The interaction between pedestrians and cyclists is increasingly causing safety concerns, exacerbated by the use of wheeled recreational devices, including wheelchairs, powered scooters and gophers. Some of these concerns are real and others are perceived, but nevertheless important in terms of people’s willingness to walk. The more governments are successful in increasing the amounts of walking and cycling, the greater these concerns will become – potentially limiting the extent and sustainability of such gains. This report investigates actual and potential conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians and develops strategies to minimise conflict and to improve both perceived and actual safety on shared paths and footpaths. These issues and ways of addressing them were identified in consultation with both pedestrian and bicycle stakeholders, to ensure that the outcomes reflected a balanced view of pedestrian-cyclist interaction. Specific issues have been addressed in specific ‘Information Notes’, which are available as individual documents, in electronic form, on the website of the Australian Bicycle Council (http://www.abc.dotars.gov.au). These Information Notes do not replace existing guidelines (for example, the Austroads Guide to Traffic Management) but are intended to complement them, to draw attention to issues that may need to be addressed in specific situations and to suggest ways in which they can be resolved or, at least, adverse impacts for cyclists and bus operators and passengers can be minimised. Users should also refer to local state or territory guidelines for bicycle facilities. The information in these Information Notes should be considered in future reviews of the Austroads Guide to Traffic Management. (Author/publisher)
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