ABSTRACT
Beach Road soon became hugely popular with cyclists, and by the end of the nineteenth century its numerous riders were in conflict with other road users. In brief, the Beach Road cycling phenomenon embodies recognised Australian national characteristics of mateship, endurance, obsession with sport, teamwork and resilience, while exemplifying the enduring problems resulting from mixing cyclists with motorized vehicles. Australians took to the bicycle at an early date, with Victoria becoming the fulcrum of Australian cycling after the first velocipedes were imported from Europe in 1868. Australia’s first bike race was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1869. The Melbourne Bicycle Club was the first Australian club, formed in 1878. A key player was the Bicycle Institute of Victoria, established in 1975 in Melbourne. In 1976, it presented the Melbourne Bikeway Plan, and in 1978 the Geelong Bike Plan, forerunners of today’s bicycle infrastructure.
