Cycling has not yet fully infiltrated into Australian culture.

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

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. "

Segregated Cycle Superhighways for London and Fahrradstraßen for Cars in Berlin

London is getting a segregated cycle superhighway. "Under consideration is a series of new or upgraded bike lanes, many of them based on the principle of fully segregating cyclists from motor traffic for the first time." Guardian and Dezeen

London Cycling Design Standards, pdf

Images of a typical low-speed street Fahrradstraße/ bicycle boulevard in Berlin. Linienstraße is fully taken by cars, despite the aim of a Fahrradstraße, that it should discourage motor vehicle traffic.

Why don't we convert more roads into bicycle paths?

Why don't we convert more roads into bicycle paths?

One less car

Space gobbling private combustion machines pollute cities. Free public transport and driving restrictions for (inner) cities are a must to keep them habitable.

The more cylists, the less accidents OECD

Safety in numbers
The more bikes are around, the less the risk for an accident. To provide safety for cyclist, cities should provide a sufficient bicycle infrastructure. This 2013 OECD reports on "Trends relating to fatalities, injuries and crash rates are presented alongside international data on levels of cycling."

Cycling, Health and Safety, Analysis of international trends in bicycle use and cyclist safety
DOI:10.1787/9789282105955-4-en

In good cities one can cycle to work and education without stress. It appears 'normal' to go to the movies (Babylon) or an ADK concert/ exhibition at the Brandenburg Gate by bike.

The car door is potentially a deadly weapon

Alberto Paulon, 25, was knocked to the road when a person in a parked car opened their door, and he was then hit by a passing truck in Melbourne. (source) (video)

Paulon was riding to work. The 'accident' happend in an area where one in ten residents regularly ride to work. (source)

"Car drivers and passengers need to recognise that the car door is potentially a deadly weapon and was in this situation

Victoria Police issued 180 dooring notices in the past 12 months. The fine is $369." (source)

Cyclist groups are pushing for government-backed safety awareness campaigns (source)



In Paul Virilio's dromology there is no 'accident' or even 'incident', there is only an integral accident. The accident is inherent in the set up of the technology and its (fossil fuel) culture.

Paul Virilio: Der eigentliche Unfall. Wien: Passagen 2009, Allem Anfang wohnt ein Unfall inne Buchrezension

see also
Cyclist killed, law breached, driver not charged

Update:
Eliminating the risk of "Dooring": Good cycle infrastructure design keeps cyclists out of the door zone and saves lives, A view from the cyclepath

Bikes for transportation - easy & fast velos

In Sydney, Manly families arrive with their SUVs, unpack the mostly dysfunctional bikes onto pedestrian paths and wonder why it is no fun to cycle. The other version of bike arrives (mostly) on top of the car. The mountain-bike riders are fully clad in plastic uniform, seeking a free gym.

All have in common that it is terribly un-chic to have a bike rack at the back or a basket at the front to carry any goods. People might think, they can not afford a car! That's what the suv is for, driven to the next mall/super-market it is filled with all the bulging plastic bags and driven home, around the corner to bland-burbia. There are many spare 'exercise-bikes' standing around in garages.

In Berlin it seemes normal to take the kids out on a velo-cycle. Do the shopping and carry loads on bikes. A lot of places/shops provide bike racks right in front of their businesses. Businesses deliver on cargo bikes. In Sydney they need a rocket to deliver a bit of dough wrapped in cardboard.

"Amazingly, only about 40 percent of Copenhageners own cars, even though this is the capital city of one of the richest countries in the world. Sure, vehicles are taxed heavily but the reason is simply because we have the infrastructure in place for bicycles and we have a rather good public transport system.
Even 50 percent of the citizens of Berlin do not own a vehicle, for the same reasons. Fifty eight percent of Copenhageners, when polled, say that they ride their bike because it is easy and fast. Only one percent say they do in order to help the environment." LA Times 0908 More on velo bikes there!

Images: Berlin Mitte velos