The best parking spot at Floriade has two wheels
Skip the traffic crawl, roll past the hunt for a car park and arrive with the spring air already in your lungs. This Floriade, your bike might be the best way through the gate.
Every Canberra spring comes with two familiar sights: Commonwealth Park bursting into colour and cars circling the city in search of somewhere to stop.
There is another way to arrive.
Floriade opens from 12 September to 11 October, and Commonwealth Park is connected to shared paths from the city, Lake Burley and surrounding suburbs. Pedal Power has supplied bicycle racks for the festival, with bike parking available close to each entry gate.
No parking fees and just remember to bring your lock.
But if your bike has spent winter gathering dust in the garage, give it a little attention before making your grand spring return.
Wake your bike from its winter hibernation
You find the helmet under a pile of reusable shopping bags. The tyres look a little soft. The chain makes a noise you are fairly sure it did not make last summer.
Sound familiar?
The good news is that a quick five-part check can catch many common problems before you leave home.
Start with the tyres. Press each one firmly with your thumb and check the recommended pressure printed on its side. Pump them up and look for cracks, bald patches or anything embedded in the rubber. Correctly inflated tyres make the ride easier, and make an untimely flat less likely.
Next, squeeze the brakes. The levers should feel firm and stop the wheels without pulling all the way back to the handlebars. If they feel weak, uneven or unfamiliar, do not wait until the downhill run towards the lake to investigate.
Then turn the pedals and listen to the chain. A clean, lubricated chain should move smoothly. If yours is dry or rusty, wipe away the dirt, apply a small amount of bicycle chain lubricant and remove the excess. Persistent skipping, slipping or grinding is a sign that your bike may need professional attention.
Check your lights, even if you are planning a daytime visit. Spring afternoons have a habit of stretching into evenings, particularly if NightFest is involved. Make sure your front and rear lights are charged, bright and securely attached.
Finally, inspect your helmet. Look for cracks or dents, fasten the buckle and adjust the straps so the helmet sits level and secure. If it has taken a significant impact, it is time to replace it, even if the damage is difficult to see.
Five checks, a few minutes and far less chance of your Floriade ride becoming memorable for the wrong reason.
Your front-row parking spot
Bikes cannot be taken inside the Floriade grounds, but racks are positioned near each entry gate. Lock your bike through the frame, remove any easily detachable accessories and take valuables with you.
Temporary route changes are in place around Commonwealth Park during the festival, so follow the signs and check the official cycling map before leaving. Paths may also be busier than usual, making this a good time to slow down around pedestrians, ring your bell before passing and share the spring cheer.
Not sure what that mysterious bike noise means?
Pedal Power’s hands-on maintenance workshops help Canberra riders become more confident caring for their bikes.
Beginner sessions cover safety checks, tyre pressure, flat tyres and everyday adjustments. Intermediate workshops go further, with more advanced repairs, tune-ups and mechanical problem-solving.
You do not need to become a bicycle mechanic. Sometimes, simply knowing what to check, and when to ask for help, is enough to turn an uncertain ride into an easy one.
This spring, avoid the parking hunt. Check your bike, pack your lock and take the route where the journey becomes part of the day.
