WestCycle went to Broome recently, engaging engage directly with residents via a pop-up Bike Dr activation at the Town Beach Night Markets, followed by an exploration of the area through the Broome Adventure Trail.

Broome’s riding infrastructure has expanded steadily over the past two years, supported by $2.6 million in funding from the Western Australian Bicycle Network (WABN) Grant Program. Recent completions include the upgraded Frederick St to Port Dr Shared Path, Old Broome Rd Shared Path, Cable Beach Foreshore Access Path, and the Demco Foreshore Path. We made sure to incorporate several of these paths into the Adventure Trail.

First up was the night market. Here, I worked alongside Josh Curulli, WestCycle Schools Manager, to service about 15 bikes, handling everything from basic brake adjustments to installing new gear and brake cables. I find these sessions highly effective for getting bikes running smoothly while sharing practical maintenance knowledge. Hint: A $7.20 can of silicone spray from a hardware store serves as an excellent, dust-resistant lubricant. Applying it to the derailleur, chain, and shifters every few weeks keeps a bike operating reliably.

Regional towns, with their compact layouts, present a clear opportunity to make riding a part of everyday life, whether riding to work, the shops, or school. We designed the Adventure Trail to demonstrate this, encouraging attendees to leave the car at home and navigate local attractions safely. The Trail started near the town centre and wound its way toward Town Beach ahead of the WA Day festival. By choosing riding to get around, attendees completely bypassed the stress of festival traffic and parking.

Seeing WABN funding translate into tangible shared paths reinforces the practical impact of our community activations.

Thanks to the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Support, for making this happen. 

Words: WestCycle Regional Coordinator Andrew Turns