Data sourcing to understand the transport system and its users
Quality data and analytics are our core business. We are doing work to understand gaps in our current data collection methods, depending on use cases, and identify ways to address these. We are also looking at a system-level and across different data sources, to better understand the strengths and limitations of each source and how data can be combined to provide even more efficient and effective insights.
Safe use, storage and charging of eBikes and eRideables
Since they were legalised in WA in 2021, eRideables have increased in popularity due to their convenience for short-to-medium trips.
The Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) led the work to amend the Road Traffic Code 2000 and continues to collaborate across government to encourage responsible use of the devices as part of a sustainable mobility mix. Particularly, DTMI is contributing to work on recommendations arising from Ride Safe.
The use of private and hired eScooters has surged, with several metropolitan local governments and many large regional areas now hosting devices for hire.
eBikes and eRideables are used for many purposes, including commuting to work or places of study. This raises issues about safe storage and charging at destinations, given risks of battery fires.
DTMI has collaborated with other agencies to examine options for employees who bring these devices to the office. This work has produced guidelines for safer storage and charging, which encourages eBike and eRideable use for commuting. In mid-2026, DTMI reviewed these guidelines for currency and content.
DTMI, Portfolio partners and other agencies continue to monitor, assess and respond to new challenges for safer use, storage and charging of eBikes, eScooters and other eRideables.
Educational materials
Transcript
[Music: Summer. Twin Signals. Echo.]
[Visual: A person wearing a bike-helmet riding an e-scooter to the One 40 William office building.]
Narrator: Do you use an eRideable to get to work?
Narrator: Here are some tips to help keep you, your colleagues and your work building safe while it's stored and charging.
[Visual: The rider pushes the e-scooter over a pavement sign reading ‘cyclists please dismount’, enters a secure bike compound and turns the scooter off.]
Narrator: Only use the designated area to park and charge your e-rideable and make sure to store and charge your battery in a cool, dry place that's well ventilated.
Narrator: Keep it clear from flammable materials and remember to follow these steps.
[Visual: The rider inspects the e-rider and moves his hand around the base.]
[Text on screen: Cool it.]
Narrator: Cool it - cool your battery before plugging it in to charge. Don't charge if it's hot to touch.
[Text on screen: Check it.]
Check it - Check your battery unit regularly to make sure there are no signs of damage or bulges.
[Visual: The rider plugs in a charge cable. The e-scooter screen shows 51.]
[Text on screen: Charge it.]
Charge it - charge the battery to just below 100% around 80% is ideal.
Narrator: This reduces overheating and can keep your devices battery healthier for longer.
[Visual: The rider walks away from the storage area. The camera cut to the rider pushing the scooter and walking with another person and then riding around Perth city.
Narrator: Storing and charging policies and facilities for eRideables will be different at every workplace or building.
Narrator: Also remember that once your battery has reached the end of its life, it needs to be disposed of safely.
[Text on screen: bcycle.com.au]
[Visual: The rider uses a laptop to find a B-cycle drop off point on the website.]
Narrator: Don't put it in general waste or general recycling, head online to find a drop off point.
Narrator: Have a safe commute and don't forget to cool it, check it, charge it.
[Text on screen: Cool it. Check it. Charge it.]
[Text on a blue screen: Government of Western Australia Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure. Empowering a thriving community.]
End of Transcript
Transport modelling and the Perth Transport Model
A transport model is a tool for understanding, assessing and predicting the likely impacts of changes, such as new infrastructure projects or demographics and land use shifts, on the transport system.
Transport Insights is playing a key role in developing the new Perth Transport Model (PTM). This model is an important tool for the State Government for understanding and assessing the likely effects of drivers of change in the transport sector, such as new technology, demographics and land use.
There are two other transport models currently used by the Western Australian government:
- Strategic Transport Evaluation Model (STEM), managed by DTMI
- Regional Operations Model 24 Hours (ROM24), managed by Main Roads WA.
The new PTM will supersede both STEM and ROM24, to become the single transport model used by the Transport Portfolio.
Additionally, Transport Insights is leading development of a WA vehicle fleet model, which will be the first of its kind available for the Portfolio to use to forecast future fleet compositions under different conditions. The fleet model, the first version of which is due for completion later in 2026, is being designed to integrate with our other forecasting tools, to provide more comprehensive insights about the future transport system.
Scenario testing
External factors, or factors outside of the Government’s control, present significant risks and uncertainties for the environment, economy and society. Risks and uncertainties can grow over time as factors change.
The Transport and Major Infrastructure Portfolio recognises the importance of scenario planning for providing insight into possible future conditions for the transport system and its users, and informing investment decision-making, given the design life of the assets we invest in.
In 2025, DTMI completed an exploratory scenario testing project, evaluating the resilience and adaptive capacity of the surface transport system in Perth and Peel in 2041, under four different, but possible, scenarios. We also looked at ways different measures could address challenges across scenarios, from a ‘what if?’ perspective.
Our work was informed by similar international activities conducted in New Zealand and the San Francisco Bay Area and resources including the UK Department of Transport’s Uncertainty Toolkit.
Transport Insights is now monitoring and tracking drivers of change and looking into how we could operationalise scenario testing in relevant planning, strategy and decision-making processes.
Transcript
[Music]
[Text on a blue screen: Why Scenario Testing Matters.]
Narrator: What could the future look like for Perth and Peel?
[Visual: Animation: A cyclist stands next to a bike. City buildings are in the background.]
Narrator: As our cities grow and new technologies emerge, planning for the future of transport in Perth and Peel has never been more important.
[Visual: The image divides into three – a person standing at a bus stop, the person with their bike, and a person standing on a train platform. Question marks rise from all three.]
Narrator: But with so many uncertainties ahead, how do we prepare?
[Visual: A light bulb with pathways reaching out in every direction.]
Narrator: Instead of trying to predict just one future, we're exploring a variety of different realistic possibilities.
[Visual: Three circles appear, one has a mobile phone with a bus, train, scooter, car and card, one has a map of Australia and indicates temperature changing, and one has a wind turbine and a solar panel.]
Narrator: By imagining a range of 'what if' scenarios, we can better understand how Perth and Peel might evolve over time.
[Visual: A person sits at a computer looking at the previous image on the screen. A whiteboard is nearby with more symbols/scenarios on it.]
Narrator: So, what is scenario testing? Scenario testing is all about exploring believable futures based on the countless influences that shape our transport networks and how we move.
[Visual: The white board expands to fill the screen, and each symbol pops out as the narrator mentions the scenario that relates to it.]
Narrator: Influences like climate change, new technologies, geopolitical decisions, economic shifts, demographic shifts and changes in how we live and work.
[Visual: The diagram changes to depict different coloured pathways spreading out, and then to a group of people examining the diagram.]
Narrator: These can affect how we use roads, paths, and rail. It's not about predicting the future. Scenario testing is a valuable tool for state and local governments, town planners and other decision makers.
Narrator: It helps figure out what to prioritise so we can make smart, future ready choices.
[Visual: The image frame becomes a window in a building of many windows. In the foreground is a street showing a variety of transport methods moving around.]
Narrator: We can design better programs, projects and policies that ensure resilience and spot opportunities early, no matter what challenges tomorrow brings.
[Text on a blue screen: Government of Western Australia Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure. For more information, visit: transport.wa.gov.au/transport-insights.]
End of transcript
Human factors and changing behaviours and preferences
Transport Insights is investigating ways to understand how people experience the transport system differently based on factors such as their socio-demographics, urban location and behavioural preferences. These insights can help the Portfolio to better understand costs and benefits from transport initiatives.
We also continue to research trends in the way people are working, studying and seeking consumer services, so we can better understand how today’s transport system functions and better forecast what the future could look like.
Transport emissions
Transport Insights informed development of the first Sectoral Emissions Reduction Strategy and provides ongoing capability to support future work on transport emissions reduction. This financial year, we are progressing work to improve how our modelling toolkit forecasts potential emissions under different scenario conditions.
Transport system performance outcomes
Transport Insights is exploring different themes and indicators so that the Transport Portfolio can better understand how the transport system is performing and potential outcomes for its users. These themes and indicators can complement existing reporting frameworks serving specific purposes, like the Transport Portfolio’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework.
Better systems and user data will help us to make more informed decisions about transport planning and policy and enable improved tracking of key transport system outcomes.
Improved Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data analytics
Better spatial data and digital tools help us plan infrastructure for the WA community and better understand the characteristics of our urban networks. Transport Insights’ recent work includes:
- improving spatial data for WA’s Long-Term Cycle Network so we can better understand further investment opportunities.
- creating the Built Environment Active Transport web application used daily by our active transport planners.
A web application (web-app) is an interactive map, produced using GIS, that runs in a web browser. Web-apps give us on-demand access to quality data from a known source.
In 2026, we are continuing development and enhancement of spatial datasets and web-apps supporting the wider activities of the Urban Mobility Directorate.