Active Transport Lessons from Taipei for Australia

Taipei cityscape

Taipei, Taiwan When it comes to transportation and urban design, every large city faces a similar set of challenges and trade-offs, but they respond to these in vastly different ways. Taipei is the capital and by far the largest city of Taiwan. I first visited in 1996 to attend the annual Taipei Cycle expo, which…

Dublin to Ban Driving Through Its City Center

Aerial view of the city or Dublin

Dublin Ireland This year, Dublin will become the latest European capital to bar through-traffic from its city center. In a bid to clear the roads and clean the air at its core, Ireland’s largest city is beginning a process of replanning central streets so that private cars and commercial trucks will be allowed access only…

Historic Declaration Expected to Unlock Billions for Cycling Infrastructure

Round table of parliamentary ministers

Brussels, Belgium The European Declaration on Cycling was signed on Wednesday 3rd April at the Informal Council meeting of Transport Ministers led by the Belgian European Union (EU) presidency at Egmont Palace in Brussels. It is the most ambitious EU-level policy initiative on cycling to date, recognising cycling as a strategic priority and acknowledging its…

Parisians Vote to Triple SUV and 4×4 Parking Fees

SUV parked on street

Paris, France Parisians have voted to triple parking costs for sports utility vehicles (SUVs), as the city aims to tackle air pollution and climate breakdown by targeting rich drivers in heavy, large and polluting cars. In a referendum held on Sunday 4th February 2024, which was closely watched by other capital cities, 54.6% voted in…

Paris Ranks Number One of 148 European Bike Share Systems

Paris, France Cycle Industries Europe recently released a comprehensive summary of European bike share systems. In summary, it reported that there are now systems in 148 cities across Europe with only 10 cities of 100,000 or greater population that do not yet have bike sharing at all. Not only did Paris rank number one, but…

BIKEBOX Distribution Boosts Mahle Availability

Closeup of bicycle wheel

Palencia, Spain MAHLE SmartBike Systems has bolstered its technical customer service in Australia by partnering with Melbourne-based distributor BIKEBOX. The Spanish manufacturer, established in 2015, is a subsidiary of German automotive parts manufacturer Mahle Group and has quickly established a strong presence in the bicycle industry after releasing the lightest and most compact e-bike drive…

Aeroe Arrives in Australia Through BikeSportz Partnership

Dunedin, NZ NZ bike rack specialist aeroe has officially arrived in Australia, after partnering distributor BikeSportz Imports. The Dunedin-based company, established five years ago, is renowned for its patented Spider Rear Rack, a versatile system designed to fit on virtually any bicycle. The brand has won multiple Design & Innovation Awards, one of Europe’s premier…

First Mid-Drive System Further Entrenches Hyena at Heart of E-Bike Sector

Person standing with display at bicycle expo

Taichung, Taiwan Taiwanese manufacturer Hyena, a supplier of e-bikes and components to some of the world’s biggest brands, recently unveiled its first full mid-drive system, as the company moves towards its ambitions to provide a full solution for systems and complete e-bikes. Hyena co-founder and CEO Charlie Chuang said the Unidrive 60 mid-drive system, for…

Bike Industry Alliance for More Sustainable Asian Production

Person working in bicycle factory

Rotterdam, the Netherlands A new training initiative to achieve more sustainable manufacturing processes in Asia has been launched by a collaboration of major bicycle brands and European organisations for sustainability. The Climate Action Training (CAT) program was announced this month by Shift Cycling Culture, a Netherlands-based not-for-profit working to accelerate collective climate action in the…