This research paper is a response to a Western Australian (WA) Department of Transport (DoT) request to identify policy interventions that best support increased active transport usage in Perth through the use of eRideables.
Specifically, it explores contemporary policy interventions across Australia and New Zealand that may be considered for adoption or adaptation as DoT develops Walk Wheel Ride Thrive (the Strategy), an active travel strategy for WA. The research also explores policy trends and interventions internationally, focusing on cities with strong reputations for supporting active transport and with comprehensive active travel strategies.
To address these challenges, the project team employed a two-stage evaluation process. The first stage involved a jurisdictional scan to establish the current policy landscape in Australia, New Zealand, and other comparable regions. This analysis revealed only a small number of policies specifically targeting eRideable usage.
The second stage explored the qualitative environments for active travel and eRideable policy through interviews with policy leaders, academics, an eRideable rental company, and user representatives. The interviews asked about the effectiveness of existing measures and provided a practitioner view on the interventions identified in the first stage.
Key findings include that interventions most likely to support people to make the shift to eRideables are those that prioritise infrastructure, enhance actual and perceived safety, and are place- based and co-designed with local communities. It was also found that active travel strategies are generally led by government infrastructure and/or planning organisations. There are very few interventions in Australia that specifically target eRideables.
This research paper was prepared for DoT by students in ANZSOG’s Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) program as part of the EMPA’s Work Based Project module. Work Based Projects are a key part of the EMPA and see teams of students, who are public servants themselves, conduct original research and make recommendations on an issue of concern to a public sector agency. This research has been made publicly available by ANZSOG, with the permission of DoT, because of its quality and relevance to public sector agencies more broadly.