Sydney Rides Festival 2011

Overview

Sydney cycling has come a long way. It used to be a smoggy, niche activity elbowing its way through aggressive traffic, trying to come to terms with how such a beautiful city can be so hilly. While these things are all still there, now Sydney also has  long-delayed bike lanes across the CBD, regular free defensive riding lessons, a Newtown bike library holding fort until the inevitable bike share scheme arrives and even plans for a cyclist change room in Taylor Square. And just when you thought that the City of Sydney couldn't get any more Amsterdam in its love of two wheels, flowers and separated bikeways, its gone and started off its own Sydney Rides Festival.

The festival is has a quadricep-straining spread across the city's geography, from its bike heavy Greenup in Darlinghurst to the borrow-a-bike sessions in North Sydney and south of the bridge. Free breakfasts for Ride to Work Day also feature under the Harbour Bridge and all over Hyde Park on Wednesday, and any number of flickering nights cohosted by the Sydney Bicycle Film Festival — not the least of which will be Sydney Rides' launch at the Bicycle Film Fest's annual street fair. You can pimp your ride in Ultimo and get the chance to introduce your bike to culture all over town.

Image by plugimi.