And for cyclists frozen hands and faces are not the only challenges the changing seasons bring.

Volunteers for local advocacy group Pedal Power ACT will take to the streets of Canberra on Thursday night, handing out hundreds of free, flashing lights to bicycle owners without one, to help cyclists stay visible after the sun goes down.

Pedal Power Executive Officer John Armstrong said the idea of distributing free lights to cyclists came last year when one of the organisation's council members noticed that after daylight savings ended some cyclists on Canberra's roads were riding without adequate lighting.

''The flashing lights can be incredibly effective in providing notice, in fact probably more effective than the standard lights of a car for people coming up behind cyclists,'' he said.

David Medlock is the manager of Nitelights, a lighting manufacturer which is owned by health business Capital Health Care.

A keen cyclist, he said he donated 250 dual flashing LED lights for Pedal Power to distribute because he had seen too many local cyclists risking their safety by riding without them.

''Front lights are getting really good, but rear lights are a problem, people don't have them or don't realise they need them in traffic,'' he said.

Mr Armstrong said a count of cyclists in March showed cycling had increased in Civic, and anecdotal evidence suggested there were more people on the capital's bicycle paths.

''Is it because there are more bicycle paths being built? Perhaps, but this has been a very mild autumn, so that might have something to do with it as well,'' he said.

Territory and Municipal Services Minister Shane Rattenbury also supports the initiative.