It’s really a shame that in Sydney there is so little infrastructure for cycling.

For example, at my local train station, there is no bicycle parking. So even if you wanted to ride to the station you wouldn’t know where to put it. Most trip to the station are less than 5 km. It takes almost the same time on a bicycle as a car, especially considering traffic jams.

That trip to the local train station could be a small amount of exercise for many people. It can also help them save money, as many people by a second car just to go to the train station.

Same thing for shopping centres. Typically a short trip less than 5 km. Huge amounts of overcrowded (and often jammed up) car parking, no bicycle parking. If you are not buying a lot, you can fit your shopping in a bicycle basket. A bicycle can have 2 baskets, one in the front and one at the back.

People who live less than 10 km from their work can easily ride to work as well. There is still little bicycle parking in the Sydney CBD though.

If we used a bicycle for most trips below 5 km, our level of health would be much higher. The human body was designed for regular exercise. Idleness breeds all sorts of ailments.

We are really being let down by the lack of infrastructure, especially bicycle parking & bicycle paths.

It’s a real shame because providing bicycle infrastructure is much cheaper than the health care bill of our obese population.

There’s a lack of leadership & planning from our state govt here.

The City of Sydney has started to take some good initiatives to set up cycling infrastructure through.
http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/AboutSydney/ParkingAndTransport/Cycling/

I’ve had some thoughts on this – see http://aucklandcyclechic.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-do-unicycles-and-tricycles-have-in.html#comments.

Do you have the same ‘only bicycles’ thing in Oz?

(& PS my exams are finished yay!!)