As COVID-19 restrictions came in to place, the number of Australians riding bikes soared.

Bicycle Network’s recreational bike counts recorded increases as high as 270 per cent on bike paths. Bicycles quickly replaced toilet paper as the ‘must have’ item with bike shops experiencing extraordinary demand.

The problem is that we don’t have enough space to facilitate the rapid growth in bike riding and turn it into long term behaviour change.  

Many people are getting on bikes for the first time or after a long absence. They are not comfortable riding on roads among traffic, so other than riding on busy trails and paths, there are no other options for them. 

Before we know it, Australians will also be returning to their workplaces as our focus turns to employment. We can’t return to the days of overcrowded public transport and our roads can’t cope with more cars.

The horrifying possibility exists that the stimulus our economy so badly needs will be stultified if it coincides with traffic congestion that gridlocks our streets.

Unless our governments act immediately to make bikes part of Australia’s transport solution, a once in a lifetime opportunity will slip through our fingers.