If you’ve been out and about on Australia’s roads lately—whether behind the wheel, on two wheels, or even just strolling along a footpath—you’ve probably noticed things aren’t quite as smooth as they used to be.
Potholes, crumbling tarmac, overgrown verges, and debris seem everywhere, and it’s not just your imagination.
New data shows that complaints about our roads and bike paths have tripled in the past three years, and no sign of this trend slowing down.
The report surge isn’t just a case of Australians having a whinge. According to Danny Gorog, chief executive officer (CEO) of the council reporting app Snap Send Solve, the deteriorating state of our roads is becoming a genuine safety risk, especially for cyclists.
‘This rapid growth strongly suggests that conditions on the ground are deteriorating year over year,’ Gorog said.
And the stakes are getting higher with more of us than ever choosing to cycle.
Peter McLean, CEO of cycling advocacy group Bicycle NSW, urges all government levels to take these complaints seriously.
‘We need to evolve and react to managing our assets and infrastructure more appropriately,’ he said. ‘People want better, more consistent infrastructure, and where they’re not seeing it, they are reporting it.’
Cycling’s boom—and the infrastructure bust
Since 2020, cycling has exploded in popularity across Australia. Over five million people hop on a bike every week, thanks partly to the rise of e-bikes, making cycling more accessible for all ages.
However, as the number of cyclists has soared, so have the complaints about the infrastructure meant to keep them safe.
Last year alone, Snap Send Solve recorded a record-breaking 5,235 reports of issues on bike paths—everything from cracked and crumbling surfaces to regular debris and overgrown nature strips.
And 2025 is shaping to be even worse, with more than 3,100 reports already logged in just the first five months of the year.
While the popularity of reporting apps like Snap Send Solve is rising, Gorog believes the spike in complaints can’t be attributed solely to tech-savvy citizens.
‘It signals worsening infrastructure conditions, poor repairs, ageing bike lanes, and potentially inadequate maintenance cycles,’ he warned.
If left unchecked, this could ‘undermine broader mobility goals and pose increasing risks to cyclists’.
The human cost: Cyclist safety in the spotlight
It’s not just the state of the roads that’s putting cyclists at risk. Despite making up a small percentage of road users, cyclists are involved in disproportionate crashes.
Tragically, cyclist deaths rose from 34 in 2023 to 38 in 2024—an 11.8 per cent increase—with motor vehicles involved in most of these incidents.
Recent footage from Melbourne’s Brunswick suburb shows how close these encounters can be, with a cyclist narrowly avoiding a collision with a car.
Cyclist Rory Meister, who was involved in the near-miss, said it was ‘absurd’ the driver didn’t see him, even though he had flashing lights on his bike. Unfortunately, these kinds of incidents are all too common.
So, what’s the solution? McLean believes education and awareness are key, starting with driver training.
‘Fundamentally, we need better awareness at an early stage of when people are getting their licenses,’ he said. ‘There [are] lots of great drivers out there and we just need to equalise everyone on the road.’
But education alone won’t fix potholes or clear debris. That’s where government investment comes in.
Gorog hopes the data from reporting apps will guide smarter spending and ongoing upgrades to our roads and bike paths. After all, safe, well-maintained infrastructure benefits everyone—drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.
Have you noticed the state of your local roads getting worse? Are you a cyclist with a close call, or a driver frustrated by potholes and poor maintenance? Share your thoughts in the comments below—let’s get the conversation rolling!
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