Bicycle Network has joined a national coalition of transport and public health groups to offer nine ideas to governments to help households cut fuel use and ease cost‑of‑living pressures by making it easier to walk, ride and use public transport for everyday trips.
Cycling, walking and public health organisations around the country have backed the low-cost ideas that can make a real difference to reducing fuel use and how much it costs Australians to get around.
The nine ideas are:
- Pop-up bike lanes on key commuter and public transport routes
- Pop-up bus-priority lanes
- $100 vouchers for bicycle repairs
- Rapid grants for bike parking and end-of-trip upgrades
- $500 vouchers to buy a bicycle
- Crossings and footpaths near schools, shops and stops
- More frequent public transport services
- Shorter wait times at push-button crossings
- Fuel-saving speed limits
You can read a full breakdown of the ideas here.
Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack said the fuel crisis highlighted the need to give people real alternatives to driving less, not just advice to drive less.
“When fuel prices are high, families feel it immediately. Most daily trips are short, in fact about two thirds of car journeys nationally are under 5km.
“Many of these trips could be done by walking, riding or public transport if safe, convenient options were available.
“These are proven ideas that can be rolled out fast, saving households money and freeing up fuel for people who need it.
“We’ve already seen an 11% increase in cycling since our annual March counts, with some routes increasing by 15% and 17%, but we can do more to help more people ride.”
The transport and public health groups who have supported the initiative alongside Bicycle Network include the Australian Health Promotion Association, the Asia-Pacific Society for Physical Activity, Better Streets, Bicycle NSW, Bicycle Queensland, Bike SA, Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia, Pedal Power, Queensland Walks, 10,000 Steps, WestCycle and WeRide Australia.
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