Across Australia, cycling is growing as both a practical transport choice and a popular recreational activity (also known as cycling tourism). Approximately 3.97 million people use bikes each week, with a large share commuting to work. Additionally, there were 4.6 million cycling tourism trips in Australia in 2024, and this number is expected to grow with the rise in well-connected trail networks. This shift is creating new opportunities for councils to invest in street furniture that adds to the cycling experience.
Why Cycling Matters for Councils and Communities
- Reduced traffic congestion by enabling short trips without cars
- Lower emissions through active transport options
- Safer streets and shared paths through thoughtful design
- Stronger town centres through increased foot traffic and local visitation
- Tourism uplift through regional trail experiences
Practical Ways Councils Can Create More Value Along Community Bike Paths
Many councils are implementing initiatives to improve bike tracks and recognise the need for top-notch amenities. These features encourage cyclists to visit and use bike trails. Improving facilities along trails helps create a safer, more comfortable experience and encourages more people to get out for daily commuting or for recreational cycling.
1. Bike Racks
Designated parking areas, like bike racks, are a simple but powerful way to support cycling tourism and everyday commuting. A lack of bike racks can often mean people choose trees, signposts, or parking meters to secure their bikes. The addition of bike racks ensures bikes are safely secured in public locations along cycle paths and at key destinations.
Draffin Street Furniture offers heavy-duty bike hoops, bike rails, or modular bike racks, which can be customised to your area’s requirements.
Tips on incorporating bike racks
Placing your bike rack in the right places is just as important as picking the right product for your community. Bike racks can be placed near trailheads, cafés, town centres, playgrounds and visitor hubs. Make sure they’re in visible locations to support safety and passive surveillance. Allow space for different bike types (including e-bikes).
2. Drinking Fountains
Drinking fountains help support longer rides and everyday use — especially in warmer months. They are essential for keeping people and pets hydrated. They improve comfort for commuters, families and recreational riders, and reduce reliance on single-use plastic water bottles.
Draffin’s range of drinking fountains is available with optional bottle refill taps and dog water bowls.
Tips on placing drinking fountains
Place drinking fountains at trailheads, rest stops, and high-traffic community destinations, such as parks. For longer trails, add them between rest stops as well. Include dog bowls where appropriate.
3. Seating
Park furniture and seating give riders a chance to rest, rehydrate and enjoy their surroundings away from busy roads. For commuter routes, seating benches can also support comfort for less confident riders and those travelling longer distances.
Well-planned seating areas in an urban setting encourage daily cycling for all ages by giving them regular rest stops. For longer trails that get recreational or tourism traffic, seating should be planned as part of a broader network of rest nodes — spaced to suit a range of riders, including families, older users, and recreational cyclists.
Check out Draffin’s range of picnic table settings, park shelters, and outdoor bench seats in a range of materials.
Tips on adding seating and rest stops
Make sure you add seating at scenic points and trail junctions. Add consistent rest stops along longer routes. Include a mix of bench seating and picnic settings. Prioritise shaded placement where possible.
4. Shaded Spaces
Shade is a critical design consideration for cycling routes, particularly in high-UV and hot-weather environments. Incorporating shaded spaces supports:
- increased comfort for commuters and everyday riders
- safer conditions for families and older users
- longer stays at rest nodes and trail destinations
Tips on adding shaded structures
Councils should consider a variety of shading options: shade structures; tree planting to increase canopy cover; using tree seating in naturally shaded locations; and selecting materials suited to UV exposure.
5. Rubbish and Recycling Bins
Keeping public areas clean and tidy is a priority for all communities. Bins placed along shared paths and in rest nodes help reduce littering. Bin surrounds also help reduce littering and stop birds and animals from scavenging through rubbish. Clear signage helps users separate recyclables from general waste.
Our extensive range of wheelie bin surrounds comes in a range of materials, sizes and colours to suit your council’s waste separation requirements and aesthetic requirements.
Tips on adding bins
Add bins (with bin surrounds) at trail entry/exit points and rest nodes. Add clear signage for waste stream separation (e.g., recycling, landfill, etc.). Use bin surrounds to reduce litter and wildlife scavenging.
6. Whole-of-Life Value: Maintenance and Operations
For councils, public infrastructure must perform over time — across seasons, weather events, and changing community needs. Selecting durable, low-maintenance fittings protects budgets and reduces operational burden.
When planning cycling amenities, councils should consider:
- material durability (coastal corrosion, bushland conditions, UV exposure)
- ease of cleaning and servicing
- replacement parts and long-term availability
- vandal resistance and secure fixings
- standardisation across trail networks to simplify maintenance
Create a Better Space With Public-Use Infrastructure
When cycling infrastructure is supported with high-quality amenities, councils can create safer and more inclusive public spaces, reduce environmental impact through fewer short car trips, and improve visitor experiences and tourism growth.
At Draffin, we manufacture a large range of standard street and park furniture. We also have engineers on hand to support councils, landscape architects and designers — helping bring projects from concept to delivery with practical, durable solutions.
Contact Draffin today to discuss your project requirements or request advice on bike trail fittings that support long-term council outcomes — for commuters, residents and visitors alike.