wellness
Cycling routes safe for families and beginners
Perth families are turning to flat, protected paths in Kings Park and along the Swan River as winter riding gains pace.
How we reported this
Perth families have added more than 200 kilometres of marked family cycling paths across city parks and river foreshores in the past eighteen months, according to City of Perth records released last month.
Winter temperatures and shorter daylight hours have pushed more residents outdoors on two wheels instead of indoor gyms, with local councils reporting steady rises in hire-bike use since May.
Kings Park and nearby streets
The 5 km sealed loop inside Kings Park starts at the Fraser Avenue car park and stays clear of motor traffic except at two controlled crossings on Park Avenue. Beginners can join free Saturday morning sessions run by the Kings Park parkrun team at 8 am, where volunteers lend helmets and point out the gentlest gradients near the Botanic Garden entrance. Riders who want a longer outing continue south on the shared path beside Winthrop Avenue into Subiaco, where the new 1.8 km connector opened in March links directly to the Subiaco train station bike cage.
Swan River foreshore options
Along the Swan River, the path that runs from Barrack Street Jetty through Elizabeth Quay to Matilda Bay remains one of the flattest routes in the metropolitan area. The City of Perth installed extra lighting and widened the section past the University of Western Australia in Crawley last September, cutting average journey times for parent-and-child groups by eight minutes. Further east, the Causeway to South Perth route offers water views without hills and connects to the free ferry at Mends Street for families who want to return by boat.
Perth now counts 142 km of dedicated family-grade paths, with 38 km added since the start of 2025. Bike hire at the Elizabeth Quay stand costs $12 for two hours or $28 for a full day, including child seats and helmets.
Parents planning a first ride can check the City of Perth website for path closure updates or drop into the WACHS community health centre on Wellington Street for a printed map of the newest segments. Most local libraries also stock free printed guides that list water fountains and toilet stops along each route.