BICYCLE PLANNING IN AUSTRALIA. CHAPTER 1. THE PUSHBIKE IN EARLY AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY

In Australia in the 1890s, cyclists encountered antipathy and abuse from non-cyclists and competition from vehicular traffic for travelling space, much as it is today. This chapter outlines the development of cycle paths in rural and urban areas. While there have been few formal cycle path developments in urban areas, in many Australian towns cyclists were given respect and consideration by other road users. In some areas, large numbers of cyclists commuted from one place to another to work, for example between Kalgoorlie and Boulder in Western Australia. There were many commuters in some towns even into the 1950s. The Western Australian goldfields were the site of the most extensive development of cycle paths, both formal and informal, yet seen in Australia. As more people discovered the joys of cycling for pleasure, the public roads in rural areas provided the means for touring the countryside. The roads were relatively little used and were usually not signposted, so cycling organisations and individuals found it necessary to draw up road maps and provide information on road conditions for several thousand miles of roads. But by the 1930s motor vehicles in increasing numbers were making bicycle riding less pleasant. Now, an increasing number of cyclists are demanding a safer place to ride -whether they get it remains to be seen. For the record of the covering entry for the book, see TRIS no 452283. (Author/TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Geelong Bike Plan

  Geelong Bike Plan Comm, CNR Little Malop & Fenwick Street
  Geelong, Victoria,   Australia 

  THORITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Sach, J
  • Fitzpatrick, J
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Features: Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 14-23
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Geelong Bike Plan Committee
  • Publisher: Geelong Bike Plan

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bicycles; Bikeways; Commuting; Cyclists; History; Recreation; Rural areas; Safety; Traffic; Transportation; Travel patterns; Urban areas; Work trips
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ITRD Terms: 8006: Australia; 1211: Bicycle; 2722: Cycle track; 1742: Cyclist; 9096: History; 621: Journey to work; 9142: Recreation; 328: Rural area; 755: Traffic; 1155: Transport; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: History; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00452284
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 31 1986 12:00AM