Early in the pandemic, when there was much less traffic on the roads, people took to their bikes. But since then, fewer people are cycling, with rates now lower than in 2011.

Two-thirds of people want more transport funding to go into walking, cycling and public transport.

The decline in cycling probably shouldn’t surprise us.

In the past 40 years, the percentage of children who walk or ride to school has dropped from 75% to 25%. Furthermore, cycling receives only about 2% of transport budgets.

As well as the three transport priorities, we can of course take many more actions that would help increase walking and cycling.

These measures include: boosting housing density, beautifying our neighbourhoods, programs to build people’s confidence and skills to walk and cycle, such as beginners bike tours, and more frequent public transport.

  • shirroEnglish
    7·
    10 months ago

    I saw several older people around town take up cycling once the law was changed to allow adults to cycle on footpaths. They change between surface based on their capabilities and perceived safety as everyone should. Look out for yourself first and worry about obeying laws designed to kill people second. Cycling on paths has its merits for all ages though it can still be dangerous due to driveways etc. The commonwealth should force universal adoption to bring the backward high road fatality states up to standard. Until then mass civil disobedience is the way.