Section 5: Active travel

A brief introduction of active travel at a non-technical level. This submission is not about the technical aspects of active travel, which is well documented in the ACT Active Travel Key Documents. Combined with Austroads Standards there is enough there to build a good network. We are not failing because of a lack of standards. Rather the problem lies elsewhere.

Section 4: Safety

This section provides data on the trends, risks, and costs of Canberra car culture, where vulnerable road users have ‘no place on our road’, and the young and the old are particularly at risk. They are disadvantaged not only due to cognitive (or physical) limitations but also due to the lack of options. Some of the best reasons for fixing active travel in Canberra are health, human equity, and safety.

Section 3: Cycling in the ACT

Section 3 is about the ACT and Australia, and three studies. Australia is a low cycling country. International studies provide a benchmark for good practice but it would be beyond the scope of this submission.

Section 2: Cycling network design

The UK is another low cycling country, like Australia. In 2020, it was jolted out of its slumber with COVID-19. Cycling is now being championed and sponsored at a national level. After many decades of slow change things are now agile. The change is illustrated by the way the UK Government now thinks and talks about cycling. When there is decisive change sponsorship, things can happen quickly.

Section 1: Breaking the car habit

This section outlines a two-pillar strategy to get the flywheel moving. Strategies are long term and this one is no exception. The first pillar involves changes to the planning system to permit cycling corridors to be reserved and preserved for the future construction of cycle highways. The second pillar is the culture change required for cycling to succeed in a deeply engrained car culture.

Submission Executive Summary

Submission to a standing committee of the ACT Legislative Assembly on the canberra.bike. Here is the executive summary.

Cycling in the doldrums: Hansard 23 June 2021

A strong political wind would push cycling forward in Canberra. The lack of political will has left cycling in the doldrums. ACT Transport’s paradigm lags behind best practice. A “one size fits all” approach fails to recognise that different modes of transport have different needs.

Black is black: Spot the human being on 2 wheels!

No matter what you might think – or tell yourself and others – you wear black, dark navy blue or dark grey and you will be very, very had to see! And, no, this is absolutely not about victim blaming! That would be much too easy. This is about many years of studying physiology, psychology, human factors, and neuropsychology.

Mount Taylor from Weston Creek Pond via Heysen Street

Mount Taylor is not all that far from Weston Creek Pond, but mostly uphill. We are rewarded at the top with the view. The route is via Heysen Street.

How far can you ride on an electric MTB?

Electric mountain bikes are remarkable. They provide remarkable performance and demand nothing more than average fitness from the rider. The experience riding electric bikes is extraordinary as the rider can be ordinary.