Infrastructure, regulation and the experiences of delivery cyclists in Australian cities

On-demand delivery—accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic—has reintroduced bicycles as a leading mode for last‑mile logistics, especially food. Despite extensive public and policy attention in Australia, rider perspectives have been largely absent. Using grounded theory, this mixed‑methods study combines in‑depth interviews (n = 52; 51 included), a naturalistic cycling study (104 hours of handlebar‑mounted camera footage) and roadside video observations (216 hours) to provide the first comprehensive account of delivery cyclists’ experiences (gig and salaried; food and parcel) in Sydney and Melbourne. While media debates often center on gig‑work precarity, riders emphasized road environment risks—particularly interactions with motor vehicles, traffic conditions, and inclement weather—over employment arrangements. Riders called for connected, physically separated cycling infrastructure, better road rules and enforcement for safer sharing of street space, and workplace supports (training, pay/conditions, hubs). Many already repurpose underused urban spaces to create safer, more permeable routes. Findings highlight delivery cycling’s potential to support more sustainable urban mobility and inform infrastructure and regulatory reforms.

Amelia Thorpe, Marilyn Johnson, Courtney Hercus, Thomas Rudge, Soufiane Boufous, Derek Chong