New NSW BikePlan - What's Happening and How to Get Involved

Latest news

25 March 2009. A revised version of the report Cycling in NSW: What the Data Tells Us is now available for download. The report now includes updated and deeper analysis of cycling road safety outcomes in NSW based on further investigation of relevant datasets. For more information about updated report data please contact Bike_Plan@rta.nsw.gov.au

The first major step in preparing the new PCAL BikePlan for NSW is now complete, following the release of the in-depth report Cycling in New South Wales: What the data tells us.  This wide-ranging report provides important data to inform work on the new BikePlan, and will also assist local councils in planning for future cycling needs.  The report contains the results of an extensive review of data on who is cycling where and why across NSW, and associated issues like road safety and bicycle theft.  The report also identifies ways in which cycling data collection and management could be improved in NSW.

The report finds that, while bicycle use across NSW and Sydney is low compared to other Australian states and capital cities, other cities across the world have shown a correlation between investment in bicycle infrastructure and increased cycling.  The Cycling in New South Wales study has shown that, if NSW is to achieve the use of commuter cycling that’s already seen in the other mainland states, the cycling share of trips to work would need to double from the 0.8 per cent measured in 2006 to 1.5 per cent.  This would mean lifting daily commuter cycling trips from 22,000 to about 43,000 one-way trips, with at least half of these needing to happen in Sydney.

The Cycling in New South Wales: What the Data Tells Use report is now available for download.  The study’s background Electronic Library of Collected Bicycle Information is also available, containing a number of informative and hard-to-find NSW cycling resources.

Background

In August 2008 the NSW Minister for Roads and the NSW Minister for Climate Change & the Environment announced the preparation of a new cycling blueprint aimed at encouraging more people across the state to use bikes as a clean and healthy transport choice.  Work on the new NSW BikePlan is being completed for PCAL by a joint project team of the Roads & Traffic Authority and Department of the Environment & Climate Change.  The new PCAL NSW BikePlan is expected to be ready for release in 2009, updating and replacing the NSW Government’s 1999 Action for Bikes: BikePlan 2010.

Current activities

The PCAL NSW BikePlan project team is reviewing community comments submitted in response to the open invitation that closed in October 2008.  The project team is consulting widely with local councils, major employers, bicycle user groups and a range of peak community organisations.  In line with Cycling in New South Wales study findings the RTA and DECC, with relevant partner agencies, are also looking at ways to capture improved data about cycling habits, including the use of traffic counters and cyclist surveys.

Watch this space for further announcements about work on the PCAL NSW BikePlan.

For more information on the new NSW BikePlan, or to provide feedback, click on these links:

• News Release – 23.12.08 – NSW BikePlan Takes First Major Step
• Cycling in NSW: What the Data Tells Us – main report including appendices A to C
• NSW Electronic Library of Collected Bicycle Information
  • Directory of Files (343KB - PDF File)
  • Library (662MB - ZIP File)
• PCAL NSW BikePlan presentation – NSW historical cycling images
• News Release - 28.10.08 - Bike Parking Survey To Improve Cycling Facilities
• New NSW BikePlan - summary of announcement (30 August 2008)
• To provide your feedback on recent releases and announcements email  Bike_Plan@rta.nsw.gov.au up until 30 January 2008 (including your full name and street address)

For useful background information on cycling in NSW and elsewhere, you can go to:

• The Australian Bicycle Council online Cycling Resource Centre
• The NSW Roads & Traffic Authority Bicycle Riders homepage
• The NSW Department of the Environment & Climate Change Environmental Issues homepage
• Action for Bikes: BikePlan 2010 (NSW Government 1999)
• The non-profit and member-supported community group Bicycle NSW
• The Australian Transport Council Australian National Cycling Strategy 2005-10
• The NSW Roads & Traffic Authority Cycling in Sydney factsheet
• The NSW Health Cycling Connecting Communities project of the Sydney South West Area Health Service 
• Cycling: International Best Practice presentation by Elliot Fishman, Policy Advisor, Cycling Promotion Fund