The Sorrento resident's efforts were recognised in the Australia Day honours when he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community, particularly through Bicycle Victoria.

Mr Parker, 75, has spent countless hours since 1972 providing input into the best way of planning cycling paths, providing bicycle safety education and enforcing road rules, with much of his efforts being contributed as an unpaid volunteer. "When I started there wasn't a single bicycle lane in the whole of Melbourne," he said.

The humble recipient, who didn't believe it at first when told he had been awarded the honour, downplayed his years of service - "I'm just one of those mad characters who does things like that".

Mr Parker said he and wife Doreen had always disliked cars as a waste of money. "This is what all new bike plans talk about now, the economy of cycling. It's always been obvious to me."

He was unimpressed by cricketer Shane Warne's recent outburst against a cyclist, saying Australia lagged behind European countries where cyclists have traditionally been treated respectfully and part of the culture.

Mr Parker said he had escaped serious injury when being knocked off his bike about seven times in his 60 years of cycling. "There's a high percentage of irresponsible and dangerous motorists in Australia and nobody is doing anything about it."

While still getting out and about on his bike, Mr Parker said his cycling days may come to an end if the federal government continues to refuse to allow the import of 250-watt electric bicycles, known as pedelecs. "They're good for the elderly," he said.