The Angry Bull-led recovery in Tenterfield Tenterfield, a small Northern NSW town, recently hosted Gravel n Granite, which attracted over 800 mountain bike riders. The event, organized by the local mountain bike club, was a springboard for announcing the development of a 174km trail. Possibly the largest of its kind in Australia! Angry Bull Trails,…
And resilient communities We have written about how rail trails support regional communities. They do so by connecting people and towns, and providing an income stream through tourism which builds economic resilience. Strong communities are better able to help each other during tough times and benefit from the good. As the Northern Rivers continue to…
Car-dominated streets damage kids In an excellent Conversation article, Mischa Ketchell discusses the decline of cities as spaces for children and the joyous ‘Kidical Mass’ community pushback. Across Europe, streets are being reclaimed for a day as community spaces for walking and cycling. This in turn is persuading local governments and planners to reassess streets for…
Blaming pedestrian behaviour for crashes ignores evidence and decades of bad planning. When it comes to collisions between vulnerable road users and motor vehicles, Australian traffic laws are fatally flawed. Speed is the culprit, not phone use by pedestrians. But firstly, to clarify, a vulnerable road user (VRU) is anyone not in a car, bus…
As cities worldwide set ambitious targets for reaching Net Zero, many are turning to electric vehicles (EVs) to help reduce emissions in time. There is a compelling case for e-bike subsidies. Evidence that cycling is ten times more important than EVs for decarbonising the network is riveting. In addition, investing in bicycle infrastructure is crucial…
Investing in cycling and bike-friendly infrastructure can deliver significant economic advantages that benefit entire communities. The economic impact of cycling Cycling delivers far-reaching economic benefits, with countries worldwide reaping the rewards of increased bike use. In Copenhagen, every mile cycled generates approximately 41 cents in social benefits for the community, while each mile driven imposes…
New findings on tail pipe and tyre dust emissions have health experts extremely worried Exhaust fumes and tyre wear particles contribute significantly higher levels of air pollution than previously thought. Patrick Hatch’s article on The Hidden Road Toll points to studies showing that “rates of heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, diabetes, childhood asthma and early…
Bicycle NSW is excited to announce two Better Streets events happening this weekend in Wollongong and Sydney. These events bring together communities, advocacy groups, and politicians to promote safe and healthy streets that are accessible to everyone. A Better Street has space for people to linger and participate in community life. Traffic is slow and…
Do you spend 10% or more of your disposable income on transport? Living in the country, with pot-holed roads and long-distance travel, or locked into a car finance scheme may find you spending in excess of 20%. Daily life on Australia’s arterial roads. Terrible for all roads users but particularly for anyone walking or cycling.…
Safety means safe from gender and traffic-based violence In 2015, Parramatta-based bicycle entrepreneur, Charlene Bordley, saw the need for an inclusive women’s bicycle group and found a way to combine her passion for bike riding and women’s safety. Starting with a core group of 10 mothers at Hilltop Road Public School, with support from Bicycle…