Getting Around Albany: Walkability, Public Transit & Biking

Albany is somewhat walkable, particularly in the city center around Stirling Terrace. This area features an array of historic buildings, shops, cafes, and restaurants clustered closely together, making it convenient for walking. A traveler can easily find accommodation near the Central Business District and manage daily errands on foot. Additionally, the Amity Trail offers a scenic 30-minute self-guided walk that showcases colonial history. However, Albany as a whole is sprawling with low-density residential development, causing places of work, recreation, and living to be quite spread out from one another, which can hinder walkability in outer areas.

Albany's public transport system is reasonably good, with the TransAlbany bus service offering connections to different parts of the city and nearby suburbs. This service includes routes to popular tourist destinations such as Middleton Beach and Emu Point. For longer journeys, TransWA provides bus services to Perth and other regional areas. However, travelers relying on public transit should be aware of the potentially limited frequency and coverage, which may not cater to spontaneous travel needs or accessibility to more remote locations.

Albany is a bike-friendly city to some extent, with a managed network of around 180 kilometers of paths and shared lanes leading to local centers. The city has invested in bike lanes that connect the CBD to popular areas like Middleton Beach and Emu Point. Cyclists can also use footpaths to navigate the city streets safely. However, the current infrastructure might require improvements, as some areas still lack dedicated bike paths, compelling cyclists to share roads with vehicular traffic. A new City of Albany Bike Plan in development aims to address these needs and enhance the biking experience.