Join Pedal Power ACT’s Protest Ride for Safer Streets for Bikes
Map of Northbourne
Media release
Join Pedal Power ACT’s protest ride on tomorrow, Friday, 11 October 2024, as we call for segregated bike-only paths along Northbourne Avenue—a major commuter route for cyclists—and safer roads for all.
Event at a Glance:
Where: Starting from Haig Park, view the route here.
When: Tomorrow, Friday, 11 October 2024, at 3:15pm for interviews and photos. Ride starts at 4pm.
Who: Pedal Power members and the public. Already 70 community members have registered to participate.
Why Northbourne Avenue Needs Segregated Bike-Only Paths
Northbourne Avenue is one of Canberra’s most popular commuter routes for cyclists—imagine how many more would choose to ride if there were safe, segregated bike-only paths. By separating cyclists from vehicles, we reduce the risk of road trauma for all road users, ease congestion, and make commuting less stressful for motorists and cyclists alike.
Along the route tomorrow, we will ride past a red bike, chained at the corner of Northbourne Avenue and Murdoch Street, as a reminder of the trauma sustained by a Pedal Power member on 14 September 2022. When commuting he was critically injured by a car, demonstrating the ineffectiveness of a painted line in protecting cyclists.
Quotes: Cecily Michaels, Executive Director, Pedal Power
"Northbourne Avenue is already a busy route for cyclists, but with segregated bike-only paths, even more people would feel safe commuting. Segregated paths reduce road trauma, make travel smoother for everyone, and ease the anxiety drivers feel when sharing the road with bikes.
"Our protest ride highlights the need for the Government to finally deliver on their promise of a bike-only path along Northbourne Avenue. Safer, well-designed cycling infrastructure benefits everyone—let’s make it happen.”
Pedal Power has been campaigning for better cycling infrastructure that is integrated with this arterial road and this mass ride aims to highlight that dedicating one lane of the road to active transport is not only possible, but needed.”
