What’s most enjoyable about cycling?
I ride with a club and love the weekend ritual of long ride in the morning to start the day. It is a great feeling to have done three hours of exercise before the day starts. Cycling is also pretty friendly but I think what I like is it is up to you how involved you want to be. I love racing at Heffron Park in Maroubra and training at Centennial Park – anywhere without cars is nice. I guess I just like being on the bike in the fresh air. I have to confess that there is another side to cycling that can be enjoyable. There is no end to the latest technology and gear that you “need” to accumulate.
What’s most practical?
I used to commute from Chippendale to UNSW for a few years and that was incredibly practical – I would beat the bus or a car easily. Now I ride just for fitness and fun and it means I get to eat as much as I want – which is a lot. Riding to the shops is also much easier and quicker than taking the car.
What difficulties and challenges do you face on inner-city streets?
The biggest challenge road cyclists face on the streets is the general level of anger and impatience on the road. Like most cyclists I also drive, and I have to say that the poor attitude of Sydney drivers is not just directed toward cyclists, it is all pervasive and makes being on the road in any vehicle a pain. There is still inexplicable rage directed toward cyclists but this is mostly white vans or morons who think it’s clever to shout or throw things at us. The other challenge is that where there are cycling routes they are still disconnected. Often cycling lanes will just disappear. I know that the Council has a long-term plan and I support this, but at the moment it is a problem.
What more could the City do to encourage cycling and cycling safety?
I think you just have to make it as easy as possible and people will do it. You need to work out what the barriers are and remove them. For people wanting to commute to work, the main issues are safety and having facilities at work to store your bike/clothes, and maybe a shower. Separated cycle lanes are going some way to addressing the safety issue but as long as people have to travel on roads it is an issue because of the attitude of drivers.
Bicycle registration – for or against? Why?
The vast majority of cyclists drive and pay registration already, not to mention tax. The cost to administer such a scheme would be enormous and for what purpose? I really don’t understand this argument. Apart from anything it would only discourage people taking up cycling, and if we take a holistic view the benefits to the community in terms of reduced health-care costs far outweigh the money registration would raise.
