Tim Judd joined the WestCycle Board in 2024 with 20+ years working in traffic engineering and road safety engineering, with a focus on bike infrastructure. 

The Perth resident is a member of the Cycling Walking Australia and New Zealand (CWANZ) Design Innovations Working Group, a Healthy Streets Assessor, and a member of Main Roads WA/IPWEA Road Safety Panel. 

We sat down with him recently to find out more about the man and his work.

You have been involved in road safety and riding infrastructure engineering for a long time. Is WA doing a good job?

WA has a long way to go I think to say we are doing a good job, but I do see positive signs within the last few years of things starting to change, with slightly more funding for riding and much more of a focus on a Safe System approach to road safety.

How can WestCycle work with councils and the State Government to improve safety for riders?

West Cycle is doing a great job across multiple areas with a small resource pool.  WestCycle could focus on educating local government elected members on the importance of implementing safe riding infrastructure and what safe riding infrastructure is.

How can we encourage more people to take up riding, including women, children, and new riders?

I think it has to be easy for woman, children and new riders so the infrastructure needs to be in place and it needs to be safe and connected – but lower speeds on local roads would also encourage parents with children to get out and ride around the local area for short trips. The focus doesn’t always have to be on longer distance commuting.

What motivated you to join the WestCycle Board?

Becoming a board member of a well-established organisation with a great reputation within my field of work was a great opportunity to learn more and hopefully give a little back to the industry.

What is your vision for riding in WA over the next few years?

While I want to see all forms of riding becoming more popular and growing in membership – my passion and focus is on seeing riding as a transport mode for local trips, and commuting trips become a safe option for all people living in WA.

What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges for WestCycle?

I see the biggest opportunity for WestCycle is to use its great reputation to influence WA State Government to provide more funding to enable a great connected riding network in WA as well as – as noted above – to focus on educating local government elected members on the importance of implementing safe riding infrastructure.

A key challenge will be to work with local government to communicate to the population of WA that riding is a safe a viable alternative for many people’s daily trips.

Can you share any past experiences that you think will help guide WestCycle’s strategy?

For me it will be to help provide my technical knowledge in road safety and active travel infrastructure planning and design to help identify areas that need more work in the advocacy and education space.

What role do you think innovation and technology can play in riding advocacy and events?

I think technology can be a powerful driver for cycling advocacy and events in areas like digital campaigning, virtual engagement, smart event management and real time information that can enhance everything from rider engagement to influencing policy.

Find out more about the WestCycle Board and our strategic direction here.