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.
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?
Cycling has a reputation for being a literal pain in the arse.
Tampere, Finland: The largest review yet of bike helmet use by 64,000 injured cyclists worldwide has found helmets reduce the chances of a serious head injury by nearly 70 per cent.
From the Sydney Morning Herald…..