Canberra Bike Boom: Fuel Prices Drive Sales & Public Transport Push

Canberra bicycle shops are experiencing a surge in business as rising fuel prices prompt residents to reconsider their transportation options. Tim Palmer, owner of Rideshop in Braddon, reported a significant increase in sales and service bookings in recent weeks.

“We’ve definitely seen an increase in sales over the last few weeks,” Palmer said. “People starting to think about saving money on petrol, parking, all that.” He noted increased demand for servicing of older bicycles, as well as greater interest in electric bikes.

Palmer, who has operated Rideshop for 23 years, indicated that while an uptick in sales is typical at this time of year due to university students arriving in Canberra, this year’s increase is more pronounced. His shop is currently booked for servicing approximately a week and a half in advance, exceeding the usual demand for this period.

The rising fuel costs are linked to disruptions in global supply chains and exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Authorities have attributed the price hikes to both these factors and a period of panic buying.

ACT Energy and Water Minister Suzanne Orr recently informed the Legislative Assembly that Canberra’s fuel reserves are currently sufficient and do not necessitate rationing, though such arrangements are in place if needed. However, Transport Minister Chris Steel has encouraged Canberrans to explore alternative transportation methods.

Steel highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of switching to electric vehicles, stating, “It’s one that we want to encourage because we want to shift people into electric vehicles to support our climate goals, but it’s a really good way of saving money as well.” He as well emphasized the affordability of public transport, estimating that charging an electric vehicle costs around $20 compared to over $170 for a full tank of petrol.

The ACT government is expanding its public transport fleet, with 106 electric buses currently in operation and plans to acquire an additional 30. New bus services are scheduled to be introduced across Canberra starting with the third school term of this year. The recently completed Woden Interchange is expected to begin operations on April 20th.

Steel stated that the new interchange is not expected to significantly impact bus travel times, but advised commuters to check for potential platform changes. He also noted the importance of maintaining network capacity, stating, “You’ve got to balance capacity in the network. If we had everyone jumping on board tomorrow, we’d have completely full buses around the clock.”

While public transport fare reductions are not currently planned, Steel reiterated its affordability for commuters. Palmer anticipates that the current trend towards alternative transportation will continue, stating, “The way things are going in the Middle East, I think … it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”