Posted on 4 December, 2025

Slow, social rides focused on helping people find connection and joy in the simplicity of riding a bike – that’s the concept behind Canberra By Bike.

It’s only a bonus that the rides are centred around where to find fresh, hot chips, backed by the soundtrack of Fleetwood Mac or taking riders on a specialised tour around the city.

Paris Lord founded Canberra By Bike during the 2021 COVID-19 lockdown as a personal initiative to make new friends and build social connections. Now it’s changing the ways locals connect, commute and experience Canberra,

Deciding that organising bike rides could be a fun way to meet people – after all, Canberra is known for its biking community – after some trial and error, Paris has since evolved Canberra By Bike into an ongoing series of inclusive, themed rides. And they continue to grow.

From zero attendees at his first few events, Paris now sells out tours, hosting several slow rides each month, and invites people of all ages, abilities and identities to join.

But Canberra By Bike isn’t just about donning a helmet and hitting the pavement.

Ranging from paid tours of Yarralumla’s embassy district to storytelling sessions at Smith’s Alternative, to helping run a bike bus in Lyneham and leading a ‘bakeries and donuts’ ride, it’s about inspiring people to get outside and make the connections they yearn for.

The prospect of baked goods is just an added bonus.

“I’m trying to remind all ages – but especially adults – that the joy you had if you were lucky enough to learn how to ride a bike when you were a child, you can get that magic and feeling again,” explains Paris.

“Cycling is a social activity, right? Loneliness is a real problem, as is the cost of living. We’re trying to slow it down and remove some of the barriers to entry… I just want to be able to ride slowly and chat to people.”

Believing that riding side by side with someone can get the conversation flowing as easily as a beer at the local pub, one of the ways Paris breaks the ice is through his themed rides.

Each of the Canberra By Bike rides is centred around a concept. There’s a Hot Chips ride on Wednesday 3 December, a Led Zep and David Bowie Bike Party on Saturday 10 January and a Tuggeranong Mix Tape Bike Party on Saturday 17 January.

Inspired by his interests, current events or requests from other riders, Paris is even planning a ride in collaboration with Le Cheeserie in January.

“A lot of my dumb ideas happen when I’m riding my bike, and so I’ll just try to remember it and use it later on,” he says with a laugh.

“I’ll look around and think ‘Oh, I can’t get to Sydney for the AC/DC concert, but can I do something here?’…sometimes it’s demand from the riders and other times it’s I just happen to like the music.”

And while Canberra By Bike rides take place across the city, Paris wants to make one thing clear: he loves riding his bike, but he is not a cyclist. Rides take place on quiet streets or separate paths at a slow pace. You don’t need a particular kind of bike, and you don’t need to wear Lycra – you just need working brakes and a willingness to explore the city.

“The reason I and others don’t like to use the word ‘cyclist’ is because for so long in Australia, any mention of cyclists has been dominated by white, middle-aged men who are very confident riding in traffic. Most people don’t recognise that and don’t want to ride beside cars,” explains Paris.

“It’s not a reflection of somebody’s identity. You don’t say you’re a motorist or you’re a left-handed vacuum cleaner user… it doesn’t define who I am. I just happen to be a person on a bike.”

Planning more social rides in the future that span tours of sculpture and street art trails, memorials, architecture and more, Paris is also planning on launching a campaign for safer streets to improve footpath connections and slow cars down in residential areas and outside schools and hospitals.

But in its simplest form, Canberra By Bike is just about helping people rediscover the freedom and joy of riding a bike – whether it’s during a tour or during the daily commute.

And with the bonus of being environmentally and cost-friendly, he says that ultimately, it’s helping to create the conditions and momentum for a better quality of life.

“It provides little incidental connections and incidental exercise…me and others just want to remind people that this is all here waiting for you to come and try. It may not work for you, and that’s fine.”

“We’re trying to show people that yes, it’s about transport, but more importantly, it’s about social connection.”

For more information visit canberrabybike.au

Feature image: Richard Poulton Photography.