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It sucks people feel the need to ride their bike out of necessity. But riding is the best way to get around when the infrastructure is there.
Riding feels so good when you're on a nice path with a flat run. You get the same connection with the world around you as walking, but you move faster without the hassle of traffic
We are a lo g way from good cycling infrastructure here. There are a few well connected suburbs but most places its dangerous to be cycling on the roads because of the yank tanks
Cycling infrastructure development in Adelaide and SA always seems to be based around tourism and leisure. Like if you want to do a family day trip, or you're here on a cycling holiday or just want to spend your day somewhere there are quite a few good cycling paths that all connect up with minimal need to cross or ride on roads. But the daily cycling infrastructure is absolutely terrible. Most "bike lanes" on suburban roads are narrow, damaged and filled with rubbish and many motorists do not respect them at all. Thankfully we are allowed to ride on the footpaths so that reduces the danger somewhat but it's also pretty inconvenient since footpaths are even less consistent in terms of terrain.
Isn’t Australia still a country where bikes are sold as sporting goods alongside cricket bats and gym mats, rather than as practical devices one would use in everyday life?
Because they're not practical devices one can use in everyday life here? If you can't safely travel with it, it's not a practical means of transport.
I disagree. I ride 10-12km to work and 10-12 km home practically daily. Because I understand people lie on the Internet all the time, here are my Strava cycling stats to show I'm telling the truth:
I cycled daily when I lived in Queensland. I cycled less often (because I'm a wuss about riding in the rain) but still regularly when I lived in Melbourne. And I cycle almost every day in Perth. The last four weeks actually really low for me - between the wet weather and having a holiday in September, my numbers are down. It would usually be 10 rides per week.
To answer @AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space's question: You can often buy bikes next to the sporting equipment in some stores (cycling is a sport, after all). These are terrible though, and people who really use their bikes get them at dedicated bike stores - which are very common in Australia.
I don't know about the rest of Australia, but that's not really the case in Adelaide. There is a pretty strong cycling culture here and a lot of proper bike stores for commuters, road cyclists and mountain bikers. Hosting the Tour Down Under for 25 years has really helped with that. But for whatever reason the government has never really invested in infrastructure that would help.daily commuters.
...dangerous to be cycling on the roads because of the ~~yank tanks~~ mad cunts on the roads
Fixed it for you
There needs to be both the carrot and the stick. Cycling has to get easier (better infrastructure) and driving has to get harder (expensive, traffic, etc). Together these drive behaviour change
Bikes are only a small part of the picture. Infrastructure needs huge changes for bikes to be safe and we need to incentivise small vehicles like Kei cars and small cheap electric personal transport instead of going in the other direction. Not everyone is physically able to ride a bike and it can be challenging for those that can in some conditions such as heatwaves.
Virtue signalling hipsters on cargo bikes that cost more than a budget used car don't necessarily have all the answers. Still need to pay rego and service that car you use to drive the kids in the heat and rain when the ABC aren't watching.
I don't believe this is happening on a wide scale. I would love to see it. Living in a city with cycling infrastructure like we've been seeing in some European cities would truly be a joy.
We're a super keen cycling household, with more bikes than people. The kids and I ride to school/work routinely and have done pretty much all our lives. Even we can't get rid of the car. Sometimes, it is just necessary.
Just imaging how much pollution this bikes on road generates, it would be way better if they continue driving.