Best bicycle path network

Leon said:

Which City has the best network and why?

Don't know from personal experience, but AFAIK Melb has the most milage?

Leon said:

Which City has the best network and why?

I can only speak for Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney (as I haven't ridden much in any other city). Of those three, I'd put Canberra first and Sydney a distant last. From what I have seen and heard of Brisbane, it's down there with Sydney.

So out of your list, I vote Melbourne (as you left Canberra off).

I would vote Melbourne, in that all the paths pretty much link up so you can circumnavigate the whole city & metro area - from Altona to Carrum downs, over to the Dandynongs then over north to Hurstbridge, west across to Maribynong, Sunshine & back to Altona/Willamstwon, & everthing in between.

Melb;s pretty flat too so it's not a gut buster to trek the big miles.

The bike paths, however meandering, are heavily used by commuters in/out of the city which shows that they not just there for looks.
Over the 15yrs I've been commuting, the set up of this patchwork of bike paths is the biggest impact in making riding safe for me. I use these paths where ever I can & have not recorded an incident with vehiclur traffic in the last 3 yrs.

In a word, PERTH!! 😎 Best bike network and best weather.

Adelaide, because its all I know. But I love it!

I can only speak for Sydney, which has no useful system of bike paths at all. None of my regular rides involve any use of paths, except for the dedicated path on the Harbour Bridge.
Sydney probably needs them the most, as traffic seems to be heavier and more gridlocked every month.I wouldn't drive during peak hours (note the plural) even if I were given a free Ferrari. We have lunatics making our town planning decisions.

artemidorus said:

except for the dedicated path on the Harbour Bridge.

Which has steps. So stupid. Then again, Melbourne's two biggest bridges over the yarra (West Gate and Bolte) can't be used by cyclists at all. It's a long ride upstream to the nearest bridge, and then downstream again... argh.

SomeGuy said:

Which has steps. So stupid.

It would be expensive to remove these steps, which for me do not detract from the fact that this is one of the most spectacular 1.5km of cycling in all of Sydney. I'd rather that they spent the money on cycling lanes for inner west roads.

i agree, defintitely not Sydney

i suppose it is what happens in a poorly planned city

they seem to just keep gearing up for cars only

you feel like a pioneer riding on the streets of Sydney

I was pretty impressed with canberra when i was there

Having ridden in Canberra and Adelaide, I would say Canberra is the best. It has the cruisers round the lake and the firetracks around the hills, something for everyone and bike paths all over the metro area.

gclark8 said:

In a word, PERTH!! 😎 Best bike network and best weather.

I've heard of the 'bike freeway' in Perth, but that's all I know, that's it's in Perth, and it's called a Freeway.
How long is it?
Why is it called a freeway?
Educate us George.

peterlip said:

I've heard of the 'bike freeway' in Perth, but that's all I know, that's it's in Perth, and it's called a Freeway.

How long is it?
Why is it called a freeway?
Educate us George.

its not a bike freeways as such... but it is a cycle patch that next to the car freeway... its really good in that you are away from the cars all the time... (thers is a fence in between)

Perth

As they are investing lots to support the large investment in cycling that Western Australians are making. Bicycles outsold cars last year.

There are heaps of new paths being created.

James

George - note you a Basso boy? I lived there for 5 years until I moved to Sydney last year.
Ridden in Perth, Melb & Syd pretty extensively. No brainer - Perth is best by far. Nowhere else that I know can give you a seperate bike path (yeah a few pedestrians) that is so wide, and goes so far (City to Madurah 80 kms). Not only that but along the river for a fair chunk as well.

SomeGuy said:

Which has steps. So stupid.

I cycle across the bridge every day. On the odd occassion I have seen some of the stronger cyclists ride up the ramp normally reserved for pushing the bike up. However, after i've walked up the steps and mounted my bike, i've managed to catch them up pretty quickly. I think the effort for some sees them too tired to go at more than a walking pace across the bridge.
Sydney definitely scores lowly for bike path networks even though that's all I know. I ride wherever I want as a result (keeping aware of motorists and pedestrians).
I agree with artemidorus; I enjoy cycling across the bridge each day and almost always ride with my head up taking in the view. I only find it frustrating when the wind is up as you can get blown around a bit.

Yes we have the best: http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/cycling/1515.asp An Aus wide Govt survey says so as well.

The Freeway Bike Path, maps can be downloaded from the above site, it goes from the Narrows Bridge, eventually to Mandurah. We Are expecting work to be commenced soon on the Bassendean-Bayswater section of the Perth-Midland path. I am looking forwrd to that! 😄