of the Bike Plan. Whether you are new or not-so-new to cycling, if you ride in the City of Fremantle we'd like to hear from you.

Share your experience in the survey below and pin your favourite destinations on the map before 5:00pm Sunday 5 July 2020.

You can also go into the draw to win one of three $50 vouchers thanks to Department of Transport’s Your Move program (choice of Officeworks, Rebel Sport or the Bicycle Entrepreneur).


Are you cycling more than before? Or maybe you've just jumped on a bike for the very first time? We'd like to hear about it.

The world as we know it has changed over the past few months. Social distancing measures, reduced public transport use and more time spent at home has found many of us looking for alternative ways to recreate and get around.

Our regular tracking of cycling activity around Fremantle shows that there's been a massive surge during COVID-19 restrictions. MetroCount's bike counter at Leighton Beach saw 230 average daily riders between June 2019 and February 2020 increase to a daily average of 740 between April and May this year. Daily rider counts at South Beach have similarly seen large increases from mid-March.

In 2018 we asked you to share your experiences riding in and around the City of Fremantle area to inform the Bike Plan Review. This information contributed to the development of the Bike Plan 2019-2024 which establishes the long term bike network and sets cycling priorities. Now, with the recent increase in numbers, we'd like to know more about your recent experiences and how we can support you to keep riding.

Having a clear picture will help us with recovery planning, long-term improvements and applications for funding in conjunction with the priorities of the Bike Plan. Whether you are new or not-so-new to cycling, if you ride in the City of Fremantle we'd like to hear from you.

Share your experience in the survey below and pin your favourite destinations on the map before 5:00pm Sunday 5 July 2020.

You can also go into the draw to win one of three $50 vouchers thanks to Department of Transport’s Your Move program (choice of Officeworks, Rebel Sport or the Bicycle Entrepreneur).


Consultation has concluded. Congratulations to our prize winners and thank you to all who participated - you've provided valuable information that will help us plan into the future. 

  • What we heard

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    Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts in our survey. We heard from 76 people, and here's what we found:

    • Most people were riding regularly before the restrictions but did increase their riding (28).
    • A close second were people who were previously riding but their riding stayed the same (26).
    • Some people started riding for the first time or returned to riding their bike (12).
    • The majority of people rode more than 3 times a week (36) with 2-3 a week (21) 1 trip per week (14) and three people not riding during the week.
    • The majority of people were riding locally in the suburb of Fremantle.
    • Seven people decreased their riding or did not ride at all

    We asked people about their experience around riding during restrictions and had a wide variety of responses. The main reason people’s riding declined was due to working from home (reduced commuter riding) and there being nothing open to ride to. People liked the reduction in traffic and felt safer riding on roads and with children, with more families riding together and riding for recreation. People had more free time to ride for differing reasons – not working, reduced work hours, working from home.

    People also mentioned issues such as increased use of paths leading to bike congestion, inexperienced riders ‘not knowing the rules’ and the negative effect of the increase in traffic as restrictions were lifted. Interesting comments included “It has kept my son and I sane” and “A bit spooky late at night coming home from work”

    This information builds on the input from our Bike Plan community survey and will help us with recovery planning and long-term improvements.

  • And the winners are...

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    A big congratulations to the winners of our prize draw - Kate G, Lee A, and Liz C who will each receive a $50 voucher.

    Thank you to all who participated - you've provided valuable information that will help us plan into the future.