Australian cyclist numbers
and population
1985/86 - 2025
Compare with 1985/86 - 2011 survey
Compare with 1985/86 - 2013 survey
Compare with 1985/86 - 2015 survey
Compare with 1985/86 - 2017 survey
Compare with 1985/86 - 2019 survey
Compare with 1985/86 - 2021 survey
Compare with 1985/86 - 2023 survey
Compare with AusPlay 2023/2024 survey
In 2025 there were 218,209 fewer Australians aged 9yo+ riding bicycles than in 1985/86, five years prior to mandatory helmet law enforcement in 1990-1992, despite 9yo+ population growth of 78.5% over that time.
The 2025 National Cycling Participation Survey results published by Cycling and Walking Australia and New Zealand show that Australia's cycling participation decline continues roughly 35 years after helmet laws were introduced, with dire public health and road safety consequences.
The CWANZ 2025 results are a continuation of a biennial surveys that began in 2011.
Using Australian Bureau of Statistics population estimates for the first quarter of 2025, shortly before the participation survey was conducted, daily cyclist numbers in different demographics are calculated for comparison with 1985/86 daily cycling estimates sourced from Day to Day Travel in Australia 1985-86.
The table below calculates that the 1,427,691 bicycle trips per day by Australians aged 9+ in 2025 was 13.3%, or 218,209, less than the 1,645,900 who cycled on any given day in pre-helmet 1985/86, despite a national population increase during that time of 78.5%.
The tables below show CWANZ estimated state and national weekly, monthly and yearly cycling percentages.
The table below compares 2025 demographic results with the 2011 survey, showing a continuation of the trend since the early 1990 when baby boomers who grew up learning to cycle without a helmet continued to ride, many with bare heads, while younger generations are less and less interested in cycling when under threat of punishment if they don't wear an inconvenient and uncomfortable helmet.
Note: In November 2024, AusPlay published its annual Australian sports participation data including cycling with a caveat that a new baseline had been established for the 2023/24 data and that it could not be directly compared with figures from 2015-2023.
The new AusPlay data (based on an online survey rather than telephone interviews) might be expected to be a more accurate participation estimate than previously or the change would not otherwise have been made.
The AusPlay tables, albeit with a changed data baseline, show cycling for 15yo+ as a population proportion was 11.7% in 2015/2016 and 8.9% in 2023/2024.
The CR69 survey in 1985/86 (as cited higher on this page) estimated 9yo+ daily cycling in Australia numbered 1,645,900, increasing to 1,989,562 in 2011 and decreasing to 1,289,875 in 2023 based on National Cycling Participation survey data (as higher on this page).
The AusPlay total above of 2,084,644 all-age participants in 2023/2024 is participants who had cycled in the past year, whereas the 1985/86 estimate of 1,645,900 is for participants aged 9yo+ who cycled each day.
Australia’s population was roughly 15,600,000 in 1986 and 26,713,205 in 2024 - a 71.2% increase. Australia’s population was 22,485,300 in 2011 and 26,713,205 in 2024 - an 18.8% increase.
The AusPlay data above show a sum of 217,294 Australians aged 0-17yo cycled in 2023/24, which compares to 252,502 Australians aged 65yo+ cycling - i.e. 16.2% more elderly people, who learned to love cycling as kids without helmet laws, cycled in Australia during 2023/2024 than did all teenagers and children aged 17 and younger.
Home Western Australia cyclist injuries Western Australia cyclist numbers Helmet law research Helmet law research before law
Different Australian States Helmet law New Zealand Helmet law United States Helmet law Canada Helmet law England
Australia's obesity Child cycling Bike accidents 1987-1996 Australia's health crisis Second-hand helmets Prison penalties
WA injury severity
Football helmets
Social impact
Government deceit
Cyclist fatalities
Web links
Contact