Cycling is the environmentally friendly way to get around the city. Melbourne now has the ‘Bike Share’ program so it seems likely that more people will start riding to work instead of driving. But what is the culture of cyclists who currently commute on two wheels? We asked Joyce from CycleStyle Australia about her blog cyclestyle.com.au, and about what kinds of people are riding bikes in Australia.

Do you believe that the number of people cycling in Melbourne is on the rise?

Yes, absolutely! I started cycling to work about 5 years ago where it was still a bit unusual to do so. Now no one blinks an eye when I bring my helmet into work, and from what I see on city streets, more people are cycling in their everyday clothes and on cool-looking bikes as well.

What kinds of people are cycling in the city these days? Are they all commuters in lycra, or is there a strong balance between ‘professional’ cyclists and ‘leisure’ cyclists?

Monday to Friday there still seems to be a majority of male, athletic/lycra clad cyclists. I get quite a few glances being (a) female (b) not dressed in sports gear (often in heels!). On the weekend you do get more leisure cyclists out but they are still normally in sneakers/exercise gear. So we’ve a long way to go to get to number of everyday, commuter cyclists that you see in many European cities, for instance.

You run the blog, ‘CycleStyle’. How did you come up with this? Was it because you noticed an increased in particularly stylish people on bikes, or did you have to go on a search for things to feature in the blog?

The blog is attached to the actual shop called CycleStyle which sells stylish clothing and accessories for the urban cyclist – no lycra! I started the blog because I thought it was a great way for readers to be inspired by images of stylish cyclists and information about cool cycling gear from around the world, and of course to find out a little bit more about CycleStyle the business and what makes us tick and gets us excited!

There is talk of abolishing helmet laws in Melbourne to encourage more people to ride. What do you think of this?

Do we need helmets, or not, and what do you think are possible alternatives? I’ve not heard any news about abolishing helmet laws, although there has been much more discussion about it in cycling forums and the media since the introduction of Melbourne Bike Share. I’ve not examined the data and research in any detail so I can’t say definitively whether or not we need helmets. But I’ve noticed that once people decide that they want to ride, the need to wear a helmet is not going to stop them. What stops people from riding is a perception that road conditions for cyclists are unsafe because they are shared with traffic, so I think that focusing attention on building appropriate cycling infrastructure is key.

Do you think the installation of the Melbourne Bike Share bikes will significantly increase the number of people cycling in the city?

It’s difficult to say. I hope that having the bikes around, and seeing people riding the bikes (or just having more people riding bikes in general), might encourage the group of potential cyclists who are ‘interested but concerned’ to have a go. How do you think cycling culture in Melbourne compares to that of other Australian cities, or to other cities Internationally? Melbourne has a great cycling culture – there’s something for everyone, from the commuters to fixed-gear types to families riding the Yarra Trail to the hard-core cyclists who ride Beach Road every Sunday. I also believe that our councils recognise that cycling is an economical and efficient way to deal with the problems of traffic congestion and climate change which come with population and economic growth, as well as providing health benefits for an increasingly overweight society. I think many Australian cities are on the same path – I’ve noticed increased investment in cycling infrastructure and sometimes the implementation of bike share schemes, so that’s encouraging. I think that urban planners who focus on cycling would like to get to the kind of cycling culture you see in cities like Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Portland – where getting around by bike is an everyday activity and simply a mode of transport. We’ve a way to go but at least it’s a start. It’s taken those cities 10+ years to get to where they are today.

What kinds of fashion trends have you spotted for cyclists in Melbourne? What kinds of things can people do to make cycling more stylish whilst maintaining the ability to ride comfortably/efficiently?

I’ve noticed an increase in the number of cyclists who ride fixed gear/single speed bikes and more retro-style, sit-up bikes on the road. These riders are generally dressed in their everyday, and often very stylish, clothes. Melbourne is Australia’s fashion capital, after all! My view of what makes a stylish cyclist is basically someone who expresses their personal style through their appearance – and they just happen to be riding a bike. So, for instance, I have a collection of strapless dresses, cardigans, colourful high heels and wear a lot of scarves – and that’s exactly what I wear when I ride. The only adjustments I tend to make with my wardrobe are that I don’t ride with long skirts (I’ve had the hems of beautiful chiffon dresses chewed up by gears) or pencil skirts (too tight for ease of movement). I also wear shoes with backs (so no thongs or slides) and use bags and panniers which fit onto my bike as I carry a lot of stuff and don’t want to cause back pain. Otherwise, anything goes!

What types of things can readers expect to find on your blog?

The CycleStyle blog updates 5 days a week and each article is a short, enjoyable read. In my travels around the internet I collect beautiful cycle chic images, interesting articles about cycling in style, funky products from bikes to bags to lights to helmets and great bike-related services like the food delivery bikes. Once in a while the post will be about a new product being released in the shop, an interview with one of our suppliers or news about CycleStyle upcoming events.

-Kealey Nutt. Please visit thelmamagazine.com for more