Cycling Fallacies
Don’t be fooled by common myths about cycling – use these explanations to help spread the truth!
While there are a great many blogs, articles and videos explaining these concepts, they can often be difficult to keep track of and link to.
If you’re a cycle campaigner, you’ll probably have come up against the same old arguments time and time again. There are many myths about cycling, which are widespread and often believed, without any basis in fact. So this website was created to make it easier for cycle campaigners to win the argument by providing a quick response to these myths.
https://cyclingfallacies.com/en/
Bike law: a bicycle rider’s guide to road rules in Victoria:
https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/bike-law
National Academies Paths to Biking, Walking Improvements
This website has lots of US based research about biking and walking in the US
https://www.nationalacademies.org/trb/blog/paths-for-walking-and-biking
European Cycling Federation
Probably the most professional cycling advocacy organisation in the world. ECF is the European umbrella federation of civil society organisations advocating and working for more and better cycling. They harness the power of the European cycling movements to promote cycling as a sustainable and healthy means of transport and leisure.
People for Bikes
PeopleForBikes is based in the US where they endeavour to make biking better for everyone by uniting millions of Americans, thousands of businesses, and hundreds of communities to make every bike ride safer, more accessible, and more fun. The PeopleForBikes Coalition has more than 325 supplier members and 1.4 million supporters in its grassroots network. When people ride bikes, great things happen.
https://www.peopleforbikes.org/
Urban Cycling Institute, University of Amsterdam
The Urban Cycling Institute is an impact-driven non-profit research and education organization that builds capacity and knowledge for the transition to sustainable, just and active urban mobility futures.
Their work uses urban cycling as a lens object to explore challenges, phenomena and solutions that redefine transport in cities.
They offer free online courses which are an absolute must if you take cycling seriously
https://urbancyclinginstitute.com
WeRide
We Ride Australia builds on nearly 20 years of national advocacy to empower decision makers and inspire all Australians to choose cycling.
As an independent voice in Australia, WeRide works to:
- Secure the policies, infrastructure and programs to ensure cycling contributes to healthy environment and convenient and enjoyable mobility for all.
- Build the case for investment in infrastructure.
- Disseminate evidence and data to support the role of cycling in community and national agendas.
- Present the positive, healthy and safe reality of daily cycling across the country by children, adults and seniors from all walks of life.
They aim to raise awareness of the multiple benefits of cycling for individuals, communities, businesses and Government and advocating for policies and investments to create more cycle friendly communities.
The activities used to achieve our objectives are built around our four pillars:
- Environment
- Infrastructure
- Health, and
- Safety
30 please
30 Please are campaigning for 30km/h speed limits to be the norm for our neighbourhood streets in Australia. Of course, we can have higher speed limits on main streets and arterial roads. On those streets we need separation for people to be safe: cycle lanes, footpaths and pedestrian priority crossings.
FIA Foundation
The FIA Foundation is an international charity, working closely with grant partners to shape projects and advocate to secure change in policy and practice. Their objective is safe and healthy journeys for all, whether it is the daily walk to school or the final lap of a Grand Prix. Through partners with global reach we are supporting safer vehicles and highways, clean air and electric cars, safe motor sport and low speed streets.
Their Strategy 2030 focuses on helping to achieve the ambitious targets of the United Nations’ Global Goals, in the areas of road traffic injury, air quality, climate action and youth empowerment. We support our partners at the FIA to work towards their ‘vision zero’ for no death or serious injury in motor sport.
https://www.fiafoundation.org/
Bikeradar
Bikeradar is for all things bike. If you need any information or advice on anything to do with bikes then BikeRadar is the way to go.
Sheldon Brown
If you need technical information on bikes then Sheldon (RIP) is the place to go to.
Sustrans
Sustrans work for and with communities, helping them come to life by walking, wheeling and cycling to create healthier places and happier lives for everyone.
Wheel Women
No matter where you are at with your bike riding, at Wheel Women, WW aim to provide a fun, social, recreational and non-competitive environment for women to learn to ride. It doesn’t matter if you are a total beginner who hasn’t ridden before, a beginner rider, someone returning to riding or an experienced rider looking for more skills, we have something for you.
WW programs and rides allow women to motivate and challenge themselves, while supporting others along the way. With guidance from accredited coaches, Wheel Women creates a judgment-free learning environment for you to build your confidence and achieve your goals. You do not need a lycra kit or a super expensive bike, we just want you to be comfortable.
Whether you are just starting out, want to enhance your skills, or just looking for a group to ride with, WW have a range of programs to suit your needs. WW are a registered provider of AustCycle courses and all of our teachers are Level 1 NCAS accredited coaches. We also offer gear and maintenance advice to help you choose a bike that’s right for you and makes your ride smoother.
https://www.wheelwomenaustralia.com/
League of American Bicyclists
For generations past and to come, the League of American Bicyclists is the grassroots movement to create safer roads, stronger communities, and a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. Through education, advocacy and promotion, we work to celebrate and preserve the freedom cycling brings to our members everywhere.
Life is better for everyone when more people ride bikes.
We’re making biking an easier and safer option for more people, because when more people bike, people are happier and healthier, our communities are safer and friendlier, and our planet is greener. Together, we can help more people know the joy of bicycling.
World Bicycle Relief
World Bicycle Relief is a catalyst for change, partnering with people in rural communities around the globe to realize their goals by expanding opportunities to access education, markets, health facilities and vital services with the tool they need to thrive.
Equipped with a purpose-designed Buffalo Bicycle from World Bicycle Relief, students, health workers and entrepreneurs in low-income regions create opportunities for themselves, their families and entire communities.
Global Decade of Action
In September 2020, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/74/299 “Improving global road safety”, proclaiming the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, with the ambitious target of preventing at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. WHO and the UN regional commissions, in cooperation with other partners in the UN Road Safety Collaboration, have developed a Global Plan for the Decade of Action, which was released in October 2021.
The Global Plan aligns with the Stockholm Declaration, by emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to road safety, and calling on continued improvements in the design of roads and vehicles; enhancement of laws and law enforcement; and provision of timely, life-saving emergency care for the injured. The Global Plan also reflects the Stockholm Declaration’s promotion of policies to promote walking, cycling and using public transport as inherently healthy and environmentally sound modes of transport.
iRAP
The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) is a registered charity dedicated to saving lives by eliminating high risk roads throughout the world. Like many life-saving charities working in the public health arena, we use a robust, evidence-based approach to prevent unnecessary deaths and suffering.
iRAP works in partnership with governments, road authorities, mobility clubs, development banks, NGOs and research organisations to:
- Inspect high-risk roads and develop Star Ratings, Risk Maps and Safer Roads Investment Plans
- Provide training, technology and support that will build and sustain national, regional and local capability
- Track road safety performance so that funding agencies can assess the benefits of their investments.
iRAP has released its Plan for the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety to save 2,000,000+ people from death or injury, make 200,000+km of roads safer and influence USD$200 billion of road infrastructure investment to save lives in the next 10 years. iRAP’s Plan is aligned to the Global Plan for the Decade of Action launched in October 2021, of which achieving 3-star or better journeys is one of 5 key areas for action
iRAP has developed a specific tool to assess cycling infrastructure.
Strong Towns
ST seek to replace America’s post-war pattern of development, the Suburban Experiment, with a pattern of development that is financially strong and resilient. ST advocates for cities of all sizes to be safe, livable, and inviting. ST work to elevate local government to be the highest level of collaboration for people working together in a place, not merely the lowest level in a hierarchy of governments.
Strong Towns was formed by Charles Marohn who was a traffic engineer and then had an epiphany
Future streets
Future Streets is a project in Māngere Central to reflect cultural identity and to make the neighbourhood safer and easier for people to travel around, especially in active ways like walking, cycling, or scooting.
https://www.futurestreets.org.nz/
Youtube Channels
Not Just Bikes
Not Just Bikes is absolutely brilliant. From taking the Orange Pill to the Downs Thomson Paradox, NJB explains it all brilliantly.
https://www.youtube.com/c/NotJustBikes
Path less pedalled
Great channel for cyclists who aren’t into competition but just like to get around on bikes
https://www.youtube.com/@PathLessPedaledTV
Shifter
Tom from Calgary is great at showing how things can be done and how things can be done better
https://www.youtube.com/@Shifter_Cycling
Strong Towns
https://www.youtube.com/@strongtowns
Confessions of an engineer playlist is brilliant showing nearly all the assumptions traffic engineers make are wrong
Citynerd
The most annoying voice on youtube but fantastic content. Well worth a look