Cycling in Sydney Australia
Do we really want to increase cycling in Sydney?
I have been cycling since I was a kid, and it has been my main mode of transport for most of my life, excluding a few years break during uni (not sure why). I have always thought it was the best way to get from A to B, and as such have always wished that cycling was more common, like in the Netherlands for example.
Recently I have been thinking that maybe the current situation is actually preferable. I do still think that better driver education so that cyclists rights are respected is required. But other than that, I think the current situation where cycling is a fringe activity may actually be good.
There are a number of reasons I think this:
1. Less bicycle theft. There is no denying that bicycle theft in Sydney is far less of a problem compared to cities with high rates of cycling like Amsterdam, Portland, etc. I attribute this largely to the reduced demand for bicycles
2. Parking is easy. There is always a free pole and place to lock my bicycle. I think this is because there aren't many bicycles around. When I was in the netherlands in 2007, i found bicycle parking much more difficult.
3. Rules are not enforced. In the netherlands I got a fine (which never arrived in Australia thank goodness) for riding in an area where I wasn't supposed to be riding. There was a sign saying it was a pedestrian only area, written in dutch >:-| These sorts of rules just aren't enforced in Australia. I break a lot more rules (lets not get into a heated discussion about this bit if possible :-) ) compared to that netherlands tour, and I have never been fined. I think if cycling became more the norm rather than the exception, that rules would have to be enforced to keep things running smoothly.
4. There is no bicycle traffic to contend with. Cars are easy to overtake in peak hour. More bicycles would mean more traffic I think.
5. Taking bikes on trains out of peak hour is easy, because there aren't many others doing it.
6. At work I can bring my bike into the office. If everyone rode, there is no way that this could be possible. Same at the pub - i take the bike inside, but couldn't do it if others did.
There are probably a few other reasons that I haven't thought of too.
What do you guys think? I'm just curious.
Recently I have been thinking that maybe the current situation is actually preferable. I do still think that better driver education so that cyclists rights are respected is required. But other than that, I think the current situation where cycling is a fringe activity may actually be good.
There are a number of reasons I think this:
1. Less bicycle theft. There is no denying that bicycle theft in Sydney is far less of a problem compared to cities with high rates of cycling like Amsterdam, Portland, etc. I attribute this largely to the reduced demand for bicycles
2. Parking is easy. There is always a free pole and place to lock my bicycle. I think this is because there aren't many bicycles around. When I was in the netherlands in 2007, i found bicycle parking much more difficult.
3. Rules are not enforced. In the netherlands I got a fine (which never arrived in Australia thank goodness) for riding in an area where I wasn't supposed to be riding. There was a sign saying it was a pedestrian only area, written in dutch >:-| These sorts of rules just aren't enforced in Australia. I break a lot more rules (lets not get into a heated discussion about this bit if possible :-) ) compared to that netherlands tour, and I have never been fined. I think if cycling became more the norm rather than the exception, that rules would have to be enforced to keep things running smoothly.
4. There is no bicycle traffic to contend with. Cars are easy to overtake in peak hour. More bicycles would mean more traffic I think.
5. Taking bikes on trains out of peak hour is easy, because there aren't many others doing it.
6. At work I can bring my bike into the office. If everyone rode, there is no way that this could be possible. Same at the pub - i take the bike inside, but couldn't do it if others did.
There are probably a few other reasons that I haven't thought of too.
What do you guys think? I'm just curious.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Santamaria on -
that's probably true. i cycle for selfish reasons :-)
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Permalink Reply by Freewheelin' Franklin on -
I've been thinking exactly the same thing for ages.
Status quo is good for me.
Yep it's selfish.
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Permalink Reply by PJ on -
The more riders, the more funding for infrastructure.
The thing that annoys me the most,currently, are the steps to the SHB in North Sydney.
The thing that scares me the most is getting through Millar Street and the Pacific hwy.
Hopefully with more riders they will fix these things up with either the HarbourLink or something else.
Also the more riders, the healthier the nation, reducing the obesity health cost.
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Permalink Reply by David Taylor on -
The down side of this of course is if all the guys get fit there will be more competition !!!!
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Santamaria on
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Damn! I should have had that as a major point to my original posting! :-)
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Permalink Reply by weiyun on -
Take a ride in Centennial Park on Sat mornings. By 8am, the places is crowded with cyclists riding the loop and often it's 6-7 riders across as everyone tries to pass everyone with bunches mixed in the middle. Soon we'll need to have entry tickets to get on the loop with session times like an ice rink. Or get up even earlier for some quiet fast loops. ;)
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Permalink Reply by ChrisH on -
Easy solution: avoid Centennial Park. There's a whole city to ride in. I've never understood the appeal of riding round and round CP. But, if people in their hundreds want to strap their bikes to their cars, go there, and ride round and round, strap them back on and go home -- good on 'em. Less bike traffic on other roads.
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Permalink Reply by David Taylor on
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I suspect most of the issues you bring up are counterbalanced by increased lobbying power, facilities and perception of value. To some degree it is always true that a small group can get away with things that are more tightly controlled when done on mass, but I really think that is a small price to pay for safety and facilities.
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Permalink Reply by Llewster on -
I have thought about this too - riding to and from Uni - there has been a huge increase in cyclists on my route. And its becoming rather packed and dangerous on the very narrow share paths with lack of lighting and uneven surfaces - massive puddles in the rain etc - traffic jams of bikes at the lights etc. I just can't see the council doing anything to improve it.
So being selfish - i actually don't want there to be more cyclists either - unless we can have an effect in making things safer - i liked how one bike rider got there act together and formed a campaign to change the light sequence on my route (which works amazingly now). Maybe more things like this can be done to help fix other problems on the same route.
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Permalink Reply by Bennelong Bicyclist on -
There is no "we" - not all cyclists think alike - some prefer cycling to be a quirky, minority activity, while others (like me) want to see it mainstreamed. And then there is the dichotomy between utility cycling and cycle sport - some have feet in both camps (or rather, feet clipped into both pedals), but many (like me) don't.
It is also worth remembering that for every current cyclist, there are ten or twenty potential cyclists, who would ride if the infrastructure and environment for cycling (including the social environment) were more favourable.
Thus it doesn't really matter whether cyclists want cycling to retain an air of exclusivity or not, because the roads, and the cycle paths etc, are there to share - both with existing cyclists, and with the hordes of would-be cyclists who will take up riding in teh next few years, whether existing cyclists like it or not.
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Santamaria on
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interesting reply. why do you want to see it mainstreamed?
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