A classical Australian way of cycling. It requires a huge multi-lane highway, bulldozed 'clean' to do a few rounds of fitness cycling.
Australia is set up for
automobile dependency. Cycling is done mostly
in groups of
plastic clad sweaty people hunched on sporty bikes. Fitness seems to be the main motivation. It is sport - like
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| Manly SUV on cycle path |
most things in Australia. The plastic accessories are necessary to not lose face, as one has to display that it is only a 'recreational' thing. Imagine one could think you are of 'lower status', not part of the
motorist community that hoards a garage full of fossil
fuel machines. The bike is basically a recreational gadget or a children's toy. Youth prefer to
hop around on
mountain bikes on delicate forest soil.
Once back in the SUV the motorist mindset despises non-motorised forms of mobility. The expectation is for a carpet to carpet delivery via
unobstructed roads - but fast.
Status and an absence of a cycling infrastructure combine to make cycling
deadly risky for people who wish to integrate a fossil-fuel-free form of mobility on an
everyday basis.
Leaders and motorists are in deep denial about the climate disruption delivering an uninhabitable planet. Some see the need to wean off fossil fuel addiction.
The Dutch Cycling Embassy is sharing their
know how with Australia. "We read about bike-related accidents, complaints about the lack of
cycle lanes, and road-rage aimed at cyclists. It is difficult to change
such prevalent ideas about infrastructure...Cycling has not yet fully infiltrated into Australian culture. "
