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Cycling in Australia

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Cycling in Australia is a common form of transport, recreation and sport. Many Australians ride regularly because it improves their health and is a convenient and fast way to get to their destination.[1]: 35 

In 2020, 1.7 million bicycles were sold in Australia.[2] As of 2023, around 15% of Australians rode a bicycle (including e-bicycles) in the previous week and 36.7% over the previous year.[3] Australians no longer only ride for recreation - bicycle commuting is on the rise around Australia, with an increase in every state where counts took place.[4] It is estimated that 20% of shared bike trips are replacing car travel.[5] Across Australia, over one-third of riders used a bike for transport[6]: 17  and various governments around Australia are encouraging more people to start riding. The New South Wales Government wants walking and bike riding to be the preferred way to make short trips and a viable, safe and efficient option for longer trips,[7] and the Department of Transport (Victoria) recognises that active travel is the preferred choice for short trips.[8]

Across Australia, 19% of people are cautious or confident bike riders. A further 42% of people are interested - do not currently ride but would like to.[6]: 21  In NSW, 48% of people are "interested" in cycling but are "concerned" about safety.[9] Cycling is a safer method of transport than driving.[10] Cycling is less popular in Australia than in Europe, however cyclists make up one in forty road deaths and one in seven serious injuries.[11]

Australia spends $714 per person on roads every year, and 90 cents goes to walking, wheeling and cycling.[12] In NSW, the funding for active transport is approximately 0.2% of the total transport spend.[13] The United Nations recommends nations spend 20% of their transport budgets on walking and cycling infrastructure.[14] The NSW Government "Support in principle" funding alignment with the United Nations recommendation.[15] The NSW government has estimated every kilometre cycled benefits the economy by $4.10.[12] On average in Queensland, every $1 invested in cycling infrastructure returns $5 in benefits.[16][17]

In areas with more investment in safe cycling infrastructure, cycling is becoming a mainstream mode of transport.[18] In the City of Sydney, over one quarter of residents surveyed cycled within the last month.[1] Twice-yearly counts at 68 intersections show a 15% increase in people riding year-on-year and a 168% increase since 2010.[19] From 2019 to April 2024, there were more than 2.9 million share bike trips taken in the City of Sydney.[20] In 2024, there were over 1.94 million share bike trips in the City of Sydney area.[21]

History

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A goldminer pictured after a 1000-mile (1,600-kilometre) round trip to the Mt Rugged Gold Rush in 1895

Bicycles arrived in Australia in 1860s, and the sport was quickly adopted with touring and racing clubs forming.[22]

By the 1890s cycling was accessible to the middle class, and long-distance cycle travelling was a fact of life for many sheep shearers and other agricultural labourers with migratory work.[23] The bicycle and swag travelled much of Australia on dusty dirt tracks, long before the automobile made its appearance. In the main, however, long-distance cycling was a sport of endurance or was done out of necessity.

At the same time, racing became quite popular with the Austral Wheel Race beginning in 1887, and leading to the development of the Malvern Star cycling brand.[24] The first Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic, a long-distance event, was held in October 1895, eight years before the first Tour de France.

Between 1990 and 1992 Australia become the first country to make wearing helmets compulsory, after a number of studies indicated that they reduced head injuries.[25] After their introduction, the overall number of riders decreased, mostly due to a decline in children riding to school. This has not conclusively shown to be due to mandatory helmet laws and may have followed pre-existing trends dating from the 1970s.[26][27][28]

Laws

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Cycling participation in Australia in 2015[29]

Cyclists in every state are required to follow normal road rules, including using traffic lights correctly and observing give way and stop signs while riding on the road.

Cyclists in every state must wear helmets while in motion. In all states, cyclists must ride as close as practicable to the left side of the road when on a single lane road, however, cyclists may use any lane and does not have to keep to the left on a multi-lane road. All states require only one passenger per bicycle unless the bicycle is designed otherwise.

Bike users in Western Australia and Tasmania must use both hand signals, while in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, and Northern Territory cyclists must signal when turning right but it's not compulsory when turning left.

Cyclist must have at least one hand on handle bars in Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland.

Cyclist may ride on standard footpaths in Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory. In Victoria cyclists can only ride on a footpath if they're under the age of 13 or supervising a child under 13, or have a disability which restrains them from being able to ride on the road.[30] In New South Wales cyclists can only ride on a footpath if they're under the age of 16 or supervising a child under 16. In Queensland cyclists can ride on any path as long as there isn't a sign stating otherwise.

Cyclists may ride in groups or bunches in all Australia States and territories, riding two abreast riders must be no more than 1.5 meters apart.[31]

Cyclists across Australia must follow the same rules as motor vehicle drivers in regards to using mobile phones and consuming alcohol.

Cyclist also need to use a bike light when riding at night in Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland.[32][33][34][35][36][37][38]

Types of cycling

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Recreational cycling

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See also: Category:Cycleways in Australia

Many Australians ride a bike for recreation or commuting. In 2023, 15% of Australians cycled at least weekly, 24% at least monthly and 37% at least yearly.[6] Of the Australians who had cycled in the past month, 81% had cycled for recreation.[6]

In 2024, there were 4.6 million trips, 42 million nights, and $6.0 billion in spend attributed to trips involving a cycling activity.[39]

The National Cycling Strategy was tasked with doubling the number of people cycling from 2011 to 2016, which was not achieved. Demographic changes, and decreasing numbers of riders within capital cities accounted for most of the decrease.[40] Some of the decrease within NSW has been blamed on increased cycling fines implemented in 2016.[41]

The NCS has found that cycling was the most common in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory during 2015. Victoria and Queensland have decreased in participation between 2011 and 2015.[40]

Doubling the number of bike users has the potential[vague] to increase the safety for all riders by helping to make drivers more aware of bicycles on the road,[dubious – discuss] and adding pressure to those who already cycle to obey the road rules.[dubious – discuss]

Cycling as a sport

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See also the categories Australian cyclists and Cycle racing in Australia

Australia hosts the Tour Down Under in January of every year; it is the first UCI World Tour event on the annual cycling calendar, and the only UCI World Tour in the southern hemisphere. Australians place strongly in cycling at the Olympic Games, UCI World Championships and other international events.

Australia has hosted the UCI Road World Championships, UCI Track Cycling World Championships and UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships. Most state capitals have an indoor velodrome.

Safety

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Fatality data

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In Australia, police report road fatalities to the State and Territory road safety authorities. The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) then catalogues this data in the Australian Road Deaths Database (ARDD).[42]

Cycling Fatalities in Australia
Year NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS NT ACT Australia Source
2012 7 7 10 3 3 1 1 1 33 [43]
2013 14 6 13 5 6 4 2 0 50 [43]
2014 11 10 9 4 9 0 1 1 45 [43]
2015 7 10 4 4 4 1 0 1 31 [43]
2016 5 8 8 5 3 0 0 0 29 [43]
2017 8 12 8 2 7 1 0 1 39 [43]
2018 9 7 5 7 5 1 0 1 35 [43]
2019 14 11 6 7 1 0 0 0 39 [43]
2020 13 13 7 2 5 0 1 0 41 [43]
2021 9 10 9 5 4 1 1 1 40 [43]

Fatalities in NSW

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The NSW Centre for Road Safety website publishes daily statistics on road fatalities, including cyclist fatalities. Monthly fatality reports and quarterly serious injury reports are also published.[44] Locations or causes of crashes are not published in permanent datasets for up to a year.[45]

As of November 2025, NSW Police press releases are deleted or disappear after some months, and daily NSW Centre for Road Safety reports are also removed daily. Press releases are republished by other news organisations. There have been attempts to collate press releases and daily reports[46] to avoid inaccurate reporting.[47]

Cycling organisations

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National bodies

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National sporting organisation

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Other national bodies

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State bodies

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Foundations

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  • Amy Gillett Foundation[56] – a charity to promote safe cycling in Australia[57]

Magazines

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  • Cyclist Australia/NZ Magazine – the thrill of the ride[58]
  • Treadlie Magazine[59] – a magazine for bike lovers[60]
  • Bicycling Australia Magazine[61] – a cycling magazine[62]

Awards

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The Australian Bicycling Achievement Awards, an initiative of the Cycling Promotion Fund, have been held annually since 2002.[63]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Vanessa Wright (July 2024). "City of Sydney Active Transport Survey 2024" (PDF). City of Sydney Council.
  2. ^ "Cycling contribution to Australian economy put at A$16.8 billion as bike sales ramp-up". 20 October 2021.
  3. ^ Sam Bolton (1 September 2023). "National Walking and Cycling Participation Survey 2023". Cycling and Walking Australia and New Zealand. Archived from the original on 23 September 2025.
  4. ^ "Bike counts show steady growth across Australia". Bicycle Network. 3 June 2024.
  5. ^ Catie McLeod (12 July 2025). "Catalyst for change or community menace? What's next for Australia's e-bike revolution". The Guardian.
  6. ^ a b c d "National Walking and Cycling Participation Survey" (PDF). Cycling and Walking Australia and New Zealand.
  7. ^ "Active Transport". Transport for NSW. Archived from the original on 3 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  8. ^ Safe Routes To Schools (August 2020). "Safe Routes to Schools Guide". VicRoads.
  9. ^ Scott Fitzgerald (2 July 2024). "Safer cycling infrastrucuture: Design and policy". iMove Australia.
  10. ^ Arnold, Tony (December 2014). "Cycling safety in Australia". Journal of the Australasian College of Road Safety. 25 No.4. doi:10.3316/informit.971644735370301. Archived from the original on 19 November 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  11. ^ Garrard, J (August 2010). "Cycling injuries in Australia: Road safety's blind spot?". Journal of the Australasian College of Road Safety. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  12. ^ a b Matthew Mclaughlin; Grant Ennis; Peter McCue (3 February 2025). "Australia spends $714 per person on roads every year – but just 90 cents goes to walking, wheeling and cycling". doi:10.64628/AA.ngahq3jum.
  13. ^ "NSW Labor promises to double active transport budget". Bicycle Network. 20 February 2023.
  14. ^ United Nations (20 October 2016). "Put 'people, not cars' first in transport systems, says UN environment chief".
  15. ^ NSW Government (May 2025). "Parliamentary Inquiry into the use of e-scooters, ebikes and related mobility options - Government Response" (PDF). p. 27. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Cycling investment in Queensland". Queensland Government Department of Transport and Main Roads.
  17. ^ "ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF BIKE RIDING". Bicycle NSW. 22 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Families flock to the bike routes of Sydney". Bicycle Network. 5 June 2024.
  19. ^ "Families saddle up and ride on Sydney's cycleways". City of Sydney Council. 5 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Share Bikes in the City of Sydney" (PDF). 24 June 2024.
  21. ^ Clover Moore (23 June 2025). "Regulation of E-Mobility Devices in NSW". City of Sydney Council.
  22. ^ National Museum of Australia. "National Museum of Australia – History". National Museum of Australia. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  23. ^ "On your bike: The history of cycling in Sydney – PHA NSW & ACT". 7 May 2018.
  24. ^ "History of cycling in Australia". Australian Geographic. 24 May 2016.
  25. ^ Curnow, W. J. "Bicycle Helmets: A Scientific Evaluation" in Anton De Smet (2008). Transportation Accident Analysis and Prevention (PDF). Commack, N.Y: Nova Science Publishers. ISBN 978-1-60456-288-0.
  26. ^ Garrard, Jan (17 October 2011). "Why aren't more kids cycling to school?". The Conversation.
  27. ^ http://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/fapi/datastream/unsworks:50591/bina856ed10-ec7b-48ad-aac8-a69c35d75384?view=true [bare URL PDF]
  28. ^ Robinson, D. L. (2006). "No clear evidence from countries that have enforced the wearing of helmets". BMJ. 332 (7543): 722.2–725. doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7543.722-a. PMC 1410838. PMID 16565131.
  29. ^ Munro, Cameron (July 2015). "National Cycling Participation Survey 2015". Australian Bicycle Council.
  30. ^ "Bicycle road rules". 28 July 2021.
  31. ^ "ROAD TRANSPORT (ROAD RULES) REGULATION 2017 – REG 151 Riding motorbike or bicycle alongside more than 1 other rider".
  32. ^ "Cycling in WA". Cycling in WA. Government of Western Australia. 5 November 2015. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  33. ^ "Centre for Road Safety". Staying Safe. Transport for NSW. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  34. ^ "Road Safety Advisory Council". Bike riders. The Department of State Growth. 20 October 2015. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  35. ^ "Cyclist road rules and safety". Cyclist road rules and safety. The Government of South Australia. 2016. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  36. ^ "Territory and Municipal Services". Road Rules. ACT Government. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  37. ^ "BicycleNT". NT road rules. BicycleNT. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  38. ^ "Victoria Law Foundation". Bike Law. Monkii. 11 March 2016. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  39. ^ "Cycling tourism in Australia". Australian Trade and Investment Commission. 2025. Archived from the original on 19 November 2025.
  40. ^ a b "National Cycling Participation Survey 2017" (PDF). National Cycling Strategy 2011-2016.
  41. ^ "In response to a year of increased cycling fines | Bicycle NSW". 7 August 2017.
  42. ^ "Bike rider fatality report 2001–2020" (PDF). Bicycle Network. March 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  43. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Road Trauma Australia 2021 statistical report" (PDF). Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics. 26 May 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  44. ^ NSW Centre for Road Safety. "Statistics". Transport for NSW.
  45. ^ "NSW Crash Data". TfNSW Open Data Hub and Developer Portal.
  46. ^ Jake Coppinger (11 November 2025). "List of pedestrian, cyclist and personal mobility device road deaths in NSW in 2025".
  47. ^ "Pedestrian Deaths (correction)". ABC News. 27 August 2025. Archived from the original on 2 November 2025.
  48. ^ Cycling Australia, Cycling Australia, Cycling Australia, archived from the original on 28 October 2013, retrieved 27 November 2013
  49. ^ Cycling Australia, About Cycling Australia, Cycling Australia, archived from the original on 27 November 2013
  50. ^ "Bicycle Network". Bicycle Network. 2016.
  51. ^ Bicycle Network (2016). "Bicycle Network". Bicycle Network.
  52. ^ "Home". Bicycle NSW.
  53. ^ "Home". Bicycle Queensland.
  54. ^ "Home". Bike SA.
  55. ^ "West Cycle – our history". NCLS Research. West Cycle. 28 February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  56. ^ Amy Gillett Foundation, Amy Gillett Foundation: Safe together, Amy Gillett Foundation, retrieved 27 November 2013
  57. ^ Amy Gillett Foundation, About AGF, Amy Gillett Foundation, archived from the original on 2 May 2013
  58. ^ Cyclist Magazine, Cyclist Magazine, Citrus Media, retrieved 20 November 2019
  59. ^ Treadlie Magazine, Treadlie magazine, Green Press P/L, retrieved 27 November 2013
  60. ^ Treadlie Magazine, About Us, Green Press P/L, archived from the original on 27 November 2013
  61. ^ Bicycling Australia Magazine, Bicycling Australia, Lake Wangary Publishing Co, retrieved 27 November 2013
  62. ^ Bicycling Australia Magazine, Welcome to Bicycling Australia, Lake Wangary Publishing Co, archived from the original on 23 August 2013
  63. ^ Australian Bicycling Achievement Awards, Australian Bicycling Achievement Awards booklets, Cycling Promotion Fund, archived from the original on 27 July 2013

References and further reading

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