Brisbane might be known for its long, meandering river, but its residents are just as well known for early wake-ups and a firm commitment to staying active.
Long before most cities have hit snooze for the second time, Brisbane locals are already walking, running or riding along the river, perhaps ducking into a cafe before the day officially begins.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the city’s infrastructure was designed to make an active lifestyle achievable for everyone, not just dedicated athletes.
“Brisbane is Australia’s lifestyle capital and we want to make it easier for everyone to enjoy everything our city has to offer,” Cr Schrinner said. “Whether you’re walking to work, going for a run, riding with the family or simply getting off the bus a few stops early, there are plenty of easy ways to get moving in Brisbane.
That same energy is being channelled into something simpler: active travel. Active travel means any form of transport that gets your body moving to get you where you need to go, whether that’s walking, running, cycling, scooting or a combination of methods to cover a longer distance.
It sits at the intersection of transport and exercise, and for time-poor city dwellers, that overlap is exactly the point.
Finding a dedicated hour for the gym is not realistic for everyone, and active travel offers a workaround: Instead of adding exercise on top of an already full day, it builds movement into a trip you were taking anyway.
You don’t need a marathon training plan to benefit. Getting off the bus or train a stop or two early and walking the rest of the way is enough to add meaningful movement to a working week.
Swapping a short car trip for an e-scooter or e-bike does the same. Taking the stairs, walking to a meeting instead of driving, or cycling to a nearby appointment all count.
The long-term case for this kind of incidental activity is well established.
Regular, moderate movement is linked to better cardiovascular health, improved mood, better sleep and lower risk of chronic disease.
Unlike an intense but occasional gym session, incremental exercise woven into daily routine is the kind that tends to stick, because it doesn’t compete with an already packed schedule. Over months and years, those short walks and rides add up to genuine, sustained fitness gains.
Cr Schrinner said Brisbane’s bridges and riverside paths made active travel genuinely enjoyable rather than a chore.
“Bridges like Kangaroo Point and Breakfast Creek, along with our growing network of bikeways and riverside paths, are helping connect more people with the places they want to go,” he said.
“More people walking, running and riding means healthier residents, less pressure on our roads, and more opportunities to experience Brisbane’s great outdoor lifestyle.”
The Story Bridge remains one of the city’s most iconic crossings, offering walkers and runners sweeping views over the river and CBD skyline.
Closer to the city centre, Kangaroo Point Bridge has quickly become a favourite for pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders, connecting the CBD to Kangaroo Point’s riverside paths and parkland. Since opening, it has carried more than 5.5 million total trips, with pedestrians alone accounting for more than 4.3 million of those journeys.
Further out, the Breakfast Creek Bridge links commuters heading in and out of the inner north, with more than 2.5 million trips recorded since it opened. Together with the city’s growing network of bikeways, these crossings give residents genuine alternatives to the car, no matter which direction they’re travelling.
With so many iconic crossings and riverside routes from which to choose, there is an active travel option to suit almost any commute.