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My petty gripe: I’ve been yelled at, huffed at and filled with rage at humanity. Why does Sydney hate bikes?

My petty gripe: I’ve been yelled at, huffed at and filled with rage at humanity. Why does Sydney hate bikes?

‘Why am I constantly reading about Sydneysiders’ deep-seated fear of losing parking spaces or – god forbid – making our roads more accessible?’ As a…

Tuesday, Jan 28

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‘Why am I constantly reading about Sydneysiders’ deep-seated fear of losing parking spaces or – god forbid – making our roads more accessible?’ As a proud Victorian I’ve warmed to Sydney’s charms – but in this one aspect, Melbourne is light years ahead More summer essentials

I was a proud partaker of the Sydney v Melbourne debate – until I made the move myself. Over three years, me, a proud Victorian, slowly warmed to Sydney’s charms: the sunny beaches, the nature, the abundance of dog-friendly pubs.

With one exception.

This city despises bicycles. Why?

Why has it been designed, and redesigned, in such a way that often the only option is to ride helplessly on a shared pedestrian pathway littered with potholes, hoping you don’t crash into a child or veer into a tree?

Why does Sydney, with very few exceptions, refuse to build specific bike lanes? Why am I constantly reading op-eds about Sydneysiders’ deep-seated fear of losing parking spaces or – God forbid – making our roads more accessible?

In Melbourne, I would ride effortlessly from one side of the city to the other, the wind in my hair, waving good-naturedly at my fellow citizens. I would float down Melbourne’s bicycle highway of Canning Street, ethereal, serene.Yet in Sydney, I have had encounters that have filled me with a deep-seated rage, that have forced me to repeat profanities I would never have imagined possible.I have had couples yelling at me when I ring my bell, dog owners huffing dramatically when I […]

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