On my ride home from the city today, just after I rode up a small hill alongside Merri Creek, my bike computer told my I'd just completed my 5000th kilometre. I've been commuting around Melbourne for more than 15 years and I've only had the bike computer for about four, so I've done many thousands more kilometres than that.

Today's ride was typical; I rode into the city, about seven kilometres, and home again. It was also atypical; I was coughing and spluttering and going at snail's pace, coming out of the worst cold I've had in years, whereas normally I'm an energetic rider, riding flat out, jumping over gutters, taking short cuts. Note, however, that lycra is not a part of my life.

Reflecting on those 15 years, I've changed in that time and so have the cycling conditions here. I'm somewhat calmer than I used to be. There was a time when I would abuse the stupid car drivers who were trying to kill me, but now I'm more likely grumble under my breath at all but the most insane activities. In fact, it seems that the other bike riders get my grumbles more often than in the old days, as there are a hell of a lot more of them. Australian roads are definitely built for cars and in recent years there's been a massive increase in the number of people commuting on bikes. That's all great, but the cycling infrastructure hasn't kept up, which would be fine if there was a caring sharing attitude, but I think the people who were trying to kill me in their cars are now riding along side me. At least they'll have a harder time killing me with their bikes.