Survey reveals cyclists’ biggest dislikes with riding in Adelaide

ONE in five cyclists has deserted the road over the past six years — so we asked what you didn’t like about riding in Adelaide. Here’s what you said.

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AS an aspiring cycling capital, Adelaide would seem to have everything that riders would want.

The traffic is relatively light, the population is fired up by the annual Tour Down Under, new laws protect safety, the sun is on their backs and the roads are flat.

The only thing missing is the bike riders, with one in five abandoning the roads over the past six years.

The Advertiser last week reported that the number of people riding a bike in South Australia had tumbled 20 per cent in the past six years, according to the latest National Cycling Survey. An Advertiser online poll of cyclists may help to explain why.

Our poll of 258 Adelaide cyclists found the constant frustrations are drivers’ attitudes towards cyclists, which is a concern for 38 per cent, lack of cycling infrastructure (26 per cent) and poor road safety (15 per cent).

Daily rider Mandi King understands the frustrations better than most. On Sunday, she had to swerve into traffic to avoid one car parked in a bicycle lane while she rode along Pirie St as she was photographed by The Advertiser.

Mandi King rides regularly through the city and says bike lanes often end abruptly. Picture: AAP/Dean Martin

“I think Adelaide cyclists find it hard to ride into the city mostly due to the fact that the bike lanes are not continuous and don’t actually meet up, so they find themselves abandoned by the bike lane and sometimes in a heavily trafficked area,’’ she said.

“Also there is not enough education about sharing the road both for riders and drivers.”

Another frustration for cyclists is the failure to police the recently implemented 1m and 1.5m rule for motorists to give cyclists more space when passing. Three in every four cyclists argued in the survey this is not being checked enough by police.

Surprisingly, given the drop in numbers, most cyclists continue to enjoy the experience. On a scale of one to 10, with one being “terrible” and 10 being “fantastic”, 60 per cent rated their ride between six and 10, and another 18 the average of five.

Bicycle SA chief executive Christian Haag says protecting those on two wheels is an essential function of government, to support those riding for family fun, health and low cost transport.

“It is a fundamental responsibility of all levels of government to provide their citizens with a safe and convenient road network that delivers choice about how we move through our city,’’ he said. “We are not there yet.’’

A motorised scooter rides along a bike lane in Pirie St. Picture: Tait Schmaal

A car parked in a bike lane.

Mr Haag said making Adelaide a truly cycle-friendly city required:

LOCAL Government spending more on the so-called “Greenway Network” linking green spaces throughout Adelaide.

AN end to bikeways that disappear suddenly on some roads, and a commitment to arterial bike ways into the city.

DIRECTING cyclists to quieter “bicycle boulevards” as is being done by the Norwood Panyeham and St Peters council.

LOWER speed limits on designated roads popular with cyclists.

Cycling enthusiast Premier Jay Weatherill has two bike racks on the roof for his daily drive, and has often talked of his enthusiasm for the sport, recreational pastime and two-wheeled commuting.

But dwindling numbers are making laughable an ambitions State Government plan to double the number of cyclists from 300,000 in 2011 to 600,000 in 2020.

In July last year, Adelaide City Council and the State Government announced they would spend $12 million to make the city the “cycling capital of Australia”.

The strategy is working in the inner city, said Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan.

“Commuter cyclist numbers into and out of the CBD have been increasing, rising from just over 4000 per weekday in 2006 to over 10,000 in 2016, despite the general decline in cycling participation among the broader community,’’ he said.

But the 2017 survey means there are now 250,000 on our roads, and to make the target of 600,000 in two years, it may be hard to make enough bicycles.

Adelaide’s cycling rhetoric has not matched the numbers, a point reinforced by Opposition Transport spokesman David Pisoni.

“A Liberal Government will work closely with local government, the RAA and the cycling community to improve cycling in Adelaide,’’ he said.

Far from the cycling city, flat Adelaide according to the 2017 National Cycling Survey found just 14 per cent of South Australian’s cycled each week, the second lowest percentage behind NSW.