Bicycle NSW

26/08/2026

This October, thousands of cyclists will take to the streets for Spring Cycle 2026, and we need an incredible team of volunteers to help bring the event to life.

From the first rider to the final finish line celebration, volunteers are at the heart of the event. It's a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, gain event experience and support Lifeline's crisis support and su***de prevention services.

Volunteer registrations close on Sunday, 30 August. Join the team and help make a real difference.

Sign up now: https://raceroster.com/events/2026/113658/spring-cycle/volunteer

25/08/2026

Free Webinar - Insurance, cover and compensation - 7 September, 6pm-7pm.

Bicycle NSW together with exclusive compensation partner Advantage Legal will discuss a number of insurance cover and compensation options for bicycle riders in NSW.

This webinar will include updated coverage to the Bicycle NSW insurance policy for Members and general information about other insurance options available in NSW to cyclists.

There will also be an interactive Q&A session at the conclusion of the session.

👉 https://events.humanitix.com/insurance-cover-and-compensation-everything-you-need-to-know

25/08/2026

2 Orbea E-bike models have been recalled due to a fault in the frame welding which could lead to breakage. The 2019-2020 models are:
- Optima Asphalt
- Optima Comfort
Affected models have a VIN containing SNKIN19A.

What consumers should do:
- Stop using the bike and check the VIN engraved on the frame.
- If the bike’s VIN contains SNKIN19A, contact your nearest ORBEA dealer to arrange for a free replacement.
- Contact ORBEA if you require further assistance or information with this recall.

Contact
ORBEA
Call: 0400 261 990
Email: [email protected]
Visit: https://www.orbea.com/en-au/contact

👉 https://www.productsafety.gov.au/search-consumer-product-recalls/orbea-optima-asphalt-comfort-e-bikes

24/08/2026

Clear the diary on Friday 11th September and jump on the train to Wollongong!

Illawarra Bicycle Users Group has organised an amazing one-day conference called “Pedalling Through the Cost-of-Living Crisis” to explore how cycling can cut costs, ease congestion, and build healthier, more connected communities.

🗓️ Friday 11 September 2026
📍 BlueScope Steel Visitors Centre, Coniston NSW
⏰ 9:30am – 9pm

Bicycle NSW is joining a fantastic line up of speakers from USyd, Pedal Power ACT, international guests from France, Netherlands and Germany, and local cyclists including kids voices. There will be workshops, a panel discussion, films, live music, and a light dinner, all in one jam-packed day. Don't miss it!

Can't afford a ticket but want to come along? Email IBUG at [email protected] They don’t want cost to be a barrier to talking about cost of living!

Hosted by IBUG and supported by Destination Wollongong, Bicycle NSW, EcoArts Australis and City of Wollongong

🎟️ Register now: www.ibug.org.au

23/08/2026

🎉🚲Lots of good news from the Northern Beaches 🎉🚲

1. The Queenscliff Active Transport Bridge is open! The 4m wide bridge over Manly Lagoon offers a scenic and much safer alternative to the narrow footpath on the existing Pittwater Road bridge where bike riders were required to dismount.
👉https://yoursay.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/Pittwater-Road-Queenscliff-Pedestrian-and-cycle-bridge

2. The first stage of the Curl Curl - Freshwater Connectivity and Streetscape Upgrade project is finally underway. The best-practice separated cycleway will eventually link Freshwater village with 5 schools, the beach and several ovals. This project required a big advocacy push, and although it is disappointing that the current budget will only fund a section of the route, the start of construction is an excellent step forward.
👉 https://yoursay.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/curl-curl-freshwater

3. A new shared path connecting Newport to The Serpentine, Bilgola Beach is on track to open in September. This path runs along a very tight section of Barrenjoey Road where there has never been a safe place to walk, let alone cycle. Construction is technically challenging, but the path will be an amazing asset for the community and visitors, and it will fill a significant gap in the Northern Beaches Coast Walk.
👉 https://yoursay.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/connectingnorthernbeaches

4. 2.7km of new shared path has been completed in Frenchs Forest and Davidson. This key section of the Frenchs Forest Active Transport Network includes several new raised priority path crossings, continuous footpaths at side streets and many new trees. Northern Beaches Council has just been awarded $1.2million in the 27/27 Get NSW Active program to extend the route to Forest Way shopping centre and bus stops for express buses to Chatswood and the CBD.
👉 https://yoursay.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/frenchs-forest-active-transport-network

The final photos show how much road space has been reallocated in Dee Why for public space, bike parking and a separated cycleway. It is a good reminder of the positive progress made over the last 5 years to make the Northern Beaches better for walking and cycling.

Northern Beaches Council Sue Heins James Griffin MP Scruby MP Michael Regan, Independent Member for Wakehurst

23/08/2026

Bicycle NSW's Bike Planner, Sarah, really enjoyed meeting Neil Robinson, CEO of Pedal Power Association (PPA), in Cape Town recently.

PPA is South Africa's peak body for cycling. Like Bicycle NSW, PPA is celebrating its 50th birthday this year!

With a nationwide remit, PPA's priorities are recreational cycling, development and education, safe cycling, and advocacy.

PPA was founded to support cycling events and races. The flagship race is the Cape Town Cycle Tour, which attracts an incredible 35,000 participants in some years.
👉 https://www.capetowncycletour.com/

Today, a huge part of PPA's energy goes towards empowering people of all ages and abilities to ride. In a city where bikes should be an obvious choice - with flat terrain, great weather, very constrained household budgets, and expensive public transport - there are many barriers to getting on a bike.

The Bike4All program has 10 staff who work with 200-300 schools a year, bringing bikes and skills training to township children. Major sponsors such as Toyota provide vehicles and equipment, and thousands of bikes are donated each year by groups in Australia and the UK.

The work to keep bike riders safe has two strands. A major minimum passing distance campaign Stay Wider of the Rider has helped address road safety. But personal safety, in a country where violent muggings, bike-jackings, and physical assaults are too common, is also a problem for cyclists. PPA works with the community and the police to map incidents and push for justice.

Advocacy to government has ramped since Neil took the helm in 2021. The Western Cape has installed some dedicated cycling infrastructure installed over recent years, and the strategic planning documents are in quite good shape. The issue is making government and developers follow policy (sounds familiar....) PPA avoids taking a radical activist stance, instead aiming to be a long-term partner to governments and a critical friend to politicians.

Thanks for your time, and the fab anniversary jersey, Neil!

21/08/2026

Once again, it was a jam-packed week at Bicycle NSW! We:

- Introduced the Bicycle NSW Strategic Advocacy Plan at Transport Camp and invited feedback from a passionate room of professionals and advocates. The plan has a new working title ‘Changing Gears: A decade of making walking and riding the best choice for everyone in NSW’. Stay tuned for more updates!

- Made a trip down to Canberra to celebrate the launch of the $500million National Active Transport Fund with the Parliamentary Friends of Cycling. Peter enjoyed the opportunity to discuss e-bike policy with a number of federal MPs. Thanks to We Ride Australia for organising the breakfast event.

- Caught up with the Monaro Rail Trail Committee to learn more about progress on the 213km rail trail from Queanbeyan to Bombala.

- Met with Yass Valley Council on the way back to Sydney to explore an exciting and very well-supported rail trail in the town.

- Wrote a submission supporting the proposal to make City of Sydney’s Moore Park Road and Fitzroy Street cycleways permanent.

- Confirmed the last details for the upcoming webinar with our partners Advantage Legal to discuss a number of insurance cover and compensations options for bicycle riders in NSW - keep an eye out for the event on our socials and newsletters.

- Appeared on the ABC to discuss (no surprises!) e-bike and shared bike regulation.

- Joined a panel at the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) conference in Manly to talk about projects underway to improve e-bike safety in the Northern Beaches - Council’s e-bike code campaign and Bicycle NSW’s Student Bicycle Education Program.

- Met with Illawarra advocates to consider the best strategies to progress the Lake Illawarra Loop project.

Not planning on riding the Spring Cycle? This is your chance to be part of the iconic event by volunteering. All crew receive a t-shirt, hat, snack and bag for your efforts. Sign up before 30 August!
👉 https://www.springcycle.com.au/volunteer

Want to hear more about what we do? Become a Member and receive our regular Member-only e-newsletters. You will also support our advocacy work and ride easy, covered by comprehensive insurance:
👉 https://bicyclensw.org.au/bnsw-membership/



[Image from left to right: Bicycle NSW Bike Planner Sarah Bickford and WalkSydney President Tegan Mitchell present at Transport Camp Sydney, a fantastic participant-led ‘unconference’ connecting people who shape urban mobility]

20/08/2026

Some very important statistics on the increased risk to pedestrians and bike riders as vehicles get bigger:
👉 https://theconversation.com/big-us-style-trucks-are-killing-more-pedestrians-in-australia-our-research-proves-it-289034

Here’s what the researchers from the University of Melbourne found:
- every additional 100 kg of vehicle weight was associated with a 6% increase in the odds of pedestrian fatality
- every additional 10 cm of height was associated with an 11% increase in the odds of pedestrian fatality
- utes and US-style pick-up trucks were associated with around 60% higher pedestrian fatality risk than conventional passenger cars

Thank you. It is really helpful to have data from Australia to support advocacy for change.

Bicycle NSW made recommendations to tackle vehicle ‘bloat’ in our submission on the new NSW Road Safety Action Plan:

- Pull available state levers to increase registration fees, stamp duty, tolls and parking fees for large, heavy vehicles.
- Advocate to the federal government to regulate on vehicle size and design – in particular to cap the maximum height of bonnet leading edges.
- Help councils develop parking policy that discourages larger vehicles with higher prices and less convenient parking locations.

Read more here:
👉 https://bicyclensw.org.au/bold-reform-is-critical-to-reduce-road-trauma/

However, it is unlikely that there be actions relating to vehicle size in the final NSW Road Safety Action Plan.

This is very disappointing. Cars and light trucks grow larger every year and no level of government is prepared to address the danger posed to other road users.

John Graham Jenny Aitchison MP NSW Road Safety - NSW GOV

Pedestrians are more likely to be killed by heavier cars – and even more so if the vehicle is taller, Australian-first research has found.

20/08/2026

We'll keep working with Pedal Power ACT and Friends of Monaro Rail Trail to make this happen! Check out Rail Trails Australia for more information about where to ride.

Today in Canberra there were quite a few bikes down in the basement carpark of Parliament House. This was not surprising as it was the We Ride Australia advocacy event following opening of the Active Transport Infrastructure Grant by the Federal Government, and cycle advocacy groups had gathered for breakfast networking. MPs to attend included Allegra Spender and Helen Haines and key note speakers were Rosanna Natoli - Mayor Sunshine Coast Council and Dr Jonathon Spear – CEO Infrastructure Victoria.
We Ride Australia have worked hard to influence policy behind the $500M Active Transport Grant stream and this morning was a nice finish for all their efforts in dealing with the policy makers and planners behind the grant. A big thank you for your good work.
A pic from the morning.
L to R- Ric Moor (Monaro Rail Trail), Peter McLean (Bicycles NSW) and Cecily Michaels (Pedal Power ACT).

19/08/2026

🚴 Volunteer at Spring Cycle 2026.

Spring Cycle is back on Sunday 11 October, and we're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make this iconic event a success!

Whether you're welcoming riders, assisting with registrations, supporting course operations or helping at one of the Finish Festivals, every volunteer plays an important role in creating an unforgettable day for thousands of participants.

By volunteering, you'll also be supporting Lifeline's vital crisis support, su***de prevention and community services.

No experience is necessary – just bring your enthusiasm and a willingness to help.
Volunteer registrations close on Sunday, 30 August.

Register today to be part of the team: https://raceroster.com/events/2026/113658/spring-cycle/volunteer