Cycling in Australia

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 36. Chapters: Cycle racing in Australia, Cycleways in Australia, Cycling in Melbourne, Cycling in New South Wales (Australia), Cycling in Perth, Cycling in Sydney, Cycling in Victoria (Australia), Rail trails in Australia, Bicycle Victoria, Australian National Track Championships, Gold Coast Oceanway, Austral Wheel Race, Australian National Road Race Championships, Railway Reserves Heritage Trail, Louise Sauvage Pathway, Charlie Walsh, Audax Australia, Herald Sun Tour, Melbourne Critical Mass, Melbourne Multi Purpose Venue, Australian National Time Trial Championships, Audax Alpine Classic, Fernleigh Track, Bike paths in Melbourne, Bike Paths in Sydney, Around the Bay in a Day, Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic, Perth SpeedDome, Dunc Gray Velodrome, Australian National Criterium Championships, Cycling Australia, Bay Classic Series, Riesling Trail, Bicycle Federation of Australia, Toronto railway line, Bicycle helmets in Australia, Sydney Body Art Ride, Adelaide Southern Veloway, Hell Ride, Melbourne, Ride to Work Day, Coast to Vines Rail Trail, Southern Veterans Cycling Club, The Bay Run, Munda Biddi Trail, Cancer Council Helpline Classic, Newnes glow worm tunnel, National Roads and Cyclists Association, Kep Track, Adelaide Super-Drome, Melbourne Summer Cycle, Silverdome, Rattler Rail Trail, Elphin Sports Centre, Amy's Ride, Rotary River Ride, Shepparton Fruit Loop Ride, Oppy Family Fun Ride, High Country Cycle Challenge. Excerpt: Cycling in Melbourne, Victoria is common on the roads and paths for recreation, commuting and as a sport. However it is not one of the popular modes of transportation despite an extensive network of bicycle paths and some designated bicycle lanes on roads. There is an active cycling culture enhanced by a relatively flat topography, and a generally mild climate. Cycling in Melbourne was a very popular form of transport at the turn of the 19th Century, however overall bicycle use went into steady decline with introduction of helmet legislation in the 1990s having a significant negative effect on its popularity. In recent years, the popularity of cycling for health, fitness, and as a non-polluting alternative to the automobile is increasing in Melbourne. Use of bicycles for transport as cycling still accounts for around 2% of trips in Melbourne. Cyclists are often maligned and seen as annoyance by many people in Melbourne. Victorian government policy has begun to favour bicycle-friendly projects, however a ban of bicycles on trains during peak travel periods in 2008 was introduced only to be rescinded a few months later after an outcry from bicycle users. There has been some recovery in the Central Business District of the City of Melbourne (population appx 70K) where figures put cycling at 8% of all peak-hour (7am-10am) commuter traffic. Planning for improvements to CBD bicycles routes and other major arterial routes is underway. The projects, including a bicycle hire system, similar to Vélib' in Paris, commenced in June 2010. Sunday cyclists in Melbourne in 1895.During the 1890s cycle races like the Austral Wheel Race, and later the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic, were very popular forms of entertainment drawing crowds of many thousands. Cycling was also an exciting new option for transport taken up eagerly by many people. The craze for cycling in the 1890s is portrayed in the poem Mulga Bill's Bicycle by Australian poet Banjo Patterson, and many other ballads from