Cycling Legacy in Car-Dependent Cities: Governance Conditions and the Brisbane 2032 Opportunity
Mega-events can create lasting cycling legacies when event-related opportunities are supported by long-term planning and investment in infrastructure, governance, and behaviour. Transport legacy is now a well-recognised category in mega-event research, with distinct definition and outcomes. However, cycling has largely been treated as a minor part of broader transport systems rather than as a distinct legacy with its own value and delivery conditions. This paper develops the concept of cycling legacy and examines the requirements for a mega-event to produce long-term cycling outcomes.
Brisbane is a car-dependent city, shaped by urban sprawl, high street speed limits, and a lack of a dense, connected, low-stress cycling network, which together limit its cycling potential. Under the IOC’s New Norm, which encourages cost-effective, sustainable improvements, cycling infrastructure is a relatively low-cost investment with high legacy potential. This research responds to the top-down nature of event planning by examining how a wider range of stakeholders understand the opportunities and constraints of cycling legacy, and the conditions under which it can be intentionally pursued.
Drawing on Stakeholder Theory, this research combines spatial analysis of cycling infrastructure and accessibility in inner Brisbane, including key Games venues and visitor destinations, with semi-structured interviews with government, advocacy, tourism, community and Games-related stakeholders. The spatial analysis establishes current conditions and infrastructure gaps; the stakeholder engagement explores the enablers and barriers to creating cycling legacy in practice.
Empirically, this research offers an evidence-based account of cycling conditions in Brisbane in the lead-up to the Games. Conceptually, it defines cycling legacy as a distinct legacy type that requires strategic governance and planning prior to the Games, rather than an automatic outcome of hosting mega-events. In doing so, it contributes to debates on whether and under what conditions mega-events can act as catalysts for longer-term cycling outcomes in car-dependent host cities.
Niloofar is a PhD candidate in the School of Engineering and Built Environment at Griffith University. Her background is in urban design and planning, focusing on developing connected cycling networks to enhance overall quality of life. Her research interests include active travel, cycling networks, travel behaviour, and tourism. Her current research explores how to maximise cycling outcomes in Olympic and Paralympic Games cities, with a particular focus on leveraging the opportunity of Brisbane 2032.