Latent demand

Although currently few people cycle to work, this could change rapidly...

• Most car trips in Australia could be done by bicycle instead (source)...

  Distance travelled to work / education by car
  Less then 5 km	35%
  Less then 10 km	61%

• Other western countries have a much higher proportion of people cycling to work then Australia (source)...

  Netherlands	28%
  Denmark	18%
  Australia	2%

  This in spite of the wheather being much more favourable for cycling in Australia then in other countries.

• NRMA's 1996 Monitor of Public Attitudes found 56% of people would reduce their car use if cycling and walking facilities were improved (source).

• Between 1991 and 2001, the number of bicycles owned by Sydney residents increased 40% from about 800.000 to 1.2 million. Almost half the households in NSW now have at least one bicycle (source).

• The number of people cycling to work increased by 18% from 1991 to 2001 (source).

More information

• 1999-2004 Australia Cycling - The National Strategy

• Critical mass flier - facts about cycling

• Cycling to work in Sydney: analysis of journey to work census data from 1996 to 2001