Recreation
There will always be a grey area of overlap between recreation and micromobility. Broadly speaking we’ll categorise micromobility as being intended for some form of utilitarian transport while recreation is primarily for fun and exercise. We will decide which heading to use to define any activity based upon what the primary focus is.
Mt Stromlo Forest Park Opens More Trails
In a press release on 29th August 2020, Andrew Barr, Chief Minister for the ACT Government announced that four kilometres of Stromlo Forest Park’s newest mountain bike trails are now open. The new trails will add to the already expansive 44km, offering cyclists additional world class novice and experienced riding trails to explore. The trails…
$9.5 Million State Government Matching Funding Announced for Bundaberg to Gin Gin Rail Trail
On Wednesday 19th August the Queensland state government announced $9.5 million in funding to match local council funding to build the first two stages of the Bundaberg to Gin Gin Rail Trail. Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said that the project would create 229 jobs. “For every dollar we invest in bike-riding,…
Huge Ridership and Business Generated by Newly Opened Rail Trail
Victoria has long led Australia in terms of the construction and ridership of rail trails. The state now boasts and extensive network, of which three of the best known and most heavily used include the Murray to Mountains, Lilydale to Warburton and Bellarine rail trails. But despite this economic success from their traditional rival, for…
WA Government Announces $20 Million For Cycle Trails
On Saturday 8th August 2020 Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan announced $20 million of new funding for cycle trails in Perth and surrounding towns. The funding was part of a $150 million tourism stimulus package. The trail funding is for mountain bike and general recreational trails in the Perth Hills, and the South Western region…
Two Dealers See Opportunities Ahead for Bicycle Tourism
By Anna Gurnhill This month I spoke with two local bike retailers about their perspectives on bicycle tourism, and what it means for their business. Phil Hopkins, Kingston Foreshore Cycles, ACT I admit, I was thrown at the outset of my chat with Phil at Kingston Foreshore Cycles when – not long into the conversation…
Mountain Biking’s $100 Million Jump!
On 7th February 2015, 20 kilometres of world class mountain bike trails were opened at the then almost ghost town of Derby in a relatively remote corner of Tasmania. The rest, as they say, is history. Derby has boomed. People of all over the world have come to visit. International events have followed with successfully…
MTB Trails Cause Real Estate Boom and New Bike Shop
Landmark NSW Rail Trail Opening Soon
A rail trail is created when abandoned rail corridors are converted into shared-use paths for walking, bike riding and sometimes horse riding. Rail trails are a proven generator of business for the bicycle industry with some popular Australian rail trails recording counts of 3,000 cyclists on long weekends. NSW currently has only 11 rail trails…
Cycle Tourist Numbers up 40% in Popular Cycle Region
Victoria’s High Country has experienced a 40 per cent rise in cyclists touring the region in just 12 months, cementing the North East as one of the world’s top trail cycling destinations. This represents an extra 40,000 cyclists coming the region since Victoria’s state government invested $12 million into the North East Cycling Optimisation Project.…
Trails Lead to Multiple Benefits
You can see a pattern emerging all over Australia and New Zealand. When enticing new cycling infrastructure is built, such as a new mountain bike trail network or a rail trail, then businesses that embrace the new opportunities grow and prosper. Australia is about to see unprecedented government investment in new recreational trails. We’ll share…