A Safer Way Forward: Why FRP Grating is the Smart Choice for Australia’s Cycle Trails

Australia is home to an incredible network of rail trails and shared cycle paths that play a crucial role in offering bike riders a safe and scenic way to explore the outdoors. However, for councils and parks and gardens teams, keeping cyclists protected – particularly during wet or icy conditions – is an ongoing challenge.

Traditional materials like timber, steel and concrete are falling out of favour due to concerns about grip, weather resistance, and high maintenance demands. That’s why many teams are turning to fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) for cycle trails, shared paths, and walkways.

With its grit-engineered anti-slip surface, low maintenance and minimal environmental impact, FRP walkway grating offers a modern solution for public infrastructure that’s built to last.

The challenge of maintaining safe trails

Most of the cycling infrastructure is built on timber, concrete and steel – materials that degrade quickly in Australia’s demanding outdoor environments. Additionally, many of these trails are in rural and remote areas, and are susceptible to flooding and bushfires. Councils and park teams face challenges such as:

• Safety hazards: Timber trails become dangerously slippery in rain or frost. Ageing chicken wire overlays pose tripping risks.
• High maintenance: Frequent exposure to salt or sand causes timber to rot and decay and steel to corrode.
• Environmental impact: Copper chrome arsenate (CCA)-treated timber is common in older walkways and trails and can leach arsenic into the soil and waterways.
• Installation complexity: Remote trail locations make transporting materials and using hot works (such as welding) difficult and hazardous.
• Budget constraints: Frequent repairs and replacements put a strain on already limited public funds.

This is where FRP outdoor access structures offer real value.

Why FRP is the safer choice for cycle trails

Cyclists can now enjoy the peace of mind that comes with riding on FRP grating.

• Anti-slip surface: Grit-embedded FRP grate maintains traction on slopes, rain-slick surfaces, or icy paths.
• Cycle-friendly handrails: Inward-projecting top rails keep cyclists’ bodies and bicycles clear of fencing and prevent entanglement.
• BAL 40 bushfire rating: Allows safe use in high fire-risk areas without compromising safety.
• Preserved aesthetics: FRP walkway grating offers concealed visual integration. Custom mesh sizing and colours can match trail aesthetics – and don’t degrade into visual eyesores like chicken wire over timber. Check out the Rail Trail Connections article to see an FRP rail trail in action.
• Off-road safety: FRP grating sheets are a simple safety solution for mountain bike riders. FRP grating integrates with FRP structural profiles to bridge streams, rocky areas or other complex terrain. It can also be laid in direct contact with the ground to manage dips or soft terrain, add structure and reduce erosion.

Shared-use compatibility

Terra Firma can tailor solutions precisely for cycle safety without over engineering. FRP grating can be customised by fire rating, strength, surface profile or grit level: low grit for barefoot beach paths, medium for shared-use rail trails, and high for industrial access. Our customisable FRP walkway is suitable for shared use trails and caters to:

• Pedestrians: FRP outdoor access structures with mini mesh or micro mesh are ideal for safe and stable footing, reducing tripping and slipping hazards.
• Horses: Micro mesh and Solid-top FRP grate plus Pultruded configurations prevent footing anxiety (horses dislike visible gaps beneath their feet)
• Emergency vehicles: Structures can be engineered to required load ratings.

This level of flexibility makes FRP ideal for regional councils managing large, shared-access corridors that must cater to both recreation and resilience.

Designed for challenging environments

Many cycle trails are not only in remote, but also in ecologically sensitive areas. Terra Firma’s FRP outdoor access structures are frequently used in isolated, rugged, or bushfire-prone areas where traditional materials fail.

For example, at Mt. Sturgeon in the Grampians, we manufactured and delivered a fire-resistant FRP walkway that could be airlifted into a remote, high-risk site – cut to size and ready to install, with no hot works required.

FRP is ideal for these locations because it’s:

• Lightweight: easier to transport in remote areas with fees and faster installs
• Durable: Resistant to rot, rust, corrosion and UV – offering an average working life of 25 years (vs. 8 for timber).
• Sustainable: No leaching of chemicals, making it safe for wetlands, rivers and bushland.
• Safe to install: FRP can be cut with handheld tools on-site – no welding, no sparks, no fire risk.

That makes it the ideal fit for trails through wetlands, conservation parks, and coastal zones where resilience, speed and sustainability are all non-negotiable.

Fast to install, built to last

Whether it’s a quick trail upgrade or a full bridge installation, Terra Firma offers FRP access solutions tailored to the needs of councils and park authorities. For simple applications, FRP sheets can be laid directly onto rough terrain to stabilise the path and prevent erosion – making them ideal for minimally invasive upgrades. For more complex requirements, our FRP systems can bridge gaps, adapt to uneven terrain, or even form complete walkway structures including handrails and substructure.

These solutions are compatible with both new builds and retrofits. Councils can choose full sheets or request pre-cut panels, depending on what best suits their project scale and available labour. At Jerringot Wetlands, for example, a wide, curved FRP walkway was pre-cut for rapid installation in a sensitive ecological zone, keeping impact low while delivering high-performance access.

Future-ready infrastructure

Councils and parks teams across Australia are increasingly recognising the long-term value of FRP in rail trail infrastructure. Its combination of safety, durability, and environmental resilience makes it a natural fit for cycle paths, rail trails, and shared-use walkways. As budgets tighten and maintenance demands grow, FRP emerges as a cost-effective solution – without compromising on performance or aesthetics.

At Terra Firma, we don’t just supply FRP walkway components – we deliver complete, customisable from design to installation solutions that support every stage of your project. Contact us today for expert guidance tailored to your project’s unique requirements.