The latest City Ratings, PeopleForBikes' annual program ranking global cities and towns on how good they are for bicycling, shows that Canberra is the best place for biking in Australia, followed by Alice Springs and Sunshine Coast. This comes as the Australian Government recently announced the largest investment in active travel in more than a decade. 

Starting in July next year, $100 million will be available for new biking and walking paths across the country. According to the government, this will “support zero-emissions travel, provide a safer environment for cyclists and pedestrians, and promote active and liveable communities”.

Best and Worst Places for Bicycling 

City Ratings scores and rankings measure the quality and connectivity of a city’s bike network, including its protected bike lanes, bike paths, low speed limits, and safe crossings. Canberra scores higher (with a rating of 55 out of 100) than any other city in Australia due to its excellent network of shared paths. This is despite the fact that many of its actual roads rate as "high stress" due to having high speed limits. 

SEE HOW YOUR CITY SCORES

The second best location is Alice Springs, which has a rating of 51, followed by Sunshine with a rating of 46. 

At the other end of the rankings, Port Macquarie is identified as the worst city for biking in Australia with a rating of just 24. This is followed by Townsville with 25 and Central Coast with 27. 

Falling Behind 

There has been historical reluctance to introduce bike infrastructure in cities across Australia, with moves to do so often controversial due to the perceived impact on driving. This is why even popular international destinations such as greater Sydney have a poor rating of just 29. 

The overall findings are subpar compared to other countries. Australian towns and cities have an average rating of just 34, compared to an impressive 78 for the Netherlands. When looking at individual examples, places such as Paris (87), the Hague (89), and Munich (85) really show just how far behind Australian towns and cities are when it comes to bicycling. This is partly explained by the fact that almost all cities in Australia have high speed limits. 

“With the release of our latest City Ratings, we're excited to highlight how  Australian cities rank for the caliber of their bike infrastructure. Canberra leads the way with its impressive network of shared paths, setting a benchmark for the country,” said PeopleForBikes President and CEO Jenn Dice. "This comes at a crucial time, as the Australian Government's unprecedented $100 million investment in active travel next year promises to create safer and more connected communities. We hope this data will empower local advocates and policymakers to champion the necessary infrastructure that promotes zero-emissions travel and enhances the quality of life for all residents.”