The report revealed that many adults would cycle more often if better infrastructure and programs made cycling easier and safer.
It also revealed that the sector generated 60,000 jobs and $18.6 billion in economic and social contributions from cycling and e-scooter use last year, as well as contributed $954 million in health and social benefits, including $313 million in savings to the Australian health system.
Cycling also helped to avoid more than 500,000 tonnes of CO2e in greenhouse gas emissions by replacing 3.9 billion kilometres of motor vehicle travel.
The report was launched in federal parliament earlier in the week by Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services Stephen Jones as part of the Cycling Luminaries Awards gala dinner hosted by Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines, Zaneta Mascarenhas, Andrew Wallace and Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor.
RACV general manager mobility Juila Hunter said the report reinforced the importance of investment in cycling infrastructure and the many benefits of micro-mobility options such as e-bikes.
“RACV is encouraging the government to improve cycling infrastructure in Melbourne and regional centres of Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo, including the RACV super-highway cycling network of 10 priority corridors that will physically separate and protect cyclists from other road users,” she said.
“Also of note is the growth in popularity of e-bikes, with the number of electric-powered bikes sold nationally increasing by over 250 per cent from an estimated 54,000 bikes in 2020 to 193,000 bikes in 2022.
“RACV encourages both the Victorian and Commonwealth governments to promote the acceleration of e-bike adoption as a health, sustainable and affordable transport alternative.”