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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPosted on 4 December, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSlow, social rides focused on helping people find connection and joy in the simplicity of riding a bike \u2013 that\u2019s the concept behind Canberra By Bike.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Paris Lord founded Canberra By Bike<\/a> during the 2021 COVID-19 lockdown as a personal initiative to make new friends and build social connections. Now it\u2019s changing the ways locals connect, commute and experience Canberra,<\/p>\n Deciding that organising bike rides could be a fun way to meet people \u2013 after all, Canberra is known for its biking community \u2013 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n But Canberra By Bike isn\u2019t just about donning a helmet and hitting the pavement.<\/p>\n Ranging from paid tours of Yarralumla\u2019s embassy district to storytelling sessions at Smith\u2019s Alternative, to helping run a bike bus in Lyneham\u00a0and leading a \u2018bakeries and donuts\u2019 ride, it\u2019s about inspiring people to get outside and make the connections they yearn for.<\/p>\n The prospect of baked goods is just an added bonus.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m trying to remind all ages \u2013 but especially adults \u2013 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,\u201d explains Paris.<\/p>\n \u201cCycling is a social activity, right? Loneliness is a real problem, as is the cost of living. We\u2019re trying to slow it down and remove some of the barriers to entry\u2026 I just want to be able to ride slowly and chat to people.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Each of the Canberra By Bike rides is centred around a concept. There\u2019s a Hot Chips ride<\/a> on Wednesday 3 December, a Led Zep and David Bowie Bike Party<\/a> on Saturday 10 January and a Tuggeranong Mix Tape Bike Party<\/a> on Saturday 17 January.<\/p>\n Inspired by his interests, current events or requests from other riders, Paris is even planning a ride in collaboration with Le Cheeserie in January.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of my dumb ideas happen when I\u2019m riding my bike, and so I\u2019ll just try to remember it and use it later on,\u201d he says with a laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll look around and think \u2018Oh, I can\u2019t get to Sydney for the AC\/DC concert, but can I do something here?\u2019\u2026sometimes it\u2019s demand from the riders and other times it\u2019s I just happen to like the music.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019t need a particular kind of bike, and you don\u2019t need to wear Lycra \u2013 you just need working brakes and a willingness to explore the city.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reason I and others don\u2019t like to use the word \u2018cyclist\u2019 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\u2019t recognise that and don\u2019t want to ride beside cars,\u201d explains Paris.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not a reflection of somebody\u2019s identity. You don\u2019t say you\u2019re a motorist or you\u2019re a left-handed vacuum cleaner user\u2026 it doesn\u2019t define who I am. I just happen to be a person on a bike.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n But in its simplest form, Canberra By Bike is just about helping people rediscover the freedom and joy of riding a bike \u2013 whether it\u2019s during a tour or during the daily commute.<\/p>\n And with the bonus of being environmentally and cost-friendly, he says that ultimately, it\u2019s helping to create the conditions and momentum for a better quality of life.<\/p>\n \u201cIt provides little incidental connections and incidental exercise\u2026me 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\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re trying to show people that yes, it\u2019s about transport, but more importantly, it\u2019s about social connection.\u201d<\/p>\n