I stumbled over some good sites related to cycling that may be useful depending on where you live.
This one is a good place to start.
http://www.livinggreener.gov.au/take-action/travel-smarter/switch-to-a-bike
Not sure what the helpline does but might give it a call to find out.
1800 106 059
Doctors on bikes is a good site. Not many there yet but it's a start.
Good story on Radio National this week.
After a heart attack four years ago Peter Guppy decided it was time to get on his bike.
He and his wife Barbara have now travelled over 17-thousand kilometres around Australia over the past two years.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2010/3073055.htm
A MAN riding a petrol-powered bicycle has been killed in a collision with a vehicle at the intersection of Birmingham Road and Nerang-Broadbeach Road this morning.
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/08/31/345471_gold-coast-news.html
Good report on cycling in Australia.
http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2011/09/08//3312420.htm
Bicycle lanes poorly designed.
speedo
Member
'Good report on cycling in Australia.
http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2011/09/08//3312420.htm'
You've got to love the first comment from Ben at the end of this piece 
Tour De Timor update from Darwin.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/09/16/260641_ntnews.html
Disabled cyclists take on the Himalayas.
Bike sharing takes off worldwide.
http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20110909-travelwise-bike-sharing-around-the-world
Cycling as "Action against Autogeddon: Critical Mass"
http://www.pilot.co.uk/destination_guide/north-america/california/critical_mass.php
State and federal transport agencies want to double the number of Australians cycling by 2016.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2011/3310526.htm
Electric bike magazine availble online from Velo Vision.
Bicycles outsell cars in the last decade in Australian cities report.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-20/report-shows-national-housing-shortfall/3581280
Good RTA document on ebike legislation being proposed. Lots of interesting stuff.
dbindoff
Member
Not sure how others see it but I think the gist of this analysis is selling the potential of e-bikes short;
Some Observations;
1. A common cyclist on the main arterial bike track into Hobart is a cycling enthusiast going for a recreational ride or riding to work, commonly travelling >40km/h (especially on the downhill sections). This is a mixed use pathway with children, mothers with prams and elderly pedestians and various cyclists.
2. E-bikes have particular potential to genuinely replace vehicle miles in congested traffic areas, where shopping and commuting rather than recreation are the motivators.
3. My experience suggests to me that the primary danger to e-bike riders in replacing vehicle miles arises from the inability to harmonise with traffic conditions between traffic lights in 50km/h or 40 km/h areas and in these areas pedestrian pathways are often too congested for safe cycling. e.g. I can ride in to Hobart on the bikeway fine, but getting across town is hazardous because I can't quite keep up with traffic and the footpaths are not suitable for riding. ( I have a folding 200w e-bike)
I conclude that the safety concerns analysed in the paper are not accurately describing the current situation with respect to conventional cycling, which is essentially unrestricted for speed and places an unnecessary restraint on the ability of e-bikes to increase safety in traffic situations while still genuinely replacing vehicle miles.
My approach would be to liberalise the power assist of an e-bike to at least the New Zealand level of 300w and preferably to Canadian level of 500w continuous and perhaps maximum assisted speed of 40km/h.
gazmo88
Member
Ahhhh,
Thank the lord for the RTA ! The original fun police.
Didn't they ban the Segway ?
This paper states its conclusion up front and then cherry picks points to support it.
The RTA (and the TAC) are positively obsessed with the notion that safety is inversely proportional to speed and that there are few other factors involved.
They state their concerns about shared pathways where bicycle whizz past pedestrians, but in their view painting a line at the side of a highway magically protects cyclists from 2 tonne plus vehicles a few inches away at much much higher speeds. Do you think OH&S would allow that sort of thing in a factory ? Why is it allowed therefore on the roads.
I would suggest that they need to look at the issue from the aspect of the requirements of a modern transport system rather than obsessing with labelling such that the vehicle may be more readily identified at the roadside.
I am sorry but the RTA ARE the problem, they forget that their mission is supposed to be to serve us. It should not be a case of "we may allow X aren't we generous" but rather "people want to do Y, how can we accommodate them"
The elephant in the room is that if easy to ride bicycles were available, there might just be a huge increase in bicycle use and a related demand for real cycle paths something the RTA has few clues about executing. Much better to surround the whole thing with regulations so it can't happen. Plausible deniability.
We should not feed these people. If this report were a term paper it would be a fail. Its genuine junk science.
Campaign to axe helmet laws in Brisbane.
Te website.
Dad cycles around Australia in 37 days.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-04/man-cycles-round-australia-in-record-time/3626614?WT.svl=news5
Now this is a bike scheme.
60000 bikes to go.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-15/chinese-city-goes-green/3673086?WT.svl=news3
Looks like bike helmets are desirable after all.
A three-month trial of cheaper CityCycle subscriptions and free helmets has seen trips almost double, but it has come at a cost to Brisbane City Council.
Of the 400 free helmets provided in August, 250 have been "misplaced".
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/riders-up-helmets-down-20111124-1nwwa.html
I've decided to upgrade to a 36V bike as the cost of the replacement battery makes it an easy choice. My current 24V model has done about 3000km and still goes well but the 36V eats it on hills.
The new one is a lot cheaper at $900 but has less accessories like lights and a rear carry rack, however for A-B riding it is good value. The 36V 8Ah battery is a lithium polymer so it will be interesting to see how it lasts. To be fair the original bikes 24V lithium ion had to cope with my learning curve and the better understanding gained from the first one will no doubt benefit the new model.
Other differences are that this one is front wheel drive and the battery is a mid-mount. Not as big a difference as I thought it would be though. Long term testing starts tomorrow.
Cycling Healthy or Risky. Research from Tassie.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-28/cycling-healthy-or-risky/3607476
speedo
Member
The ever reliable Murdock press’s local edition didn’t let the chance to stir up the simmering resentment between cyclists and motorists slip by, when Cadel was in Brisbane for a charity bike ride last weekend. They ran a story that Cadel said some drivers were unnecessarily nasty. I seem to remember there was a similar story last year when he was in Melbourne with exactly the same reaction from the readers.
Some of the comments from the cyclist haters are breathtaking in their ignorance and stupidity, and some of the comebacks from cyclists are gems.
• Real sportsman of Graceville Posted at 6:56 AM November 28, 2011
Cyclists get off the road and everybody would be happy. Cadel, go back overseas, girlie sports like yours aren't the Aussie way.
Comment 100 of 409
• terry of brisbane Posted at 7:59 AM November 28, 2011
If I spend a minute extra on the road per day for any reason that is almost 200 hours over my working life that I`ll never get back. Stop wasting MY time.
Comment 170 of 409
• R. Wilson Posted at 3:20 PM November 28, 2011
Roads are for cars not bikes. that is what bike paths are for.. Pay a fee or get off the roads.
Comment 406 of 409
and 
• Driver and Cyclist of Brisbane Posted at 6:39 AM November 28, 2011
As an Aussie who has been lucky enough to travel extensively and seen the respect of cyclists in Europe from drivers, I am saddened to say that we are a nation of typically dumb, fat, selfish, ignorant bogans. We get annoyed if we are held up for three seconds, we put a cyclists' life at risk to pass them where there is no room, just to get to the red light faster!? We are threatened by people who can get to work without having to turn on an engine. This old chestnut about cyclists paying registration...get a new line guys. You stop the first 100 cyclists and see how much tax they pay, I guarantee they will be better educated, have better paying jobs (more tax) and will be less of a drain on our helath system than the lazy porkers driving past in their 4WDs. We really need to grow up or we will remain Keating's back end of the world for much longer.
Comment 92 of 409
and - cuts both ways
• Norm of Brisbane Posted at 9:18 AM November 28, 2011
Brisbane's drivers: Impatient. Rude. Arrogant. Aggressive. Ignorant. Selfish. Stupid. Dangerous. Brisbane cyclists: All of the above.
Comment 216 of 409
This time the vitriolic spray by all the ‘roads are made for cars’ morons might work against them. The Lord Mayor wants to educate drivers to kerb their road-rage towards cyclists
Critical mass cyclist events changing attitudes.
While some cyclists like to prove a point in taking right of way etc I find that the friendly wave, smile and a 'good morning' or 'thank you' to pedestrians sharing a path to be generally well received. If I see a large truck approaching a roundabout or even at lights I often 'give way' deliberately and wave them on so they don't have to stop. Much easy for me than those big rigs to get rolling again. You can see the appreciation as they wave back.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2011/dec/02/critical-mass?intcmp=122
Cyclists at greater risk during recessions.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/dec/27/cyclist-deaths-rise-recessions
A local example of what cyclists face on the road. Makes you wonder.
http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/story/2012/01/05/cyclist-75-says-i-dont-deserve-to-be-pelted/
Grab yourself a new Porche for only $11,000. Biofuel model.
Showdown over bikes hits high profile.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-18/warne-wants-cyclists-registered/3780942
Good article on slow vs fast cycling.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2012/jan/20/slow-fast-urban-cycling?intcmp=122
