This page contains references to documents of assistance in undertaking advocacy work in the ACT for pedal-cycle facilities.
ACT Government
Agreement between ACT Labor & ACT Greens (dated 2 November 2012) for ACT 7th Legislative Assembly.
ACT road hierarchy is the formal way of classifying roads in the ACT is based on the predominant function of a road and to the extent it serves the two basic purposes of the road network, i.e. the movement of traffic and access to property. A road’s physical characteristics and traffic volume will reflect its function and role in the network. The road classifications used are:
- Arterial roads
- Major collector roads
- Minor collector roads
- Access streets
ACT road hierarchy MAP for north-side (2006) - PDF 500 kB
Planning for a sustainable city - towards 2030 looking to 2060 (ACTPLA)
ACT Transport policy
Transport for Canberra - transport for a sustainable city 2012 - 2031 - ACT government March 2012
Transport for Canberra outcomes report - ACT Government Environment and Sustainable Development (Elton Consulting November 2011)
Transport for Canberra youth consultation report December 2011
ACT On-Road Cycling Policy:
The ACT Government remains committed to providing on-road cycle lanes on all new, upgraded or resurfaced arterial roads. This includes providing cycle lanes when routine maintenance works, which require new line marking, are undertaken and the existing road width permits.
Where the road width is insufficient, the capital works programs will give priority to widening roads to facilitate the provision of cycle lanes on the main cycle routes identified in the Master Plan and Priority Report. This will occur in conjunction with the installation of new line marking associated with the maintenance works to maximise the opportunity for reducing the cost of retrofit of facility.
The ACT Pedestrian and Cycling Main Routes Network including the 'Network Master Plan' set out in the Cycling and pedestrian Network - priority Infrastructure for Capital Works (February 2011) by Cardno Eppell Olsen.
Priority of works for the Cycling and Pedestrian Network – Priority Infrastructure for Capital Works (February 2011).
ACT road safety strategy and action plan provides a framework for addressing ACT road safety concerns over the next 10 years with a list of items to be progressed over the 2011 – 2013 aligned with the short term initiatives in the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020. It is based on an integrated approach to improving road safety, using a range of education, encouragement, engineering, enforcement, evaluation and support measures with a stronger vision element based on vision zero and includes a robust application of national 'safe system' principles and stronger measures to address cultural change. The current plans are:
People, Place, Prosperity - the ACT sustainability policy 2009 sets out the ACT Government’s policy commitment to sustainability, which include: embedding sustainability within its decision-making processes; promoting sustainability to the wider community; developing partnerships for sustainability with the ACT community; and developing indicators and reporting regularly on progress.
Pay Parking in the town centres - City Centre, Woden, Belconnen and Tuggeranong.
ACT Bicycle Parking Guidelines - adopted onto the Register of Planning Guidelines November 2006
ACT register of planning guidelines (ACTPLA) - a planning guideline is any map, code or other like document formally adopted by the Authority for the purposes of guiding planning decisions including consideration of development and land use proposals.
Design Standards
Canberra Central Design Manual
Trunk cycling & walking path infrastructure 2004-14 proposed main routes drawing
ACT Design Standards for Urban Infrastructure - the Territory and Municipal Services series:
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Canberra and ACT key planning documents
- The Canberra Plan was launched in 2004 to guide the growth and development of Canberra for this generation and beyond. The Canberra Plan – Towards our Second Century was released in 2008 and builds on the original Canberra Plan and prepares for the city's future. While some elements of the original Canberra Plan remain unchanged, the renewed vision looks at new challenges that have emerged since 2004 like climate change, water security and housing affordability.
- Canberra Spatial Plan outlines a strategic direction to manage change and provide for growth to achieve the social, environmental and economic sustainability of Canberra. It forms part of a comprehensive, integrated strategic plan for Canberra’s future. The Canberra Spatial Plan reflects the community’s aspirations for the future of the city and its setting.
- National Capital Plan is the strategic plan for Canberra and the Territory. It ensures that 'Canberra and the Territory are planned and developed in accordance with their national significance'.
- The Territory Plan is the key statutory planning document in the ACT, providing the policy framework for the administration of planning in the ACT. The purpose of the Territory Plan is to manage land use change and development in a manner consistent with strategic directions set by the ACT Government, Legislative Assembly and the community. It must not be inconsistent with the National Capital Plan.
- AP2 - A new climate change strategy and action plan for the Australian Capital Territory (2012) sets out a clear strategy for the Territory to meet our 2020 greenhouse gas reduction targets and sets us on the path to becoming a sustainable and carbon neutral community. It is driven by our commitment, as a community, to address climate change and an understanding that we, as a community working together, can make a small but positive contribution to the global climate change mitigation effort.
Road safety
ACT road safety strategy and action plans:
Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS) and Justice and Community Services (JACS) share road safety with JACS being the ‘owner ‘ of the strategy - two departments and two ministers.
Current ACT Strategy and Action Plan:
- ACT Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020 (PDF 977Kb
- ACT Road Safety Action Plan 2011-2013 (PDF 1,457Kb )
National Road Safety Strategy:
- National road safety strategy for 2011-2020 by the Australian Transport Council.
Road safety standards:
ACT Trunk Road Infrastructure Standard - No.04 Road Safety
This document is the ACT adoption (with modifications and supplements) of the Austroads Guide: Road Safety.
The measures that prevent crashes include segregating cyclists from faster traffic, reducing the speed of traffic where people riding bicycles must share the road with people driving motor vehicles, improving road design (especially at intersections), the enforcement of drink driving legislation, and improved vehicle performance.
Helmets can only reduce the impact of a crash when it happens.
Pedal Power ACT
Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) guidelines (PDF) affecting bicycle infrastructure
Victoria
Bicycle Network Victoria has useful infomation on good design for cycling facilities.
Vic Roads Cycle Notes are a series of information bulletins on design standards for cycling infrastructure:
- Cycle Notes No. 1 - Bicycle Facility Design Guidelines
- Cycle Notes No. 2 - Bicycle Lanes (superseded)
- Cycle Notes No. 3 - Shared Bicycle/Pedestrian Path Design
- Cycle Notes No. 4 - Clearway Bicycle Lanes
- Cycle Notes No. 5 - 'Head Start' Storage Areas at Intersections
- Cycle Notes No. 6 - Signing of Rural Training circuits
- Cycle Notes No. 7 - On-Road Arterial Bicycle Routes
- Cycle notes No. 8 - Providing for Cyclists at Signalised Intersections
- Cycle Notes No. 9 - Creating On-Road Space for Cyclists
- Cycle Notes No. 10 - Shared Path Behavioural Signs
- Cycle Notes No. 11 - Directional Signing for Off-Road Paths
- Cycle Notes No. 12 - Design Standards for Bicycle Facilities
- Cycle Notes No. 13 - Wide Kerbside Lane Markings
- Cycle Notes No. 14 - Coloured Surface Treatments for Bicycle Lanes
- Cycle Notes No. 15 - Providing for Cyclists at Roundabouts
- Cycle Notes No. 16 - Safe Road Crossings for Off-Road Paths
- Cycle Notes No. 17 - Terminal Treatments for Off-Road Paths
- Cycle Notes No. 18 - Providing a Smooth Surface for Cyclists
- Cycle Notes No. 19 - Providing for Cyclists Within Bus Lanes
- Cycle Notes No. 20 - Providing for Cyclists at Bus Stops
- Cycle Notes No. 21 - Width of Off-Road Shared Use Paths
Vic Roads 'Shared path audit guidelines'
Austroads
Austroads is the association of Australian and New Zealand road transport and traffic authorities.
Austroads promote improved Australian and New Zealand transport outcomes by providing expert technical input to national policy development on road and road transport issues.
- Austroads website
- Austroads bicycle web page
- Austroads publications on-line
- Austroads Guides
- Austroads - Bicycles Research & Technical Reports
Australian Bicycle Council (ABC)
The Australian Bicycle Council's role is to:
- oversee and coordinate implementation of the Australian National Cycling Strategy 2011-16
- provide a forum for the sharing of information between stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Strategy
- maintain a repository of information and resources to promote increased cycling in Australia.
The Australian Bicycle Council members are:
- a representatives from the Australian Government
- a nominee of each state/territory 'roads' organisation
- a nominee of the Australian Local Government Association
- a representative of Bicycle Industries Australia Inc.
- a representative of Retail Cycle Traders Australia Inc.
- a representative from a national body for bicycle users
The Australian Bicycle Council publications:
- National cycling strategy 2011 - 2016 (PDF 3.3 MB)
- Australian Cycling Participation report - results of the 2011 National Cycling Participation Survey (PDF 2.9 MB)
Economic assessment tools
WHO/Europe Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT)
HEAT is designed to help you conduct an economic assessment of the health benefits of walking or cycling by estimating the value of reduced mortality that results from specified amounts of walking or cycling:
- HEAT attaches a value to the estimated level of cycling or walking when the new infrastructure is in place that can be compared to the costs of implementing different interventions to produce a benefit–cost ratio.
- HEAT can value the reduced mortality from past and/or current levels of cycling or walking, such as to a specific workplace, across a city or in a country.
- HEAT can be used to illustrate economic consequences from a potential future change in levels of cycling or walking.
- HEAT can provide input into more comprehensive economic appraisal exercises, or prospective health impact assessments.
Last modified JW 9 October 2013






Advocacy News
- 14/02/2019 Death of rider deeply felt by Canberra cycling community
- 07/12/2018 Pedal Power welcomes NCA exploration of path separation
- 27/09/2018 Questions still stand after Mike Hall coronial hearing
- 21/09/2018 Rider Alert: Northbourne Avenue
- 17/07/2018 Bike share trial a great initiative for Canberra
- 08/06/2018 CBR Cycle Tourism Strategy provides a foundation to build upon
- 05/06/2018 ACT Budget strong for cycling and active travel
- 21/05/2018 A welcome boost for active travel
- 10/05/2018 Let’s make minimum distance passing laws consistent across all jurisdictions
- 04/05/2018 Cotter road duplication provides a bonus for cycling