Changing cycling behaviours

Dr Siewfang Law

The study ‘Social Inclusive Bicycle Riding in Multicultural Australia’ was completed in collaboration with Bicycle Victoria and funded by the Scanlon Foundation.

Research by Victoria University community development academic Dr Siewfang Law has revealed migrants and refugees are riding much less than other Melburnians and much less than they used to in their home countries.

Dr Law surveyed more than 400 Japanese, Vietnamese, Sri Lankan and Arab-African people living in Melbourne and found they were riding, on average, eight times less often here than they had back home.

Vietnamese migrants rode their bikes 24 times less often since arriving in Australia.

The study found fear of riding on our roads was the chief factor behind their behaviour change and recommended organised riding events at cultural festivals, the promotion of cycling in different languages and having community leaders and women’s groups organise collective cycling events to help migrants join in the city’s cycling boom.

News: Getting migrants riding (November 2011), Migrants, refugees scared to ride (October 2011)

Project report: Social Inclusive Bicycle Riding in Multicultural Australia

“The notion of cycling on roads was perceived as dangerous for many of them. Off-road bicycle paths and rider education for multicultural groups will help them join in the city’s cycling boom.”

Dr Siewfang Law, Researcher
Phone: +61 3 9919 5224
Email: siewfang.law@vu.edu.au