Protected cycleways that separate bike riders from both vehicles and pedestrians are gold standard facilities. Great examples of these cycleways have been built over the last 15 years in NSW. Many local governments are planning more projects. They are the best solution for busy roads with fast traffic. But it is very difficult to make…
Nicolle Kuppens is an urban planner who lives on Sydney’s lower north shore and loves riding bikes. Two years ago, Nicolle and her young family moved back to Australia after a decade in the Netherlands. And she is really missing the ease of getting around by bike! When cycling is part of the fabric of…
Bicycle NSW and Better Streets have collaborated to push the NSW Labor Government to fund transformational change to our transport system. Our letter to the Premier is here Please amplify our call to action by writing to your elected politicians. Let them know that it will take 320 years to achieve healthy, equitable streets at…
80 years’ investment in streets for cars, not people, is having a profound impact on our health But after four decades we have seen a total reversal. Preventable diseases due to lifestyle ie diet and physical inactivity have eclipsed all other health factors If diabetes continues to rise at the current rates, up to 3…
Parents across NSW are calling for safer roads around schools to enable active transport. Making walking and cycling a priority has many benefits. Residential streets in Australian towns and cities are blighted by narrow uneven footpaths (or no footpaths at all), dangerous intersections, steep kerb cuts (where they exist!), a lack of crossings and 50km/h…
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…
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…
If you see a bicycle rider going too fast on a shared path, tell them to slow down! This excellent video from Northern Beaches Council alerts different path users to their responsibility to share the path safely. https://youtu.be/DrevqKZzGvU (Source: Northern Beaches Council). For more information about issues with shared paths go to Shared paths –…
National Ride2School Day is this Friday 22 March and is a good reminder of some of the important considerations when riding to and from school. Being a safe rider can help: decrease traffic and noise pollution decrease our carbon footprint through a reduction in carbon emissions reduction in energy use encourage physical activity provides a…
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.…