Cycling in Canberra
[2] As the location of the headquarters of the Australian Institute of Sport, many professional and elite-level cyclists live in Canberra, or travel to the city for training.
The Trek Bicycle Corporation's Australian headquarters is located in the Canberra suburb of Fyshwick, taking advantage of the cycle-friendly infrastructure and varied terrain offered by the many mountain biking trails throughout the Territory.
A 1973 NCDC news feature discussed the benefits of building such a network to supplement the pedestrian paths and equestrian trails linking the suburbs, although considered the costs to be quite high given that there were very few cyclists in the city at that time.
[5] The first cycle path, considered a pilot for an extended commuter network was opened from Dickson to the city along a route parallel to Sullivan's creek.
The path was officially opened by Minister for Urban and Regional Development Tom Uren, while the occasion was celebrated with a race between local media personalities.
Although there were some sporting facilities operated by cycling clubs, including a velodrome that opened in Narrabundah in 1972,[6] there was little public investment to address the needs of local cyclists.
This non-competitive, mass participation event has since become an annual charity ride, encouraging Canberrans of all ages and abilities to meet at the Albert Hall before cycling different scenic routes around the city.
[13] In 2020, the ACT became the second jurisdiction after Western Australia to implement the Crime Stoppers Bikelinc platform, a database that allows owners to register details of their bicycles to assist police in tracking and returning stolen bikes.
ACT Policing reported a 25% increase in bicycle theft across Canberra between 2017 and 2020, yet only a small number of recovered bikes were able to be returned to their owners [14][15] Also in 2020, City Renewal Authority began installing public bike repair stations in areas with high bicycle traffic in an effort to encourage cycling as a preferred mode of transport.
These stations include an air compressor for inflating tyres, common tools such as allen keys and spanners and QR codes linking to information on bicycle maintenance and how to use the equipment.
[20] The company is a major sponsor of local cycling events, including the 2017 Kowalski Classic mountain bike race on the Sparrow Hill trails in Kowen Forest.
The trail, which skirts Canberra's urban fringe, quickly earned a positive reputation in the cycling press and is a popular day trip for local and visiting off-road cyclists.
There are ten signposted routes linking the major town centres and other points of interest: Canberra well represented in terms of competitive and professional cycling.
In 2009, the city hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships at Stromlo Forest Park, while the Australian Institute of Sport in the suburb of Bruce maintains a road cycling training program for competitors at elite level.
[3] The mobile training app Today's Plan was developed in Canberra during 2015, attracting local investors and support from the ACT Government.
[31] The park has 50 km (31 mi) of maintained trails, built to International Mountain Bicycling Association difficulty rating criteria and ranging from easy to extremely difficult.
These trails opened as an alternative to Stromlo Forest Park, after it was destroyed in the 2003 Canberra bushfires, offering four cross-country loop courses of various lengths and difficulties.
The outdoor velodrome was closed in April 2013 due to concerns about the condition of this facility[6] and despite uncertainty about its future, was reopened following remediation and re-surfacing works in time to host the 2014 ACT Track Championships.
[37] In addition to Territory Championship events, the Capital Region Masters Cycling Club hold regular race meets at the velodrome.
With the use of dashcams becoming more widespread, cycling advocacy groups have lobbied for the ACT Government to enact harsher penalties for negligent driving that injures vulnerable road users.
Drivers of motor vehicles are required to leave at least 1 meter of lateral spacing when passing cyclists on roads with a speed limit of 60 km/h or below.
