Federal Election Candidates: Pledge Your Support For Better Streets

The Better Streets Federal Election Campaign calls for all parties and independents to commit to a national Active Transport Infrastructure Program.

We’re recommending that the Australian Government invest $400 million annually, equivalent to $15 per person, for the duration of the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport, from 2026 to 2035.

With 50:50 matched funding from State and Territory governments, and delivered in collaboration with local councils, the Program will ensure that complete walking and cycling networks are fully delivered in up to 20 cities and towns throughout Australia. Doing this will:

• Reduce local traffic congestion and parking pressures

• Save money for households struggling with their car costs

• Enable everyday Australians to get healthy and fit

• Reduce noise and air pollution around schools, shopping centres and other busy areas

• Help the Australian, State and Territory governments meet their legislated requirement to cut carbon emissions from transport

• Slash billions of dollars from healthcare costs over the coming decades

• help local businesses to thrive

• support public transport, because most journeys start or end with a walk

• Create 2,000 jobs every year for local contractors during construction, and many more across other transport industry sectors.

Business cases show that this scale of investment will increase cycling and walking mode share fivefold, resulting in $40 billion in economic benefits to Australians by 2050.

This promises a better rate of return than any other transport investment, while providing affordable and equitable local access for communities around Australia.

Our proposed $400 million a year National Active Transport Infrastructure Program would fund:

• 15 regional cities to build comprehensive networks of walking and cycling paths, similar to Wagga Wagga, NSW, which is building 56 km of paths for $15 million over just a few years.

• The five largest capital cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide) to build comprehensive networks of "Cycling Superhighways" and more pedestrian crossings. Four proposals developed by their respective State governments are already listed on Infrastructure Australia’s Infrastructure Priority List, but remain unfunded:

  • Perth active transport improvements

  • Greater Sydney cycling network improvements

  • Active transport connections across the Brisbane River

  • Cycling access to Melbourne CBD

• User-targeted programs like e-bike subsidies, similar to hugely popular initiatives in Tasmania and Queensland.

• A dedicated fund to build safe, connected paths and crossings so children can walk, bike and scoot to school, sports, community and cultural facilities in their local area - particularly where paths and crossings are currently limited.

• A dedicated unit within the Australian Government’s Department of Infrastructure (DITRDCA) to oversee the 10-year program, helping State, Territory and local governments to plan and deliver active transport networks efficiently and effectively.

According to completed business cases, including studies reviewed by Infrastructure Australia and State “i-bodies”, a National Active Transport Infrastructure Program for Australia would deliver around $40 billion in economic benefits to the nation’s economy.

More than 100 organisations have endorsed our open letter - from the Planning Institute of Australia to the Australasian College of Road Safety, Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management, bicycle organisations in every state. They represent a very broad cross-section of the community, throughout Australia, including professional organisations, peak industry bodies, academia and small businesses, as well as walking, cycling, place, health and climate change NGOs.

Event the Australian Automobile Association *, representing 9.3 million car club members nationwide, supports our message, saying that:

“The next Australian Government must commit to increased funding for active transport links to ensure… net zero, improved congestion and road safety.” 

Public support is also strong, with 76% of Australians supporting more footpaths and cycleways, and 60% supporting a government rebate for bicycles and e-bikes.

Hundreds of individuals have also signed, adding their personal stories about why this matters to their families and friends.

* Representing all the state-based motoring clubs: NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAA, RAC, RACT, AANT.

According to The Conversation, between 2008 and 2028, the Australian Government allocated just 90 cents per person annually to fund active transport. This included the current four-year, $100 million National Active Transport Fund, which will only deliver, in total, 25-50 km of bike paths nationally.

We’re advocating for a modest $15 per person annually, just 1.6% of the Australian Government’s land transport budget, to be matched by State and Territory governments and invested in collaboration with local councils and shires.

How do we compare with other countries?

Since 2016, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has recommended that at least 20 per cent of transport budgets be spent on walking and cycling. It’s also what the Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management recommends.

Throughout the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport 2026 to 2035, it’s time for Australia to step up to match other advanced economies. Our national investment in active transport falls far behind our peers.

National governments in nine countries in Europe spend at least AUD $15 per person per year, with Ireland investing $120 per person annually.

In the developing world, Ethiopia allocates 33 per cent of national urban transport funding to active mobility, while the Indian Government has provided 100 cities with AUD $200 million each for street redevelopment focused on walking and cycling.

Countries and cities throughout the world are investing in healthy and safe active travel. It’s time Australia did too.

Better Streets is an alliance of a diverse range of organisations and individuals who share a vision to make our streets more accessible and liveable for everyday life - with safe local streets, supporting local businesses through streetscape upgrades, enabling kids to walk and bike to school, and making it easier for everyone to walk and ride around their neighbourhoods.