Wanted: bike sales data
In Australia, we do not collect national data for bicycle sales. One of cycling’s challenges to gain legitimacy is the lack of data. Government requires data. Last year, a study was published estimating the size of the cycling industry in Australia. A great idea, but we require annual, ongoing reporting of bike sales. The German cycling industry does this through their peak body.
The evidence for bike sales in the ACT is anecdotal – obtained from visiting bike shops and talking to staff. Nevertheless, an impression can be gained of trends. Electric bikes are booming. Dual suspensions mountain bikes are extremely popular, however, before Christmas, 99Bikes chain were sold out – country wide.
“We have bikes, just not what people want to buy.”
99Bikes sales person, Christmas, 2021.
The COVID years have shown chronic supply issues of bikes and bike parts. The bike shops often contact wholesalers, just to find out that there is nothing available in Australia.
Good ideas that were never built
The Garden City Cycle Route was identified as a priority back in 2004 and added to the Ten Year Master Plan Trunk Cycling and Walking Path Infrastructure. The idea is not new and neglected for almost 20 years. Keep in mind that we have had a Labor government in the ACT Legislative Assembly since 20 October 2001.
2004 plan for bike paths parallel to Northbourne Ave and Barry Drive, enlargement of Figure E2 Proposed Cycle Lanes and Share Paths, Ten Year Master Plan Trunk Cycling and Walking Path Infrastructure, Roads ACT, 2004.
The Garden City Cycle Route would cover over five kilometres across the inner north, with cycle connections, travelling through the suburbs of Watson, Downer, Dickson, Ainslie, Braddon, and the City. The cycle path would include a mix of off-road shared paths and protected on-road cycle lane, and be in direct proximity to approximately 17,000 homes in the inner north corridor.
Labor pledges $5 million for northside bicycle paths, Newstate Media, 16 May 2022.
Where is it up to now?
The answer to how your favourite cycle infrastructure project is progressing. The data in this table is aggregated from many sources.
| Project | Last stage finished | When finished | Next stage | Begun | Expected completion date | What is after that | Priority completion date | First discussed |
| Sulwood Drive path | Feasibility study | 14 Apr 2021 | Detail design | yes | Budget Tender Construction | 2025 | 4/02/2003 | |
| Lake Ginninderra path | Feasibility study | 30 Nov 2021 | Detail design | no | Budget Tender Construction | Requires pedestrian bridge 2030s | ACT Election Oct 2020 | |
| Garden City Cycle Route | Framework | Dec 2018 | Feasibility study | Yes | June 2023 | Detail design Budget Tender Construction | 2026-2028 | 2004 |
| 5 m shared path on Commonwealth Bridge | Tender | 2022 | Detailed design | no | July 2023 | Construction | June 2025 | 2017 |
Molonglo Group Centre Concept Plan 2022 changes
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