Thank you to everyone who took part in our recent Membership and Stakeholder Surveys. We had over 500 responses, giving us a strong sense of what our community values and where you’d like to see us focus next. Your feedback helps guide our priorities as we plan for the years ahead. 

This week, we interviewed David Thomson, a long-standing member of Pedal Power. He described what cycling has meant for him throughout his life and shared the experiences he has had with Pedal Power. We are incredibly grateful for his insights and for the passion he brings to our community. Stories like David’s remind us why cycling matters and how much our members contribute to the spirit, history and future of Pedal Power.

While preparing for this year’s Celebration Ride, we took a deep dive into the Pedal Power archives and unearthed something truly special: our very first newsletter from April 1975. Among faded pages and typewritten lines, we found the beginnings of a movement that shaped cycling in Canberra. The stories, the tone, even the focus on safety and community all feel familiar, reminding us that while the way we share has evolved, our purpose hasn’t. The wheels started turning fifty years ago, and they haven’t stopped since.

Rosemary’s cycling journey began in 2014 after a knee injury led her to Pedal Power’s New Horizons course, and what started as rehab quickly became her passion. Since then, she has become one of our most recognisable members, riding with multiple groups and now hitting the trails on her mountain bike three times a week. Elected to the Board in 2017 and serving as President from 2018 to 2021, Rosemary guided Pedal Power through bushfires, COVID and key governance reforms. Today, she is known for her warm support on TeamApp and her leadership of the Social Rides Management Group, bringing deep organisational experience and a strong commitment to our community.

Fifty years ago, a small group of determined Canberrans rode together in protest, calling for the city to build safe, separated bike paths. That simple act sparked a movement. It was the beginning of Pedal Power ACT – and the start of Canberra’s journey to becoming the Cycling Capital of Australia. Half a century later, the heart of Pedal Power remains unchanged. Volunteers have always been the engine behind this organisation: passionate, persistent people who believed Canberra could be a city where anyone, at any age, could ride a bike confidently and safely. Their vision has shaped a city that is widely regarded as Australia’s leading cycling city, and scores well in international assessments of cycling infrastructure quality.

The celebration at Lennox Gardens brought everyone together over pide, dips, fruit and plenty of good conversation and great tunes thanks to Paris Lord from Canberra By Bike, who provided music along the route and at the park, entertaining those who stayed on to chat, relax and even have a dance. Long-standing and new members alike spoke about how meaningful it felt to be part of such a moment - honouring the past while showing up for the future.

From family picnic rides by Lake Burley Griffin to challenging Mountain Goat climbs and scenic weekend tours, Pedal Power’s social rides have been bringing Canberra cyclists together for 50 years. This article celebrates the history of our rides, highlights the diversity of cyclists who participate, and shows how volunteer leaders have kept these rides safe, fun, and welcoming for all. Whether you’re new to group cycling or a seasoned rider, there’s a social ride for everyone and a community waiting to share the journey.

Canberra’s roads are shared by people with very different levels of cycling experience and confidence, from the strong and fearless to those who are interested but concerned. This article explores why creating safe, inclusive streets matters for everyone, highlights common challenges cyclists face on busy routes, and explains how small acts of respect from drivers can make a big difference. By giving bike riders the space and safety they deserve, we can reduce congestion, encourage more people to ride, and help make Canberra a better, more livable city for all.

Get ready for major changes on Commonwealth Avenue. From mid-November, lane closures will begin as preparations start for a two-year bridge strengthening project.

Throughout 2026, the west (northbound) bridge will close completely, with all bike and pedestrian traffic moved to the east side. In 2027, the roles will reverse — the east bridge will close and riders will shift to the newly widened western path.

Expect regular weekend closures around London Circuit, Northbourne Avenue, and Parkes Way while the city’s major infrastructure upgrades continue. Mike Watson shares practical route tips to help riders stay safe and keep rolling through the disruption.

Join us for our landmark event, the highlight of our 50th anniversary year, our Celebration and Demonstration Ride on Thursday, 13 November 2025. This special ride will both honour our beginnings and call for a separated bike lane along Adelaide Avenue between Woden and Civic before Light Rail Stage 2B construction begins. 

But this isn’t just a ride, it’s a message. A message that safe cycling infrastructure must remain a priority. Your presence will help make that message heard loud and clear. When hundreds of riders come together, we show the strength, unity and visibility of Canberra’s cycling community - a community that continues to shape the city’s future, just as it did 50 years ago.

Canberra by Bike’s Halloween ride around Yerrabi Pond was a glowing success a fun, festive mix of lights, laughter, and community spirit. Seventeen riders, joined by local MLA Andrew Braddock, pedalled through the evening in costume, music, and good company. The flat, easy route made it perfect for riders of all ages, and the post-ride pizzas and stories capped off a magical night.

A huge thank you to Paris Lord and Canberra by Bike for bringing people together once again to celebrate the joy of cycling!

Pedal Power’s 50th anniversary forum, Spokes and Sustainability: A New Vision for Canberra — hosted in partnership with Andrew Braddock MLA and the ACT Greens — brought together community voices and policy leaders to explore how cycling can shape a healthier, more connected city. 

Facilitated by Stephen Hodge from We Ride Australia, the panel included Doris Voorbraak, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Netherlands; Andrew Braddock MLA, ACT Greens spokesperson for Transport; Paris Lord from Canberra by Bike; and Pedal Power’s Executive Director, Cecily Michaels. Together, they painted an inspiring picture of what’s possible when vision meets investment. 

When Fatemeh joined Pedal Power’s Cycle Well program, she wasn’t just learning to ride a bike — she was breaking barriers and realising a lifelong dream. Growing up in a culture where women weren’t allowed to cycle, Fatemeh learned to ride at 43, finding freedom and confidence on two wheels. Her journey from first wobbly rides to cycling to work on National Ride2Work Day captures the spirit of Pedal Power’s mission: empowering people to connect, grow, and discover the joy of riding.

After a six-year pause, National Ride2Work Day returned to Canberra with full force on Wednesday 15 October, reigniting the city’s cycling spirit and reminding everyone how good it feels to start the day on two wheels.

Pedal Power was delighted to host the event once again, with guided rides from across Canberra converging on Veterans Park for a community breakfast. More than 120 riders registered, with many more joining on the day—excited to take part in the community celebration. It was an absolutely beautiful spring day for a ride, and the city centre was alive with colour, conversation, and the sound of freewheeling bikes.

Pedal Power has been Canberra’s voice for cycling for 50 years. Want to help shape the next 50 and enter the draw to win a chance at a $300 voucher to The Canberra Cyclery? If so, then fill out one of our 2025 surveys for members and stakeholders. On the 29th of September, we launched our Membership Survey, and this week, we launched our Stakeholder Survey. Both surveys are currently open, and we would love your input!

It’s time to wrap up the year in style! Join us for the Pedal Power Christmas Party on Tuesday, 16 December, from 5 - 8 pm at Lennox Gardens. Bring along your own food and drinks, spread out a picnic rug, and enjoy an evening of good company and festive cheer by the lake.

As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we’re looking back at the moments and people who helped shape Canberra’s cycling story. Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing a series of features that revisit Pedal Power’s past from the early days of protest rides and handwritten flyers to the campaigns and community spirit that have kept Canberra pedalling for half a century.

We’re starting right at the beginning, with The Ride That Started It All the story of how two everyday commuters, frustrated by dangerous roads and a lack of cycling infrastructure, came together in 1974 to stage Canberra’s very first demonstration ride. That single act of courage and collaboration would grow into the organisation we know today: Pedal Power ACT.

Pedal Power’s first protest ride in 1974 helped shape Canberra’s cycling future. Fifty years later, we’re riding from Woden to Civic to show the ACT Government that separated bike lanes are vital for a liveable, sustainable city.

Join us for this group ride to celebrate 50 years of advocacy in the ACT! 🚲

As the Woden Town Centre grows, Pedal Power ACT is advocating for a people-focused approach that makes cycling and walking central to its future. Our recent submissions by Richard Bush to government highlight the need for better paths, safer crossings, and secure bike parking to support active travel and reduce car dependence.

On 24 September, Pedal Power hosted Handlebars of Happiness, an inspiring evening celebrating cycling through storytelling. Two remarkable speakers shared their journeys: Bernadette Hince, who spent 13 years cycling to every Canberra suburb in alphabetical order, and Robin Brown, who recounted his mother’s epic 8,000-kilometre ride across Europe in 1939.

Their stories, one of personal exploration, the other of courage and determination, reminded everyone that cycling is more than movement; it’s connection, curiosity, and community on two wheels.