From family picnic rides by Lake Burley Griffin to challenging Mountain Goat climbs and scenic weekend tours, Pedal Power’s social rides have been bringing Canberra cyclists together for 50 years. This article celebrates the history of our rides, highlights the diversity of cyclists who participate, and shows how volunteer leaders have kept these rides safe, fun, and welcoming for all. Whether you’re new to group cycling or a seasoned rider, there’s a social ride for everyone and a community waiting to share the journey.

Canberra’s roads are shared by people with very different levels of cycling experience and confidence, from the strong and fearless to those who are interested but concerned. This article explores why creating safe, inclusive streets matters for everyone, highlights common challenges cyclists face on busy routes, and explains how small acts of respect from drivers can make a big difference. By giving bike riders the space and safety they deserve, we can reduce congestion, encourage more people to ride, and help make Canberra a better, more livable city for all.

Get ready for major changes on Commonwealth Avenue. From mid-November, lane closures will begin as preparations start for a two-year bridge strengthening project.

Throughout 2026, the west (northbound) bridge will close completely, with all bike and pedestrian traffic moved to the east side. In 2027, the roles will reverse — the east bridge will close and riders will shift to the newly widened western path.

Expect regular weekend closures around London Circuit, Northbourne Avenue, and Parkes Way while the city’s major infrastructure upgrades continue. Mike Watson shares practical route tips to help riders stay safe and keep rolling through the disruption.

Join us for our landmark event, the highlight of our 50th anniversary year, our Celebration and Demonstration Ride on Thursday, 13 November 2025. This special ride will both honour our beginnings and call for a separated bike lane along Adelaide Avenue between Woden and Civic before Light Rail Stage 2B construction begins. 

But this isn’t just a ride, it’s a message. A message that safe cycling infrastructure must remain a priority. Your presence will help make that message heard loud and clear. When hundreds of riders come together, we show the strength, unity and visibility of Canberra’s cycling community - a community that continues to shape the city’s future, just as it did 50 years ago.

Canberra by Bike’s Halloween ride around Yerrabi Pond was a glowing success a fun, festive mix of lights, laughter, and community spirit. Seventeen riders, joined by local MLA Andrew Braddock, pedalled through the evening in costume, music, and good company. The flat, easy route made it perfect for riders of all ages, and the post-ride pizzas and stories capped off a magical night.

A huge thank you to Paris Lord and Canberra by Bike for bringing people together once again to celebrate the joy of cycling!

Pedal Power’s 50th anniversary forum, Spokes and Sustainability: A New Vision for Canberra — hosted in partnership with Andrew Braddock MLA and the ACT Greens — brought together community voices and policy leaders to explore how cycling can shape a healthier, more connected city. 

Facilitated by Stephen Hodge from We Ride Australia, the panel included Doris Voorbraak, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Netherlands; Andrew Braddock MLA, ACT Greens spokesperson for Transport; Paris Lord from Canberra by Bike; and Pedal Power’s Executive Director, Cecily Michaels. Together, they painted an inspiring picture of what’s possible when vision meets investment. 

When Fatemeh joined Pedal Power’s Cycle Well program, she wasn’t just learning to ride a bike — she was breaking barriers and realising a lifelong dream. Growing up in a culture where women weren’t allowed to cycle, Fatemeh learned to ride at 43, finding freedom and confidence on two wheels. Her journey from first wobbly rides to cycling to work on National Ride2Work Day captures the spirit of Pedal Power’s mission: empowering people to connect, grow, and discover the joy of riding.

After a six-year pause, National Ride2Work Day returned to Canberra with full force on Wednesday 15 October, reigniting the city’s cycling spirit and reminding everyone how good it feels to start the day on two wheels.

Pedal Power was delighted to host the event once again, with guided rides from across Canberra converging on Veterans Park for a community breakfast. More than 120 riders registered, with many more joining on the day—excited to take part in the community celebration. It was an absolutely beautiful spring day for a ride, and the city centre was alive with colour, conversation, and the sound of freewheeling bikes.

Pedal Power has been Canberra’s voice for cycling for 50 years. Want to help shape the next 50 and enter the draw to win a chance at a $300 voucher to The Canberra Cyclery? If so, then fill out one of our 2025 surveys for members and stakeholders. On the 29th of September, we launched our Membership Survey, and this week, we launched our Stakeholder Survey. Both surveys are currently open, and we would love your input!

It’s time to wrap up the year in style! Join us for the Pedal Power Christmas Party on Tuesday, 16 December, from 5 - 8 pm at Lennox Gardens. Bring along your own food and drinks, spread out a picnic rug, and enjoy an evening of good company and festive cheer by the lake.

As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we’re looking back at the moments and people who helped shape Canberra’s cycling story. Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing a series of features that revisit Pedal Power’s past from the early days of protest rides and handwritten flyers to the campaigns and community spirit that have kept Canberra pedalling for half a century.

We’re starting right at the beginning, with The Ride That Started It All the story of how two everyday commuters, frustrated by dangerous roads and a lack of cycling infrastructure, came together in 1974 to stage Canberra’s very first demonstration ride. That single act of courage and collaboration would grow into the organisation we know today: Pedal Power ACT.

Pedal Power’s first protest ride in 1974 helped shape Canberra’s cycling future. Fifty years later, we’re riding from Woden to Civic to show the ACT Government that separated bike lanes are vital for a liveable, sustainable city.

Join us for this group ride to celebrate 50 years of advocacy in the ACT! 🚲

As the Woden Town Centre grows, Pedal Power ACT is advocating for a people-focused approach that makes cycling and walking central to its future. Our recent submissions by Richard Bush to government highlight the need for better paths, safer crossings, and secure bike parking to support active travel and reduce car dependence.

On 24 September, Pedal Power hosted Handlebars of Happiness, an inspiring evening celebrating cycling through storytelling. Two remarkable speakers shared their journeys: Bernadette Hince, who spent 13 years cycling to every Canberra suburb in alphabetical order, and Robin Brown, who recounted his mother’s epic 8,000-kilometre ride across Europe in 1939.

Their stories, one of personal exploration, the other of courage and determination, reminded everyone that cycling is more than movement; it’s connection, curiosity, and community on two wheels.

National Ride2Work Day is only one week away, and we couldn’t be more excited! This year, Pedal Power is celebrating by encouraging riders of all experience levels to join a Group Ride into the City Centre, finishing at our Community Breakfast in Veteran’s Park.

Whether you’re a first-time commuter or a seasoned cyclist, these guided rides are a fun and friendly way to roll into the day. Each group will be led by experienced local volunteers who know the safest, most bike-friendly routes into the city, perfect for learning the ropes or simply enjoying a social start to your morning.

Fran is both an audiologist and a dedicated cyclist; combining both passions allows her to notice the subtle, often-overlooked moments that unfold on shared paths. In this article, she explores hearing loss and its quiet impact on how we connect and sometimes misconnect while out riding or walking. What happens when the simple sound of a bike bell goes unheard? Fran invites us to look and listen a little differently next time we share the path.

On Saturday, 27 September, a dedicated team of Pedal Power volunteers rolled up their sleeves for a big day at the Bike Library. From 9 am to 2 pm, the crew worked hard to clean, sort, and assess over 120 bikes stored in the shed — a huge task that made a real difference.

Thanks to everyone who came along, including Peter Elford, Ian & Cora Wallis, Gregg Berry, Graeme Hoy, Baldev, Ben Damyon, David Austin, and Sari and Andri Marhen. A special shout-out goes to Ian and Cora Wallis for bringing labels, drinks, and a plan to keep everything running smoothly.

By the end of the day, around 50 bikes were stripped for parts and sent to recycling, creating much-needed space and leaving the Bike Library organised and ready for future use.

The shed has never looked better — a huge thank you to everyone who lent a hand to keep this valuable community resource in top shape!

Pedal Power was proud to welcome four remarkable women — Louise, Sonia, Anna and Rach — to Haig Park this week on the final leg of their extraordinary Ride4Life journey.

The team has spent the past six weeks pedalling across Australia on a quad tandem bike, a world-first, to spark conversations about mental health and raise funds for Gotcha4Life, a not-for-profit focused on building mental fitness and stronger connections.

Their 4,000-kilometre journey began at Scarborough Beach in Perth and is expected to finish this week at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Along the way, they’ve met communities, schools and local groups, using their four-seater bike as a symbol of teamwork, connection and hope.

Fran and Justin Freeman set out on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, and the journey was everything they imagined and more. Starting in Wangaratta, they pedalled through farmland alive with bird calls and swooping magpies, climbed into the gold-rush charm of Beechworth, laughed their way through heavy rain on the road to Yackandandah, and sped down rolling green hills back towards Wangaratta. With coffee stops, brewery burgers, hot showers, and even winery tastings around Rutherglen, every moment was filled with discovery. For Fran and Justin, this wasn’t just a cycling trip; it was a celebration of history, scenery, food, and the simple joy of sharing the ride. Read on to learn all about their adventure!

A Typical Day – Norseman to Coolgardie
What does a “typical” day on tour really look like? For long-distance cyclist Ian Wallis, a 165 km ride across Western Australia brought silence and salt lakes, the thunder of road-trains, rediscovered snacks, and the generosity of strangers. By the time he rolled into Coolgardie at sunset, the day had become one of grit, humour, and unexpected discovery. Read the full story and see why no two days in the saddle are ever the same!