Australia offers some of the world’s most scenic locations to be discovered by bicycle, accessible to a range of people of all ages and abilities. Travelling by pedal power is a great way to explore a region, from cruising around city bike paths, joining a wine and brewery cycle tour, riding the rugged mountain trails, following the railways or tracing our picturesque coastline.
Check out these options for starters -
Best bike paths and routes in Australia: https://www.australia.com/en/things-to-do/adventure-and-sports/best-bike-path-and-routes.html
Where to mountain bike in Australia: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/where-to-mountain-bike-australia
Biking Rules
Bicycles are vehicles, so bike riders have the same legal rights and responsibilities as car drivers. While there are basic road rules that apply on a national level, some states have regulations specifically for cyclists, so you need to be aware of what they are and observe them as they apply to where you are riding.
The Insider Guides gives an overview of each state and territory’s rules and fines, with a link to in-depth information by jurisdiction. They include important information in the following 2 sections -
General road/bike path rules
- Ride in the same direction as other traffic and keep your bicycle one metre from the kerb
- No more than two people riding side-by-side, and no more than 1.5 metres apart
- Riders must not hold on to another moving vehicle
- At least one hand on the handlebar at all times
- Bicycles must have working brakes, bell, horn, or similar warning device
- Night riding - all bicycles must have correct lights
- Cyclists must ride the correct way along bike paths
Off road biking rules
- Mountain bikers give way to foot traffic and horses, downhill riders give way to uphill riders.
- Ride open, legal trails only.
- Passing – slow down, use a verbal or bell, wait until the walker/rider moves off the path.
- Practice ‘Leave no trace’ principles - https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/
- GPS trail app or map to track your location.
- Riding plan - Ride with a partner or share your plan before riding.
Cycling Safety
Visibility – Make sure you are seen!
Lights - High quality lights, both front and rear, should be on each and every bike.
- Daylight riding - Use flashing lights front and back as drivers can have poor side vision
- Night riding – Required by law: your bike must have a white front light and a rear red light (both visible from at least 200 metres), and a red rear reflector visible from at least 50 metres. Flashing lights are recommended for increased visibility.
- When riding at night or in dull conditions, try to make eye contact with other road users to ensure they are aware of your presence.
Clothing – go bright!
- High visibility vests/jackets
- Hi-vis also applies to the colour of your helmet - visibility is a key priority
Protection – top to toe safety
- Helmet – Correctly fitted, Australian standards-approved, bicycle helmets are the most important safety accessory you need for on and off road riding: Bicycle helmets | Product Safety Australia
- Shoes – Ensure your footgear fits well and has good gripping soles which will assist with bike control.
- Body protection – Particularly important for trail riding. Think protective pads for knees, shins, elbows and backs also.
Alertness - Constant awareness is an important factor for safe riding
- Scan the road ahead - expect the unexpected
- Concentrate - focusing with your eyes and ears
- Ride defensively - keep track of what other vehicles are doing and where the obstacles are
- Eye contact - catch the eye of drivers, particularly at intersections
- Shared paths - ride so you can react in a timely fashion to keep pedestrians safe
- Blind spots - same consideration with cars: large vehicles have blind spots and may need to use more than one lane to turn
- Car doors (dooring) – beware drivers and passengers exiting their parked cars and collecting you. Try to be outside the door zone when possible
Ride Timing – for obvious reasons it is best to plan your rides when there is less traffic. This applies to both on- and off-road.
Minimum Passing Distance – the law dictates that car, truck and bus drivers must leave a minimum 1 metre space between their vehicle and the rider when travelling at speeds up to 60kph, and that increases to 1.5 metres minimum over 60 kph.
Cycling Accidents
Sustaining an injury in cycling when no another vehicle is involved, such as from falling from a bike, remains the most likely reason for requiring hospitalisation when riding both on- or off-road. In fact, under one quarter of cycling accidents actually involves another vehicle.
On average there are around 40 deaths per year, the majority of which occur in on-road cycling accidents (90%) with a higher percentage aged above 45 years and male. Almost half of fatal incidents result from the cyclist crossing the road and/or at intersections. Car ‘dooring’ (when a driver opens their door into the path of a bike rider) causes on average 8% of bike rider casualties.
References:
Australian Institute of Health and Wellness: https://www.aihw.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/2019/may-1/rising-rates-of-injury-and-death-among-cyclists-ov
Bicycling Australia: https://www.bicyclingaustralia.com.au/news/our-safety-5-important-tips-for-safer-cycling
International Mountain Biking Association: https://www.imba.com/ride/imba-rules-of-the-trail
National Road safety Partnership Program: https://www.nrspp.org.au/resources/bicycle-safety/
Whistle Out, Australia's cycling safety statistics: https://www.whistleout.com.au/PayTV/Guides/Australias-cycling-safety-statistics
VicRoads: https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/cyclist-safety/bike-rider-safety