Barriers and enablers to bike riding

2019–2023

Enhancement of bicycling participation has the potential to substantially improve population physical and mental health, reduce environmental emissions, connect communities and improve economic outcomes. Despite these benefits, participation in Australia is low. Identifying the perceived barriers and enablers of bike riding enables understanding of individuals’ perspectives of why they are not riding a bike. This mixed-methods project explored the factors that prevent and factors that encourage people to ride their bike in Victoria, using surveys, interviews with community members, and interviews with stakeholder organisation members to form practical recommendations.

Leading barriers identified through systematic review including 72,744 participants related to riding a bike on the road alongside motor vehicles and the associated safety concerns. Despite barriers, 78% of people in Victoria were found to be ‘Interested but Concerned’ in regard to riding a bike. People who had lower participation, including women and people living in outer-urban areas of Greater Melbourne, had consistently high levels of interest. Barriers and enablers specific to Victoria identified through survey methods were similar to review findings, where factors relating to riding a bike on the road, such as motorist aggression and concern about collision with motor vehicles were most highly reported. Women and men reported similar barriers to and enablers of riding a bike, however women described additional barriers not identified by men. Qualitative methods further highlighted that potential bike riders experience considerable barriers to riding a bike from infrastructure not designed for their needs.

This project involved collaborations with numerous stakeholder organisations including VicHealth, Bicycle Network, WeRide Australia, and the Municipal Association of Victoria. Input from these organisations was encouraged in an effort to bridge the gap between policy-makers, planners, and researchers working in the transport and health space.

This project was conducted as a PhD research program by Dr Lauren Pearson, supervised by Associate Professor Ben Beck, Professor Belinda Gabbe and Dr Sandy Reeder.

Associated works

Relevant publications

  • Pearson, L., Reeder, S., Gabbe, B., & Beck, B. (2023). What a girl wants: A mixed-methods study of gender differences in the barriers to and enablers of riding a bike in Australia. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 94, 453–465. doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2023.03.010
  • Pearson, L., Gabbe, B., Reeder, S., & Beck, B. (2023). Barriers and enablers of bike riding for transport and recreational purposes in Australia. Journal of Transport & Health, 28, 101538. 10.1016/j.jth.2022.101538
  • Pearson, L., Berkovic, D., Reeder, S., Gabbe, B., & Beck, B. (2023). Adults’ self-reported barriers and enablers to riding a bike for transport: A systematic review. Transport Reviews, 43(3), 356–384. 10.1101/2022.04.22.22274159