Bicycle Network’s 2012 Bicycle Expenditure Index (BiXE) shows that Australia’s capital city municipalities are sprinting away from the pack in catering for the bike-commuting boom.
The cities of Melbourne (up 303%), Sydney (up 43%), Brisbane (up 37%), and Adelaide (up 186%) have significantly boosted bike infrastructure expenditure as they fight to establish an international profile and economic competitiveness.
Outside of the City of Sydney, however, most Sydney councils are still in the dark ages and have seriously slipped behind the rest of Australia. One hundred other councils across Australia were surveyed.
“Leading cities around the world have seized upon bike friendliness as a key selling point to attract jobs and visitors, while reducing congestion,” Bicycle Network’s CEO, Craig Richards said.
“As a consequence, most capital cities and many inner suburban councils are responding to the shift to bikes for transportation and recreation, and adapting their streets to meet this new reality.”
This is the seventh year of the project, which measures each council’s budget against a $5 per head threshold for spending on lanes, paths, signs and other facilities for bike riders. This year, 46% of councils are meeting the minimum threshold figure.
Of the capitals, Melbourne is at $50 per head, Sydney $89, Adelaide $98, Brisbane $27, and Perth $30. Hobart is a miserable 99 cents. The City of Sydney has been spending strongly in recent years as it seeks to shrink Melbourne’s infrastructure lead, established over many years.
A number of local councils are doubling the threshold, with some spending up to $20 per head. The City of Yarra in Melbourne has a five-year average spend of $20 per head, and now leads the nation in bike use.
Yet, the news was not all good. Of the 17 councils surveyed in NSW, only three were above the threshold.
“There are still too many municipalities with their heads in the sand,” Mr Richards said. “Every year that they delay action, the accumulated infrastructure deficit grows, and so ratepayers are left in the lurch.”
The full 2012 BiXE report, including information on participating councils and the methodology used, is available via: www.bicyclenetwork.com.au.
