General News
15 May, 2026
PEDAL POWER: A thing of the past? By Brian Lennen
As I sat in my car at the traffic lights while the students from Maryborough passed by, I pondered where the pushbikes were.
The majority of the homeward pupils where on foot. A busy stream of cars passed by and several buses.
Two lads on scooters zig-zagged across the road.
Not one bike was seen.
Several days later I examined the bike racks during the day and found one solitary bike.
Two separate parents escorted their junior students on foot.
We are witnessing the passing of the pushbike era.
Much controversy is building up regarding the E-bikes and E-scooters.
Riders have been engaged in accidents that have caused serious injuries and fatalities to riders and pedestrians.
Governments and councils are attempting to legislate to ensure the safety of all.
I shudder when I think about the emergence of driver-free cars.
All our bike shops have disappeared and bikes are sold through the retail giants.
As a kid growing up in Melbourne we all had bikes.
Greg Greaves, the spoilt son of a local publican, had a brand new “Malvern Star” with handle-bar brakes, gears and even a speedometer.
The bikes of my mates had different origins, each with a tale to tell.
As was the case with our billy carts, our bikes were sourced from a multitude of locations.
Of course Abernicks scrap metal yard was our first option.
Although some parts were found in the most unlikely of places.
Johnno found a bike frame on the bottom of the Merri Creek.
It took our combined efforts to retrieve it. Amazingly when cleaned up it was as new. How it had got in the creek was a mystery to all.
Sergeant Powers of the Fitzroy Police Station rode a bike on the beat; along with Bob, the postie. Their thick gaberdine trousers were tucked into their gaiters.
Wheels with pneumatic tyres were the most costly item, and even bought secondhand stretched our budgets.
Punctures were frequent and we became experts at mending them.
In my early teens I had a job working at Paterson’s local bike shop, mainly patching punctures.
The tube was removed from the tyre and pumped up, then they were doused in a tub of water where bubbles indicated the source. A chalk mark highlighted the spot.
A patch was applied and once dry it was sand-papered smooth and then re-attached to the tyre (not always an easy task).
Finally it was pumped up and ready to go.
Nails and tacks were the most common sources of punctures. It was essential to carry a puncture kit.
Just recently I saw a young woman being “dinked” on the handle-bars across High Street.
Usually if you were wearing long trousers you tucked them into your socks to avoid them getting tangled in the chain.
My first bike had a fixed gear which meant the pedals went round and round. I had no brake so I had to put my heel on the back tyre to stop.
This was a practice “fraught with danger”.
Despite their origins, our bikes were much loved and were avenues to explore a wider world.
Despite the poor quality of the roads, the absence of traffic meant you’d travel quite safely on the open roads.
A popular ride was to Donnybrook, a mineral spring town — a round trip of about 60 miles. We would leave early and be home before dark.
Bikes come in all forms. We have all marvelled at the circus clowns as they ride about on their unicycles. The penny farthing is cumbersome and a personal challenge too great for me.
In Asia, the rickshaw riders are the best way to get around in the narrow streets and laneways.
A special adaption of pedal power was the paddle craft that we hired on the beach at Rosebud. They were great fun.
Councils all over Australia have made a concession to cyclists by installing bike lanes.
Unfortunately the saturation of traffic and a preparedness for risk-taking is an escalating problem.