Experiencing the joy of riding for everyday life

I was lucky enough to study in Amsterdam, where bike riding is central to everyday life. As students with limited funds, the first thing my friends and I did after getting off the plane was head to the market and buy rusty, secondhand bikes. They weren’t fancy, but they did the job getting us around – to work, university, the shops, dinner, drinks...

We did all that riding in our everyday clothes, rain or shine. I had several beautiful coats, which I loved so much I refused to cover them with a raincoat. The Dutch rain radar was my best friend! I even once rode to brunch during a snowstorm, although I wouldn't recommend that. 

My trusty rust bucket

Just me, my bike, my coat and the city 

Looking back, what I remember most is the sense of freedom. I rarely had to plan a public transport route, because I had my bike. I never had to worry about parking, because I had my bike. I chose not to worry about the weather, because it was just so much easier to ride my bike. I also cherish the feeling of community, and how fun it was to ride alongside my friends in my (second) favourite city in the world.

At one point, my bike became unrideable. It had a broken brake and made weird creaking noises for months – broke student things! - but when the second brake went, I had to admit defeat. It took me a while to find a suitable and cheap enough alternative, meaning I had to walk or sit on the back of a friend's bike. What a nuisance it was to be bike-less! If you don’t know how Dutch people ride two to a bike – look it up. You sit sideways on the rear rack and have to run and jump to get on. It’s terrifying. 

First impressions: moving to Melbourne’s Eastern suburbs

 Showing off my new shiny new bike in Melbourne - no rust in sightt! 

I moved to Melbourne in 2018, and at first I lived in the Eastern suburbs, 25 minutes out of the city by train. I got a bike for my birthday and soon started cycling to work, zig zagging through the streets of Camberwell, then down the Gardiner’s Creek trail to Chapel Street. The Gardiner’s Creek is beautiful, but Chapel Street is not for the faint hearted.

Although I avoided getting hurt, there were a few near misses with drivers opening car doors or turning across the bike lane without looking. The one-hour duration, hills, and unavoidable time on roads surrounded by cars made this experience very different to my previous commutes. But I kept going, mainly because I loved being outside and getting around under my own steam.

Cycling here feels different 

When it comes to bike riding, I’ve noticed things which feel different here in Melbourne: 
There’s a smaller community of people who already ride for everyday life

In Amsterdam almost everyone rides a bike to go about their day, and if you’re Dutch, you’ve been doing it since you were a kid. In Melbourne, a lot more people cycle for sport, often in lycra, trying to go as fast as possible. This means everyday people without fancy gear and a need for speed can think cycling is not for them.

Drivers don’t look out for cyclists

When you drive in Amsterdam, watching for cyclists is second nature, because most drivers are also cyclists. In Melbourne, I think my experiences on Chapel Street are unfortunately common – drivers aren’t used to checking for bikes, causing near misses and accidents.

The safe bike routes don’t link up

In Amsterdam, I never planned my bike routes to avoid cars. I always knew I’d either be on a separated bike lane or a quiet street with low traffic. In Melbourne, while there are many wonderful bike paths, there are stretches where you might have to cycle down a busy road, potentially with no bike lane at all. I often have to choose the long route to avoid scary situations.

People are scared to try bike riding

Sure, when you first move to Amsterdam the sheer number of bikes feels overwhelming, and you can get in hot water with more experienced cyclists if you get in the way. But I found the safe infrastructure and slow-moving traffic meant I had the time and space to get used to it, and I never felt at risk of getting hurt. But in Melbourne, everything I outlined above – the lack of connected safe bike routes, unaware drivers and limited community to help – can make bike riding too scary for some people to try.

Helping others find the joy of biking for everyday life 

Neighbourly Ride - pre-ride brief - photo courtesy of Ed Marriott

Now living in the inner north, I use my bike almost every day. The city is a 20-minute ride away, I go to coffee and dinner by bike, I fill my pannier with food from the local market and shops. I have some friends here who also cycle for everyday life, and I’m especially proud of those who were inspired to start by my sheer enthusiasm, but we’re in the minority. For every person who rides, I know another two who are interested (and may already have a bike) but just don’t feel confident or safe enough on Melbourne’s streets to give it a go. 

That’s why I joined Neighbourly Ride, leading fun and social rides around the Carlton North area. The idea is simple: we meet on a Sunday morning and go for a short ride on local paths and roads, with everyone welcome no matter their experience or speed. It’s wonderful to see all types of people turning up with their bikes, building confidence on the streets but also joining a community who bike for everyday life. You can feel the health and social benefits when you're part of the smiling group who have coffee after the ride.

A group of happy Neighbourly Riders

With fuel prices top of mind recently, it’s a great opportunity for those who can to consider pedal power as a very low-cost way to get around. If you want to give it a go in a safe and friendly environment, why not try a Neighbourly Ride? We meet every Sunday morning in four locations - Brunswick, Carlton North, Footscray, and Hampton.

Meanwhile, I'm still dreaming about the time I’ll meet my friends at the pub for a Sunday roast with everyone arriving by bike, Amsterdam-style. We’ll have to fight over the limited bike parking, but that’s a post for another day! 

Story, images and words by Katy Elliot - Volunteer Neighbourly Ride Leader
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-elliott1