Bicycle Transport

1.5 Billion trips annually through walking and bicycle transport 

Bicycle riders know that the most intimate way to discover NSW is by experiencing it on foot or by bicycle. In New South Wales, approximately 1.5 billion trips are made yearly through walking and bicycle transport. Yet, most trips are still undertaken in cars, leading to well-known problems such as air pollution, congestion, poor health, inactivity, urban heat islands, and social inequality.

Sadly, decades of car-focused urban planning have cast a shadow over our legacy of active transportation.

Fabulous space for active transport on the Goods Line in Sydney.  (Source: Destination NSW)

NSW Active Transport Strategy

The NSW Active Transport Strategy seeks to reverse this history, through the ambitious objective to double the number of walking and cycling trips within the next two decades.

Bicycle NSW participated in the development of the Active Transport Strategy.

It is pleasing to see that the final document has included our suggestions.

Active transport infrastructure will require different approaches across urban, suburban, regional, rural and remote NSW (Source: TfNSW)

NSW has growing bicycle infrastructure to benefit riders from 8 to 80 years of age. The government's investment in cycleways and shared paths has made it safer and much easier for bicycle users to traverse urban areas and beyond. Bicycle transport is assisted by convenient riding apps such as the Cycleway Finder. This resource assists in locating connected cycleways across Sydney and NSW, helping bicycle users find routes that match their skill level and criteria.  Bicycle NSW continues to work every day to increase and enhance bicycle infrastructure across NSW.

With so many places to ride across NSW finding just the right route can be tricky. As the peak body for bicycle transport in NSW, Bicycle NSW wanted to make the discovery of new rides simpler.  We have collected ride routes into a statewide map, that we hope will inspire every rider to check it out. Each route includes a route map, description, distance, elevation, surface, traffic levels, difficulty level, and handy facilities.

Bicycle NSW collected these rides with the invaluable help of Bicycle User Groups (BUGS), riding enthusiasts and local councils.

In Sydney, the city's commitment to bicycle transport is seen through projects like the Bourke Street and Wilson Street cycleways, which provide safe and direct cycle paths for both commuters and recreational bicycle riders. Regional areas like Newcastle and Wollongong have also supported cycling, with dedicated paths embracing the beauty of NSW's coastline and hinterland.

 Policies and Regulations

The NSW Government with the help of advocacy groups like Bicycle NSW has implemented a range of policies to support bicycle transport. Road rules for bicycle users are provided, ensuring safety for both bicycle riders and other road users. Every person using bicycle transport is encouraged to study these road rules, including helmet needs, hand signals and, guidelines for sharing the road.  Bicycle NSW continues to discuss updates and refinements to the current rules to ensure easier accessibility and fairness for all bicycle riders.

Transport for NSW is a great resource for information on bicycle riding, including everything a rider needs to know about planning trips using the Trip Planner tool. Recommendations are provided for mixed-mode travel, using cycling with public transport.