The Long Road to Bike-friendly Australia

May 24, 2026cycling, Health, Planningcycling, government, health, planning

Cyclists in the city State governments and local councils have a strategy to increase participation in walking and cycling activities – referred to by planners as “active transport”. Doing so would improve citizens’ health and air quality, reduce emissions and traffic congestion, and increase accessibility and liveability, the strategies say.

Yet cycling participation rates remain relatively stagnant in Australia, barely shifting in the past decade. Some experts argue cycling has more scope to grow than walking because of the amount of short daily trips many people take within cycling distance of their house or as part of shared trips with public transport. While there are recent reports of surging e-bike sales as fuel prices soar, it seems that a widespread bike riding culture remains elusive.

Read the full story at the ABC >>>

Report a Cycling Hazard

March 28, 2026cycling, Health, Safetyhealth, safety

Samp Send Solve Have you encountered an unsafe cycling environment – a damaged cycleway path, or a tree branch blocking a path? Or maybe a dangerous bollard, or a safety sign that requires maintenance? Or any other hazard that could contribute to a cycling accident?

Rather than just riding on past the potential hazard, Kiama BUG is encouraging all members to use the Snap Send Solve app to report the safety hazard to our local councils.

Be sure to have the Snap Send Solve app installed on your phone.

Stop safely near the hazard;
Snap a photo of the safety hazard;
Send a report on the spot. No frustrating forms or phone queues;
The app automatically recognises your location and sends your report with a photo to the responsible authority for review. And to hopefully Solve).

Learn more, and Get the app >>>

eBike Regulation Changes Coming to NSW

March 28, 2026regulation, Safetye-bike, Fat Bikes, regulations, safety

eBike on one wheel The NSW government has announced “measured and staged reforms aimed at improving safety for riders, pedestrians and the wider community”.

These changes include:

A power output enforcement has been introduced from this month, while a minimum age requirement for riders is also currently being explored.

e-bikes must now meet the EU standard (EN 15194), so they behave like a bicycle rather than a motorbike.

This means e-bikes must now have a maximum power output of 250 watts, and pedal assistance has to cut out at 25km/h.

Additionally, no non-pedalling assistance (with a manual throttle) can be provided above 6km/h.

The government says the new standards also includes battery, electrical, and fire-safety requirements, as well as anti-tampering protections to prevent the alteration of power or speed limiting software.

e-Rideables Crackdown in WA

January 20, 2026cycling, Health, regulation, Safetycycling, Fat Bikes, regulations, safety

Teenagers on a fat bike In the lead up to Christmas 2025, the NSW government announced a number of regulatory changes to the sale of e-Bikes, including reduced motor size, maximum top boosted speeds, and the application of throttles. This was in addition to an announcement of revised Federal import restrictions made earlier in the year.

The NSW Government is yet to announce how the regulations will be enforced in NSW.

However, Western Australia appears to be taking an aggressive approach to enforcement, with WA Police urging parents to closely monitor their children’s use of e-rideables, after an operation in Perth saw dozens of juveniles charged and multiple electric scooters and off-road bikes seized and destroyed.

Operation Moorhead was launched in response to community concern about dangerous and anti-social riding behaviour.

Read more at ABC News >>>

KBUG Autumn Cycling Tour 2026

January 12, 2026Kiama BUG, Tourtouring, tours, trips

Cycling in Autumn This year’s Kiama BUG Autumn Cycling Tour is heading west to visit the city of Orange, during the week commencing Monday 9th March 2026

There will be three days of riding….

Tuesday 10th March
Wednesday 11th March
Thursday 12th March

Latest Information

Organisation

Our base for the trip will be the Colour City Caravan Park in Orange. Each ride will start from the Park.

We will be basing our rides around the ride routes listed on the Ride Orange website.

These rides will mostly be on public roads, on surfaces suitable for all types of bikes.

More specific information about each of our daily rides is available in the Orange Tour Information Doc below.

Participating riders will need to organise their own accommodation, staying in the area from Monday 9th March, to be ready to roll on the Tuesday morning, when we will be leaving the Colour City Caravan Park at 8:00 am.

If booking online at the Colour City Caravan Park, make a note that you will be staying with the Kiama Cycling Group.

Travel time from Kiama to Orange is around a 4-5 hours, via either the southern Goulburn/Crookwell/Blaney route, or the northern Campbelltown/Katoomba/Blue Mountains route.

To assist in the organisation for the trip, please register at the link below, before Friday 27th February.

Two Bugs on Bikes – Kiama Library

November 10, 2025Kiama BUG

This event at Kiama Library will be of interest to many Kiama BUG members…

Two bugs in Africa Kiama Library is hosting an evening with Jacqui Webster, sharing the story about her travel memoir, Two Bugs on Bikes: Our middle-aged gap year cycling across Europe and Africa.

Jacqui and Joe will share some of the highlights from their experiences of cycling 18,000 kilometres through 30 countries across Europe and Africa – braving bears in Bulgaria, conquering mountain passes in Slovenia, taking bold leaps of faith in Türkiye, and crossing rivers, traversing deserts, and dodging wild animals across the African continent.

Through it all, Jacqui and Joe forge connections with people from all walks of life, and confront the harsh realities of people’s lives in the face of increasing food insecurity compounded by climate change. It’s a trial of resilience, forcing them to confront their futures.

A talk not to be missed.

Books available for signing and purchase.

Where: Kiama Library
When: Tuesday 25th November | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Booking: Register online or call 02 4233 1133.
Cost: FREE

Visit Kiama Library website>>>

KBUG 2025 Christmas Do

November 9, 2025Kiama BUG

Jai santa cycle It’s going to be a Kiama BUG kinda Christmas….

Where: Oak Flats Bowling Club
When: Wednesday 10th December, from 6:00 pm.
Cost: $20 per person
Menu: Pizzas – a variety will be provided buffet style and serve yourself. (Gluten free and vegetarian options will be available.)
Drinks: From the bar

There are two steps to follow if you will be attending the 2025 Christmas get together….

Step 1 – Transfer $20 pp to the Kiama BUG bank account….

Account name: Kiama Bicycle User Group Inc
BSB: 032-689
Account No: 135138
‘To’ Description: Include your name, followed by the code CD25 (eg F Nurk CD25)

Step 2 – Let the caterers know you will be there….. Click/tap on the Kiama BUG Christmas wheel below to go to the RSVP form – before Monday 1st December. (If you are a late entry, no probs – just let someone know that you would like to be there and we will get it sorted – info@kiamabug.org.au is probably the best contact option.)

RSVP

New eBike Safety Laws to Impact Hire Businesses

August 15, 2025Kiama BUG

eBike hire operator As noted in a previous KBUG News post, new e-bike laws being introduced in NSW, aimed to curb the fire hazard caused by lithium-ion batteries, have been pushed back to February 1, 2026.

Many e-bike hire businesses across NSW say they will still be unable to afford compliance before the new date, and face closure.

The NSW government is being asked for different considerations for bike hire operators to help them replace bikes that do not meet the new standards.

Under NSW law, a hire is classed as a sale.

Unlike retailers who can sell non-certified stock before the February deadline, hire operators rely on the e-bike manufacturers to get the certification, or replace their fleets themselves.

Read more at ABC News >>>

NSW Govt pushes back e-Bike safety certification

August 15, 2025Kiama BUG

eBike parts safety NSW e-Bike product standards, introduced earlier this year, were to be a nationwide first to tackle the risk of lithium battery fires, applying to e-Bike sales and e-Bike hire, and micro-mobility products like e-scooters & skateboards.

Fines of up to $825,000 were meant to commence from August 1 for manufacturers and suppliers who did not have e-bike models and parts certified on time — including lithium-ion batteries or chargers.

Retailer 99 Bikes began clearing stock in preparation, while US manufacturer Trek said it would be forced to withdraw from sales in NSW in order to comply with the original date.

After some pressure, the NSW government quietly announced last week the cut-off was postponed until next February.

Read more at ABC News >>>