Rec and Sports

Bike Riding In Sydney Australia

The city of Sydney, Australia is serious about cycling. Serious enough so that in 2007, it implemented a ten year action plan that has as its goal to make cycling an attractive form of transportation around the city. Sydney promotes cycling as an alternative to walking and to public transportation, but mostly as a way to get people out of their cars. The plan encompasses infrastructure changes to accommodate cyclists in the city by making it safer and more convenient. Since these are the two main concerns people voice about using a bicycle as transportation, the program shows great promise by focusing on eliminating or at least minimizing these obstacles.

Commuting to work, getting around town or just cruising for fun are just a few of the reasons for this plan of action. Getting people out of their cars and on their bikes would reduce traffic and promote a healthier environment. Providing a cyclist friendly atmosphere is the goal and will start in a few areas, and later spread into the city. The main concern of people who bike (or are thinking about cycling) is always motor vehicles. No matter who is at fault when a car and a bike wreck, the cyclist will always end up with the short end of the stick. Therefore, Sydney’s government is making safety for cyclists a #1 priority and a central portion of their newest plan of action.

Getting people pumped up about biking through advertising this new plan and the drastically improved conditions for cyclists is how the government plans to spread the word. They are hoping by the year 2016 to take the now two percent of people who cycle everyday up to ten percent. The short trippers, who ride briefly but daily, are expected to increase to twenty percent. Setting attainable goals will help Sydney reduce traffic and keep costs lower for everyone in Sydney, making it a safer and healthier city to live in.

This plan will also help those who continue to drive as well by improving health and saving money. By reducing the amount of traffic and congestion in the city, road repairs and pricey construction will slow immediately, helping to cut costs for those who live there. Public transportation will also be affected in that crowding will be reduced and this reduction in travel will help to save money. Cutting healthcare and getting citizens healthy by reducing green house gas and pollution are all part of the big picture when considering this plan.

Some cities “plan of action” included painting lines on the road and that’s all, Sydney will actually begin building separate bike lanes, away from traffic, to keep cyclists safe. Some other areas will create lanes that are shared by pedestrians and bikers, still away from cars and out of danger. This safety and separation will likely encourage more and more cyclists, reassuring them that it is safe to ride.

The city of Sydney has done their research and learned the best ways to handle the biking situation is to raise the interest level in population groups not well represented among bikers at present.A large majority of cyclists in Australia are males whose ages are 18-40. In fact males aged 18-34 make up more than eighty percent of all Australian bikers. So when the officials want to encourage the sport of biking they have their sights set firmly on women and older citizens who are the least likely to be biking at the present time. These are also the population groups most concerned with cars and safety issues.

The top reasons for biking instead of driving are fun and staying healthy. These new and improved biking lanes help to reduce driving in cars and have encouraged people to get on their bikes, reducing traffic, just as the city thought.

There are countless trails that hold gorgeous landscapes and scenery as bikers commute to and from work. Many books have recently been released giving the options of which trails to take and what rides lead you down the best way to see Sydney. Olympic Park contains kid friendly facilities and BMX tracks making it one of the most popular areas.

Biker events have drawn the cyclists of Sydney as well. The Ride to Work Day in October has become extremely popular, beginning with a delicious breakfast and gorgeous ride to the office. This yearly event helps to prove that you can commute to work via bike regularly without the issue of safety or fear of being late. With events and activities getting people out of their cars and onto their bikes, there’s no doubt that Sydney will become one of the healthiest cities in the world.

Before you start bike riding around Sydney, make sure you check Bevan’s’ excellent free report on bike shops in sydney, and cycling in Sydney