2007 Award Winners

The 2007 Bicycling Achievement Awards were presented by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, The Hon Peter Garrett AM, MP Old Parliament House, Canberra on 4 June 2008.

The presentation coincided with the launch of Cycling: Getting Australia Moving. Dr. Rob Moodie, Professor of Global Health at Melbourne University’s Nossal Institute delivered the key note address.

A booklet detailing all the nominations is now available and can be downloaded here.
To request a hard copy be posted, click here.

Cycling Promotion Award of the Year: Professional Category

Bruce Ashley, The Environment Works & Chain Gang Press NSW

Bruce has been at the forefront of many cycling initiatives for around 30 years. He runs a consultancy business, The Environment Works, and a publishing company, Chain Gang Press, and is a co-founder of the Marrickville-South Sydney Bicycle User Group (MASSBUG). Some of his major achievements include:

Cycling masterplan for Sydney Olympic Park
Commuter cycling strategies for the City of Sydney Bikeplan
Groundbreaking study on the ‘recycling’ of land along rail lines; Cycleways Along Railway Corridors in NSW, 1997
Bike-it Sydney! A Back Street Guide for Cyclists which he conceived, researched, wrote, surveyed, mapped, designed and publishes.

Honourable Mention: Jeff Ross, Manager (Special Projects) QLD Transport

Jeff has played an instrumental role in the construction of two major off-road cycling network links in Brisbane, along with a number of on-road links in Brisbane City and surrounding areas. In his 15 years in this position, there has been an increase in cycling mode share within 12km of the Brisbane CBD by 600% (1986 – 2006).

He has achieved this by being innovative with limited resources, working without a set budget for cycling until recent years.

Click here to view the Queensland Cycle Strategy.

Cycling Promotion Award of the Year: Honorary Category

Joint Winner: Charlie Farren, Cycling Australia and Cycle Tourism Australia VIC

Charlie has devoted thirty years and a great deal of energy to promoting cycling in Victoria and Australia. In the 1980s she established the Tandem Club of Australia, and served as President of Bicycle Victoria. She was a committee member for the Bicycle Federation of Australia for 20 years and it's President between 2000 and 2002.

She has been instrumental in organising countless major bicycle rides including the Great Victorian Bike Ride and Around the Bay in a Day that today are two of Australia’s largest cycling events. The cycling culture in Australia has benefited immeasurably from Charlie’s passion and substantial contribution. Charlie is currently a board member of Cycle Tourism Australia and Cycling Australia.

Joint Winner: Lenore Evans, Reports Officer, Cairns Bicycle User Group QLD

Lenore has been actively involved in cycling promotion since the early 1980s when she became the founding President of the Mareeba BMX Club and helped build the first BMX track in the region. Since moving to Cairns in 1981 Lenore became active in a series of bodies to promote the interests of cyclists, until 1995, when Lenore was a key mover in establishing the Cairns Bicycle User Group (CBUG). She immediately set up the CBUG website and reports system.

The value of this system was recognised in 2002 when CBUG was awarded the Queensland Road Safety Award in the Community category.

Click here to visit the Queensland Road Safety Awards site.

Honourable Mention: John Hiller,The High Country Rail Trail Steeting Committee VIC

A retired Army surveyor, John first committed himself to the High Country Rail Trail in 1994, aged 66. The trail links Wodonga to Tallangatta in North East Victoria and John has been instrumental in its development. His extensive campaigning resulted in substantial funding being allocated to complete the trail.

Without John's efforts the disused rail land would probably have been sold and a wonderful opportunity lost forever. Instead visitors and residents can now access and enjoy the benefits of cycling through this magnificent area. John has been dubbed ‘Mr. Rail Trail’ in recognition of his dedicated passion, commitment and tenacity.

Special Achievement Award by a bicycle organisation

Winner: Consortium of ACT Veterans Cycling Club, Canberra Cyclists & Canberra Cycling Club ACT

It took five years and a combined effort from all of Canberra's cycling community, in particular, ACT Veterans Cycling Club, Canberra Cycling Club and Canberra Off- Road Cyclists to bring about Stromlo Forest Park, a state of the art cycling facility for both recreational and professional users.

The facility includes 50km of cross country MTB trails, a 2.2km downhill trail and a mountain cross (4X) track. It is spread over 1,000 hectares and is just 10 minutes from the centre of Canberra. It will host the 2009 World MTB Championships. Their vision and commitment is a fabulous example of what can be achieved by working together.

Click here to visit the Stromlo Forest Park website.

Honourable mention: Dorrigo Urunga Bellingon Bicycle User Group NSW

The group started less than 5 years ago with bike rides each Sunday. It now has rides on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, including easy day rides for beginners and families once a month in both Urunga and Dorrigo.

The BUG held Seniors Week ride during Bike Week activities, and runs four day rides to various towns on the Mid-north Coast as well as camping rides into the bush around the area. The BUG has been successful in lobbying the local council for funding for cycleways and it has been the major contributor to its Cycleway plan.

Local Government Award for initiative to encourage and promote cycling

Winner: Fairfield City Council NSW

Fairfield has been actively providing a comprehensive network of cycleways throughout the City. There are approximately 100kms of cycleway traversing east/west and north/south linking Fairfield to its neighbours. The routes are primarily in areas that showcase the scenic nature of the open space environment and provide access to the major rail and bus public transport systems.

The Council has also demonstrated innovation by implementing one of Australia’s first cycling loan schemes and establishing a dedicated facility for the local cycling network to encourage and support bicycle riders. Their partnerships with schools and the local health services is another example of best practice in cycling promotion.

Click here to visit the Western Sydney Cycling Network that Fairfield City Council provides with a free clubhouse and supports to provide a bicycle recycling and bicycle loan facility.

Honourable mention: Shoalhaven City Council NSW

Shoalhaven City Council, Healthy Cities Shoalhaven, and the Shoalhaven Bicycle Users Group have worked in partnership to create and distribute the innovative Safer Places to Cycle Guide. The guide provides simple to follow maps and directions for safer cycling routes to schools, shops, attractions and amenities within 12 towns and villages in the Shoalhaven region.

The guide is designed to encourage the local community to use cycling as a safe transport alternative; promote cycling and highlight local bicycle user groups and resources. Shoalhaven believes the guide is the first of its kind and supports other Councils adopting the initiative.

Click here to access the Shoalhaven Cycling Guide.

Award for an educational institution for innovation in encouraging cycling to school

Winner: Newhaven Primary School VIC

Newhaven was one of the first schools in Victoria to introduce a Riding School Bus to enable kids to cycle together to school. Bicycle education is an integral part of the program, even available to Active After School Care students as young as six, and includes an extended annual bike ride.

The school has a carefully designed traffic simulation area with life-sized signs and markings for intersection treatments, plus a simulated shared pathway, that are a valuable school and community resource. Currently 15 to 20% of students regularly cycle to school. The school is working with council to improve bicycle access.

Click here for tips on starting a riding school bus at your school.

Honourable mention: Warrnambool West Primary School VIC

PE teacher, John Millard's, commitment to the promotion of cycling at West Warrnambool ensures the safety of cyclists through training, working with road authorities and making sure the students have a safe place to store their bikes. The students play a leadership role in the Ride2school days which gives them a sense of place.

The school has a lock-up bike shed and six safe travel routes showing the safest routes to school. Warrnambool West takes part in the Ride2School activities, the Bike Ed. program and the Regional Bike Ed. Challenge which it has won every year since 1999.

Click here to access the Ride2School website.

Honourable mention: Woodford Primary School, Warrnambool VIC

Grade 4/5 teachers, David and Daniel, ride to work each day and have inspired the school to include Ride2School in the curriculum which in 2007 saw year 3’s organise ride to school as part of their health unit and the 4/5s organise ride to school as part of sustainability.

The whole school community is involved in the quarterly ride to school days, with parents and teachers riding with up to 80 students on the bike track. Woodford is planning a bike ed. program in 2008, and in partnership with the Council, will train parents to run a riding school bus.

Click here for VicRoads primary school bike ed. information.

Bicycling Achievement Award for Bicycle Friendly Business

Winner: Public Transport Authority WA

The Public Transport Authority in WA has become a national leader in integrating cycling and public transport. By improving access to stations, providing bicycle parking and marketing material, WA is at the forefront of bicycle/public transport integration. Their Cycle 100 program provides free bikes to train drivers and has been a real success in improving health and productivity.

Over the past three years it has invested more than $5million in the planning, development and implementation of a range of cycling initiatives to engender a cycling culture and increase the uptake of cycling by its staff, customers and the general public. It is the only state public transport agency in Australia that has a full-time dedicated resource for cycling integration and promotion.

Honourable mention: Cardno Pty. Ltd., Wide Bay QLD

Cardno encourages staff to take leadership roles in community activities and is prepared to offer financial and technical support for community projects, such as:

Active Transport Seminars in nine regional cities highlighting the need to plan and design cities to encourage more walking and cycling;
A community partnership to promote active transport to schools;
A partnership with Fraser Coast BUG to prepare a feasibility study for the Mary to Bay Rail Trail;
A three year business-community partnership with Fraser Coast BUG to promote cycling on the Fraser Coast;
Support for Ride to Work events and sponsorship of cycling clubs and schools.

Bicycling Achievement Award for contribution towards cycling by a politician

Winner: Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney City Council NSW

Clover Moore has been a long time advocate for improved cycling facilities: she chairs the Traffic committee and promotes cycling at meetings of inner Sydney Mayors, particularly to develop an integrated network with surrounding councils. She also advocates for cycling in the state parliament and recently urged for the provision of more dedicated cycling facilities.

Under her leadership, the City of Sydney adopted a cycle strategy that will build 55km of new separated cycle lanes and sets a target of increasing cycling to 5% of all trips made by 2011. Clover rides to work with a Bike Bus and was a Ride to Work Ambassador in the 2007 Ride to Work Day.

Click here to visit Clover Moore’s website.

Honourable mention: Cr. Fran Lindsay, Cairns City Council QLD

Fran is a keen recreational cyclist and cycling advocate. Upon election to Council, she immediately became the council delegate on the Cairns/Mulgrave Bicycle Safety Group. She also chairs the City of Cairns Bicycle and Pedestrian Focus Group and the Bicycle Week organising committee, and she sat on the Queensland State Cycle Committee from 2001 to 2003. She has tirelessly lobbied for building and repairing cycleways.

When Fran attends local government conferences she always takes her laptop to show videos produced by State Cycling Committee Qld, and other safe cycling videos, to get the message across to other Councillors.

Honourable Mention: Bernie Ripoll, Federal MP for Oxley QLD

Bernie Ripoll MP has been a life-long cycling enthusiast and a passionate advocate for the development of cycling. His major achievements include the 2001 Links in the Chain Federation Ride, the annual Mall 2 Mall Bike Ride (raising over $50,000 for charity since 2002), the establishment of Road Riding groups in the local area and Canberra, donating bicycles to schools, charities and community groups and his push to have more bikeways established, a Cycling Centre of Excellence built in Ipswich, and supporting the Ipswich Amateur Cycling Club.

Bicycling Achievement Award for contribution towards cycling by a bicycle retailer

Winner: BikeNOW Vic

Bike shops have an important role to play in encouraging and promoting cycling. Since the establishment of bikeNOW, owner Warren has made an invaluable contribution. Over the last five years, he has empowered and inspired hundreds of women through the 13 week Cogs Girls cycling skills courses, free until recently.

He supports the St Kilda Cycling Club and worked with a diverse range of people to help develop the Code of Conduct for Training Cyclists to help ensure safe riding. Warren also conducts cycling activities for schools and often donates prizes to cycling organisations. bikeNOW’s website and e-newsletter are great sources for cycling tips and encouragement.

Click here for information on the Cogs Girls road riding skills sessions.