We all want to live in a city that is easy to get around, friendly and has clean air; but to achieve this we need to manage rising traffic levels.
Riding a bike is a great way to get to know your neighbourhood. The good news is that the number of bike riders in Sydney is growing quickly – at a rate of about 10 per cent every year for the past 10 years.
To really experience quieter and safer streets, lower congestion, less air pollution and improved community health we need to get even more people on bikes.
Currently, about 1 per cent of all trips in the city are made on bicycle. By providing a safe and convenient network of cycleways, we aim to raise this figure to 10 per cent by 2016.
To achieve this goal, we are building a safe 200 kilometre bike network that will be convenient and easy-to-use. Our aim is to encourage more people to ride bikes daily.
Community Health and Lifestyle benefits* - the facts:
- 85 per cent of people say that they would be more likely to take up cycling or ride more often if a safe cycleway network was provided.
- 1.35 million Australians make car journeys to work of less than 5 kilometres – that's a 15 minute bike ride.
- An Inner Sydney Regional Bike Network* will create:
- $147.3 million in health benefits over 30 years from the reduced risk of mortality.
- Health benefits to the community equal to 44 cents for each cycle trip.
- Journey ambience benefits (which includes the value of better protection for bike riders and improved way finding of $129.8 million).
- Savings of $24.2 million in greenhouse gas emissions, air and noise pollution.
For more information on the City's plan for cycling visit
*Based on an independent economic analysis of the benefits associated with an Inner Sydney Regional Bike Network (AECOM 2010).