Feb
Perth pedal paths
This article is in the Not Manchester category, which features bicycle stories about other places, that may or may not say something about cycling in Greater Manchester by way of comparison.
Perth, Western Australia is a big, modern, sprawling metropolis where, not surprisingly, the private car rules. Nevertheless, the WA regional government is making a pretty good go at promoting cycling, which includes creating a network of interconnected urban cycle paths.
Some of these run alongside motorways, but with the motorised traffic placed a discrete distance away. Riders can cross the motorway with no more effort than changing down a gear or two, thanks to ramped bridges like this every mile or so.
The flat terrain makes cycling in Perth pretty effortless, but the Swan River estuary and its various inlets can be a bit of an obstacle to getting where you want to be, so where a motorway crosses the river there’s usually a cycleway slung underneath.
The climate is semi-tropical, which is great, although it does bring its own particular hazards.
Finally, Perth has a contingent of well-equipped and appropriately-uniformed mounted police officers, some of whom are not unconnected with Greater Manchester.
Mike, the officer on the left, hails originally from Wigan.
