Migrants and refugees are not only riding much less than other Melburnians, they are riding much less than they used to in their home countries.
Researchers surveyed more than 400 Japanese, Vietnamese, Sri Lankan and Arab-African people living in Melbourne and found they were riding, on average, eight times less often here than they had back home.
Vietnamese migrants rode their bikes 24 times less often since arriving in Australia.
The lead researcher said fear of riding on our roads was the chief factor behind their behaviour change.
“Many of these newly arrived migrants feel safer riding bicycles in their home countries, even with less safety features such as wearing helmets, using bicycle lights and wearing reflective jackets in the dark,” she said.
Read more at Victoria University