CONTACT US: Contact info
|
Citation |
Gillham C, Rissel CE. World Transp. Policy Pract. 2012; 18(3): 5-12. |
|
Copyright |
(Copyright © 2012, Eco-Logica) |
|
DOI |
unavailable |
PMID |
unavailable |
|
Abstract |
Cycling industry reports of significant bicycle sales in Australia suggest a boom in cycling participation. However, there are few systematic assessments of cycling in Australia allowing comparison over time. Two national surveys of cycling participation in Australia were examined. The earlier survey was of travel behaviour in 1985/86 and is the earliest known analysis of daily cyclist numbers in Australia. The second is a telephone survey of cycling behavior in 2011 used by the Australian Government as the baseline for its cycling promotion strategy to 2016. Population growth from 1986 to 2010 and the bicycle mode share for the journey to work were also examined. The Australian population aged nine years and over grew by 58.4% between 1986 and 2010 and the daily average number of bicycle trips grew by only 20.9%, representing a per capita decline in cycling. The proportion of Australian workers who used a bicycle to ride to work was largely unchanged at about 1% of journeys. A historical prioritization of the mo- tor vehicle, lack of investment in cycling infrastructure and mandatory helmet legislation are likely to be explanatory factors. |