Every year, more Australians – particularly in cities – are riding to work. More cyclists means fewer cars on the road, less congestion, less pollution and fewer health problems. But every year more people…
Cycling infrastructure gets people on their bikes, and the economic benefits are legion.
Janet Lackey
You might have heard that bike lanes are a waste of money. The Australian National Audit Office recently investigated the $40 million bike path scheme, announced in 2009 as part of the Federal Government…
Shane Perkins is just one of the Australians going for gold at the world championships.
AAP Image/David Crosling
Today in Melbourne the 2012 UCI Track Cycling World Championships get underway. Results from the five-day competition will determine which riders represent the various national track cycling teams at the…
Cycling in inner-city Sydney is up, thanks to better bike paths.
William Feuerman
Just outside my bedroom window a sliver of the Bourke Street Bicycle Route passes by; a slice of Sydney’s network of cycleways which is continuing to grow, branching, meandering and extending throughout…
A recent NZ study which claimed helmet laws caused 53 deaths a year is flawed.
Danielle Scott
An article published in the current edition of the New Zealand Medical Journal calls for the repeal of mandatory helmet laws (MHL) for cyclists because it claims the law caused 53 premature deaths per…
Have scientific standards negatively affected legal reasoning?
Alberto Martin/EPA
On the day the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) handed down its decision on the Alberto Contador doping case, Cadel Evans – Australian Tour de France champion – was quoted in the cycling press repeating…
He's in the spotlight for taking a drug that probably didn't even help his performance.
EPA/Alberto Martin
After a drawn-out and controversial case, Spanish professional cyclist Alberto Contador has been found guilty of doping and banned from the sport for two years.
Contador was stripped of his victories…
Legislation would have less real effect than better manners.
Looking Glass
There’s nothing like a “bikes vs drivers” story to whip commentators into a frenzy, and this week’s stoush between Shane Warne and a Melbourne cyclist is no exception. Whenever this issue comes up, there…
It's time to abandon Australia's "helmet experiment".
Tejvan Photos
There’s little doubt Australia would have healthier communities if more of us chose to cycle for transport, exercise or even relaxation. But mandatory helmet laws, introduced in Australia in the 1990s…
Before the motorcar "owned" the road, cyclists weren't seen as space-taking nuisance.
The ABC documentary Wide Open Road is a totally fascinating history of the car in Australia.
The characters who pioneered the car in the Australian bush 100 years ago are remarkable. The images of Australian…
It needs to be easier for cyclists to safely navigate our busy city streets.
H4NUM4N
CYCLING IN AUSTRALIA: Every year, dozens of cyclists are killed and thousands are injured while riding on Australian roads.
Statistics such as these, coupled with all-too-frequent horror stories about…
The velocipede created one of several cycling booms in Australia.
Harpers Weekly (Dec 18, 1868)
CYCLING IN AUSTRALIA: Forget about the wild scenes of public adulation for Cadel Evans following his Tour de France triumph. Forget about the widespread admiration for champion cyclist Anna Meares following…
Almost everyone can ride to work, and the health benefits are enormous.
california cowgirl1
CYCLING IN AUSTRALIA: More than half of Australia’s population can be classified as overweight and obese.
This statistic is alarming but some of the risk factors associated with obesity – such as poor…
Much science goes into the creation of the perfect bike frame.
Guillaume Horcajuelo/EPA
CYCLING IN AUSTRALIA: What are you paying for when you buy a new bike? Materials … sure. Design … without doubt. Manufacture … yes, of course.
But beyond that, what’s going on? Why can these objects…
Children are far more likely to cycle if their parents do.
carfreedays
CYCLING IN AUSTRALIA: In 1970, nearly all young people in Australia walked, cycled or took public transport to school or university (84%). Few travelled by car (16%). Fast forward to 2011 and most children…
Has Cadel Evans single-handedly lifted the Australian cycling industry?
AFP/Pascal Pavani
CYCLING IN AUSTRALIA: At a Sport Australia Hall of Fame function last night, Australian cyclist Cadel Evans was named winner of The Don award for the year’s most inspirational sporting moment.
In July…
Sydney has a lot to learn when it comes to cycling culture.
Mikael Colville Andersen
By Emma Barnes, University of Technology, Sydney and Nicole Gardner, University of Technology, Sydney
CYCLING IN AUSTRALIA: There are many reasons cycling should be actively encouraged in our cities: increasing fuel prices, obesity levels and environmental concerns, just to name a few.
Yet in comparison…
Tucking your pants into your socks mightn't be trendy, but cycling to work has a range of benefits.
AAP/Joe Castro
In July, Cadel Evans became the first Australian to win the most prestigious race in professional cycling: Le Tour de France. But what effect has Cadel’s victory had back home in Australia?
Are more Australians…
How do you improve road safety? Simple: make it riskier.
La Citta Vita
In August, Liberal MP Peter Phelps delivered a passionate rant in the NSW Upper House in which he called traffic lights a “Bolshevist menace”. He argued that traffic lights are on par with state repression…
European women love to get on their bikes.
kamshots/Flickr
Cycling for transport in Australia is characterised by several “missing” population groups: women, children, adolescents and older adults.
Women comprise about one-fifth of commuter cyclists in Australia…
Would-be cyclists are deterred by mandatory helmet laws.
Jase Wong
Public bicycle hire schemes have the potential to generate the well-known health benefits that come with increased exercise.
But while Australia has bravely adopted such schemes, mandatory helmet laws…
The time trial is critical to Evans' chances in the 2011 Tour de France.
AFP/Pascal Pavani
Following the 18th stage of the 2011 Tour de France last night, the top six riders are within less than four minutes of one another: Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck, Frank Schleck, Ivan Basso, Damian Cunego…
Climbing mountains is all about fighting gravity.
Nicolas Bouvy/EPA
This is the second in a two-part series about the science of Le Tour de France. Part one is here.
After 1,916 kilometres of the 2011 Tour de France we’re starting to see some of the favourites make their…
With more than 3,000 kilometres to cover, technique is only part of the equation.
Nicolas Bouvy/EPA
This weekend, approximately 200 of the world’s best cyclists will begin competing in one of the most challenging sporting events in the world: Le Tour de France.
Le Tour is widely regarded as the most…
Since mandatory bike helmet laws were introduced in 1991, researchers, cyclists and campaigners have debated the law’s role in cyclist safety and the desirability of bike riding.
A new analysis reveals…
If helmets protect against brain injury, why not wear them?
Convincing more Australians to get on a bike would undoubtedly deliver health improvements that come with reduced waistlines. But ditching bike helmets isn’t the answer.
The health benefits of more cycling…
The life expectancy gained from cycling to work outweighs the risks of ill health from pollution and injury.
With epidemics of diabetes and obesity threatening to bankrupt state health budgets, governments need to broaden their strategies to encourage physical activity.
Allowing cyclists to ride without a helmet…
