Newsroom

for

June 2023

Bike proves best from out west

Travel disruptions have become all too common for commuters in Melbourne's west in recent weeks. Which begs the question, if efficiency is the aim, then which mode of transport should be your game?

Exercise can win diabetes fight

New evidence has emerged to show the powerful effect that increased physical activity has on reducing the risk of diabetes.

Driver avoids prison over Woodend death

A young driver on P-plates has avoided a prison sentence after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of a bike rider on Black Forest Drive in October last year.

New park will be attractive to riders

Work has started on the new 215-hectare Kororoit Creek Regional Park at Deanside, a park that will be exceptionally well connected to the bike network being developed for the region in the future.

Our Ride2School program is under threat

Bicycle Network’s free Ride2School program has shared the joy of riding with hundreds of thousands of students for 17 years. But the program, beloved by schools across the country, is under threat.

ACT puts $10m towards Garden City Cycle Route

The ACT's latest budget has given a major Canberra bike project another shot in the arm, committing $10.4 million to the Garden City Cycle Route through the capital's northern suburbs.

France invests $3.3b in bike growth

The French national government has embarked on a $3.3B program to make bike riding possible for all citizens and to make bike riding and walking equally attractive as using a car.
A suspension bridge spans a still river with tall trees on both sides and reflection of the bridge in the water.

Tassie Bike News Bites

A new suspension bridge on the Wild Mersey Trails, Launceston mayoral candidates show bike support and Campbell St bike lane gets DA tick in this Bike News Bites.

E-scooter rules blitz

The Victorian government has launched an education campaign aimed at reigning in the risky behaviour of the e-scooter riders that bikes and pedestrians are compelled to share our paths with.

Rolling protest to highlight Shrine to Sea backdown

Hundreds of people on bikes, scooters, e-bikes, cargo bikes, recumbent bikes and other modes of low and people-powered transport are expected to join the next Critical Mass event in Melbourne on Friday 30 June.
Man wearing yellow high vis jacket rides towards the camera on a concrete path with white dividing lane. Background is grass, with orange bunting flags.

Looking forward to more riding time!

Now we’ve passed the winter solstice we can all look forward to longer days to fit in more riding. We’ve got a mixed bag of rides coming up which is always good because it means there’s something for everyone!

Humans have an aversion to cars

In new research that has implications for how we design our public spaces, people have been found to have negative reactions upon seeing cars in the street while welcoming car-free areas.
Aerial image of the Waterworks Reserve showing the upper and lower reservoirs.

New Pipeline Track connection floated

The City of Hobart is planning a new connection for riders between Waterworks Reserve and the Pipeline Track, opening a more accessible off-road connection between Hobart and kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

Shady deal along Bay Trail

Just 19 residents with houses abutting the Bay Trail West in Altona Meadows have managed to convince Hobson Bay Council to dig out 160 recently planted trees along the barren, windswept trail, used by many thousands of riders and walkers each year.

Geelong parking shift

Geelong is joining the the growing list of cities moving to demand-based pricing for car parking where drivers pay more, often much more, for the most popular parking spots.

Arden Street lane closure

Minor curbing and asphalting works by the Metro Tunnel project will close a section of the westbound bike lane on Arden Street, North Melbourne for about a week.

New trains make space for bikes

Designs for the forthcoming new trains for Melbourne’s Upfield, Frankston and Craigieburn lines will have more space for riders who take their bikes on board.

Plans for Wallan interchange upgrade

A major interchange on the Hume Highway on Melbourne’s fringe is set for an upgrade to improve transport connections for all modes, including bikes.

Glen Huntly traffic challenges

Work to dig a massive 1.2km trench through Glen Huntly for level crossing removals is fully underway with major road closures for the next two months.
Shared path along the Mersey River in Devonport with rider in foreground turning onto path and riding in background further up the path heading towards the silo.

Tassie Bike News Bites

In this Bike News: Devonport adopts sustainable road strategy, Launceston drops its city speed limits and coastal pathway news rolls in from Burnie and Central Coast.
A group of riders wearing brightly coloured jackets on a road towards a mountain range flanked by farmland and fences.

Next few weekends sorted for rides

Take your pick of weekend rides in the coming fortnight, with rides south, east and north of Hobart and the north-west group making a weekend of it in Deloraine. Deloraine is a hub for cycling in the Meander Valley and this time of year is quieter for road riding.

School bike fleet stolen

A fleet of Fluid mountain bikes, helmets and locks have been stolen from Rochester Secondary College.

A 30-year romance born on the Great Vic Bike Ride

Taking the leap from commuting to long distance touring can be a daunting proposition, but for strangers Viv and Mark it was one that would take them in some interesting new directions - on their bikes and in life.
Older woman wearing red and white dotty helmet and yellow high-vis vest rides on road on a red strep through e-bike.

Government to help people buy e-bikes

The Tasmanian Government has released its Climate Change Action Plan for 2023–25 and for the first time it’s focusing on getting more people on e-bikes.