- Cycling Promotion Award (Special Initiative)
- Cycling Promotion Award (Professional)
- Cycling Promotion Award (Honorary)
- Contribution to Cycling by a Politician
- Award for an educational institution for innovation in encouraging cycling to school
- Local Government Award for Special Initiative to encourage and promote cycling
- Award for Contribution Towards Cycling by a Bicycle Retailer
- Special Achievement Award by a Bicycle Organisation
- Award for Bicycle Friendly Business
The 2008 Bicycling Achievement Awards were presented in Canberra on March 16 2009 at an event presided over by former Victorian Premier The Hon Steve Bracks.
“We received a record number of high quality nominations from across the country and our winners reflect the very best examples from individuals and groups working to promote and encourage cycling” said Rosemarie Speidel, Program Director at the Cycling Promotion Fund.
Click here to download the Bicycling Achievement Booklet
The Bicycling Achievement Award booklet is also available in PDF format. Click on the Adobe icon to download Adobe Reader.
The booklet with all the winners and nominees details are now available, please contact the CPF office to order hard copies.
Cycling Promotion Award (Special Initiative)
Winner: Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Campbell Newman, Brisbane City Council, Queensland
Campbell Newman has committed Brisbane City Council to spending $100 million on
bikeways over the next four years. This represents the largest commitment to
cycling by a local government in Australia and surpasses many State budgets for
cycling. The cycling program also includes bike parking, bikeway lighting, shared path
links and directional signs.
One of Campbell’s 2004 election commitments was opened in 2008: an Australian first, the CBD Cycle Centre at King George Square has 420 bike racks, 435 lockers and 35 showers. Another of his initiatives, the Transport Information Centre, opened in May 2008 and provides information on sustainable transport options. It has assisted 85,000 residents to date.
Cycling Promotion Award (Professional)
Winner: Alton Twine, Principal Active Transport, Brisbane City Council, Queensland
As principal of Brisbane City Council’s Active Transport Division for four years,
Alton has instigated excellent programs for developing cycling in Brisbane.
Some highlights include:
- Cycle to school programs
- Promotion of ride to work
- Development of Australia’s first CBD bike parking centre
- Working on Brisbane’s Bicycle Hire scheme which will have 2000 bikes and
over 150 stations within the inner city - Rapidly increasing the delivery of the Brisbane Bicycle Network with an
unprecedented budget of $100 million.
Within Council, Alton has been a force in advocating for cycling with politicians and
bureaucrats, successfully. Nationally, Alton has been active on the Australian Bicycle Council.
Honourable Mention: Annemarie Driver, Curator, Canberra Bicycle Museum & Resource Centre, ACT
Over the past 27 years Annemarie has built up one of Australia’s most diverse and valuable collections of cycles and cycling resources. As curator of the Australian Bicycle History Centre in Canberra since Canberra Tradesmens Union Club established it as
the Canberra Bicycle Museum in 1981 she has overseen the acquisition of over 750 cycles and the development of a world class cycling research facility.
Without her passion, dedication and organisational skills, it is most unlikely that the history of cycling in Australia would have been so well captured and presented. The Museum is closing its doors due to non-renewal of funding. Annemarie’s efforts will be
long remembered.
Honourable Mention: Stuart Baird Sustainable Transport Officer, Hobart Council, Tasmania
Stuart has tirelessly promoted cycling as an alternative transport option for the people of Hobart and surrounding areas through the Hobart Bike Plan with countless meetings and negotiations with local government, transport and bicycling organisations. He has a continuing involvement with resident Traffic Committees and the Advisory Bicycle Committee.
He encourages town planning to include cycling and brought Jan Gehl’s team to Hobart to present at a lecture. He lives alternative transport both as a profession and a personal goal. He has an unending enthusiasm for bicycling, from the Commute to Work Day to riding a tandem to business meetings, he just never gives up.
Nominee: Pam Andritsakis, Technical Officer - Traffic, City of Unley, South Australia
Pam has not only been vocal in her support for cyclists, but has proven that she is an ambassador for them by going above and beyond her duties in her role with the City of Unley. Pam has been a very vocal supporter and has been involved and assisted
with protests and support for the South Road Underpass bicycle extension for cyclists.
This was important enough to make the news in The Courier and several commercial stations. Pam writes articles on cycling for the Council newsletter and is involved with setting up bike parking in the city.
Nominee: Brett Hansen Sales Manager, Cycleworld, NSW
Brett from Cycleworld goes out of his way to help his customers and ensure they have a ‘good ride’. One of his happy customers said: “He went out of his way to make sure I got the right bike. But the service continued after my purchase. Being a woman I found a lot of bike shops are not interested in us”.
Brett is a competitive track cyclist, and accompanies customers to the velodrome to get them started, and make sure they’re riding properly. His philosophy is more people riding means more cycling awareness; he’s keen to make cycling as easy and fun as possible.
Nominee: Elizabeth Hole Chief Operating Officer, Bicycle NSW
Liz has been one of the key forces behind Bicycle NSW in recent times. With the help of her determined crew she has made significant contributions to cycling in NSW by driving the Ride2School and Ride2Work programs along with the Gear Up Girl Challenge and Gear Up Girl Workshops.
She has also given Bicycle User Groups new skills and resources through the NSW Bike Plan Workshops. She has even had an impact overseas through her efforts with the Earthride project which has Jan Gehl as it's ambassador and has attracted the support of Mayors and Governors around the world.
Nominee: Tony Houhlias Manager Sports Development, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, NSW
Tony has worked over the last five years developing a range of cycling initiatives in collaboration with partners from the private, government and sport sectors to position Sydney Olympic Park as a premier cycling destination. He has led the creation of Sydney
Olympic Park’s annual Festival of Cycling now in its 5th year in partnership with a number of organisations.
He has also secured funding support from the Federal Government Regional Transport Program and Auburn Council and built two new community and elite cycling facilities: the Monster Mountain X facility and the Monster BMX track, both at Sydney Olympic Park.
Nominee: Clay Lucas, Transport Reporter, The Age, Victoria
Clay has a strong history of writing balanced articles on transport, as the Transport Reporter for The Age. He often writes on particular cycling issues and integrates cycling into more general transport/planning pieces. Even before becoming the Transport Reporter, Clay demonstrated an excellent understanding of cycling issues.
As the City Reporter, he was able to get cycling on the agenda and this helped gain important political support. It is in part through his time and energy that cycling is currently booming in Melbourne. He has helped to position cycling as a political issue and has helped the wider community to think about cycling as an option.
Nominee: Graham McCabe, Senior Traffic Network Manager, City of Sydney, NSW
Graham is the principal architect of the landmark City of Sydney Cycle Strategy and Action Plan 2007–2017. He has been at the forefront of the development of safer separated cycleways for Inner Sydney and is managing the delivery of the City’s
cycle strategy which will increase bicycle usage to 10% of all trips by 2017.
Graham has over 10 years in traffic and transport engineering experience and has used this experience to deliver a plan and cycleway network that will be used by the general
public for riding – not just intrepid cyclists, willing to take on City Streets.
Cycling Promotion Award (Honorary)
Joint Winner: Russ Webber President, North Shore Bicycle Group, NSW
For three decades, Russ has applied vision, passion, tenacity, attention to detail and
extensive, in depth knowledge to secure major wins for cyclists. As long term vice
president of Bicycle NSW and president of the North Shore Bicycle Group, Russ has
been the key to development and implementation of bike plans and critical bicycle routes, bike safe SLanes and other main road improvements for cyclists and
better consideration of cyclists in a vast array of traffic and planning proposals.
Russ' current project – the proposed ‘Harbourlink’ path uniting the Sydney/North
Sydney CBDs – promises to be his crowning success.
Joint Winner: Ted Wilson Director, Wilcare Services, Victoria
Ted is a former Victoria Police Sergeant whose extensive background in bicycle
programs has spanned 30 years. Ted has worked on bicycle projects ranging from
local area initiatives to statewide programs. He is currently the representative for the
South West Region on the Victorian Bicycle Advisory Council and Chair of the Barwon
Regional Bicycle Council.
Ted is the principal of Wilcare Services Pty Ltd, a company whose major focus is on the development and delivery of bicycle programs. Since 2000, his company has been the provider of bicycle instructor accreditation for the Victorian Department of Education.
Nominee: Kathy Brunning Coordinator, Mums (& Dads) on Bikes, Darebin BUG, Victoria
Kathy is the coordinator of Mums (& Dads) on Bikes, run under the auspices of Darebin BUG. The rides began in 2007 and have grown in momentum in 2008. The rides are held twice a month and entail riding to fun places for children via parks, creek
paths and quiet streets.
The rides often include train travel to shorten distances allowing young children and beginning or returning cycling adults to ride the distance. Kathy’s motto says it all: “No one’s too slow and we’re happy to stop for a snack, play, breastfeed, nappy change or until a tantrum is over.”
Nominee: Liam Correy and Katie Kingshott Convenors, Healthy Transport Hobart, Tasmania
Liam and Katie, health professional students, have been instrumental in the establishment of Healthy Transport Hobart that promotes cycling as a healthy
lifestyle and environment alternative. They have been instrumental in reinvigorating the monthly Critical Mass rides through Hobart, making it a ‘Courteous Mass’ that abides by all road rules and is escorted by police.
It has attracted politicians, including the Premier, David Bartlett, Greens Leader Nick McKim and Liberal Leader Will Hodgman – perhaps a worldfirst to have three political leaders supporting such an event. The group has videos on YouTube that promote the benefits of cycling and have had many hits.
Nominee: Bonnie and Nicole Downing and Darren Wilson-Roberts Organisers, Ready, Set...Ride! South Australia
‘Ready, Set...Ride!’ are a series of bicycle events that have been held in Adelaide over the last few years. Bonnie, Nicole and Darren advertise the rides using an email list of members, and tie flyers onto parked bikes in the weeks leading up to the events. The
rides have a good turn out, usually around 50 people.
Most of them are themed, and all of them encourage the riders to dress up and decorate their bikes. The rides have encouraged people who are usually too scared to ride in the city by introducing them to it with the safety of a group.
Nominee: Peter Ford Editor, Cycle Sport News, Queensland
Peter Ford and CycleSportNews.com is Australia's largest cycling news and results publisher, publishing between three and ten stories every day along with national, state and club results. Peter and the team have put in countless hours every day for over four
years with no financial support or recognition.
They publish articles on every form of cycling in Australia: road, track and mountain bike, right through to penny farthing and cycle speedway. They attempt to support every cycling club and organisation within Australia and publish any news that comes into the inbox.
Nominee: Robin Gallagher Campaigns Cordinator, Darebin BUG and Convenor, Melbourne BUG, Victoria
Campaigning, education and communications led by Robin for the Darebin Bicycle User Group (BUG), has seen large long term projects realised in 2008 including the $5.1 million Victorian government commitment to signalise the Merri Parade
Roundabout: a difficult intersection through which thousands of cyclists pass each day. Robin has educated decision makers about missing links in cycling infrastructure.
He works productively with government, the media and a range of organisations to improve cycling infrastructure and provide commentary about cycling. Through the City of
Darebin’s Cycling Committee, he actions the city’s bicycle strategy. He is reinvigorating Melbourne BUG by capacity building.
Nominee: Steven Humphreys Vice President, Western Sydney Mountain Bike Club and Chairman, NSW Mountain Bike, NSW
Steven has been the rock behind mountain bike (MTB) cycling in Sydney and NSW for more than 10 years. He has remained the Downhill and 4X rep for Western Sydney MTB Club throughout this time. Tirelessly he arranges calendars, venues, junior programs and National level events.
He has been responsible for introducing hundreds of young people to the joy of MTB riding, including World and National champions such as Nathan Rennie, Luke Strom and many others. Many young people are more interested in MTB rather than road riding, but later often cross over to cross country and road riding.
Nominee: Bob Moore Convenor, Leichardt Bicycle User Group (LBUG), NSW
Bob is the mainstay of LBUG, and was one of the cofounders 18 years ago. He attends every Leichardt Council meeting, reports information to LBUG members and collects feedback. He has brought about many changes to cycling in the council area, advocating for bike routes and minimizing obstacles.
He runs beginners rides once a month and organises the LBUG contribution to the Council’s annual Big Leichhardt Bike Day bike day. He organises volunteers to do valet bike parking, staff the BUG stall and lead the short ride that takes place on closed roads with a police escort.
Nominee: David Olle General Manager, Topbike Tours, Victoria
David has covered the Tour de France for six years on ABC and community radio (doing up to five interviews a day this year) and for the last three years has financed and produced 37 half hour episodes of ‘Cycling Sooty Park’, which air on community TV in Melbourne over summer and repeat throughout the year in four other capitals.
He has achieved more airtime for cycling, and taken it to a broader audience, than many who are paid to do it. Sooty Park also supports the Amy Gillett Foundation and airs their advertisement every show, every season, in Melbourne.
Nominee: Sam Powrie Vice-Chairperson, Bicycle Institute of South Australia
Sam has been an active member of the Bicycle Institute of South Australia for over six years. As Chair for five years and now Vice Chair and magazine editor, he has worked tirelessly for the benefit of safe cycling in South Australia. He has been a key figure liaising with Government agencies, gained a high media profile and has been the BISA representative on the Bicycle Federation of Australia (BFA) committee.
Sam is a prolific writer, having produced many detailed submissions to the various levels of Government. His wealth of knowledge is apparent when assisting and advising fellow cyclists and cycling advocates.
Nominee: David Rigby Volunteer Tutor, Jika Jika Community Centre, Victoria
David has been involved in the Learn to Ride a Bike from Scratch initiative at Jika Jika Community Centre as a volunteer tutor. He has successfully tutored many adults within the last year, whom now not only know how to ride, but love to ride. David's passion for bike riding is seen in the way he teaches people and has transformed the lives of his students. David not only gives up his time on weekends to teach people but gives them tips on bike maintenance and good bike tracks around Melbourne.
Nominee: Travis Williams Trails Crew Construction Coordinator, Victoria
Travis has been instrumental in the design and construction of 58km of multi grade, multi discipline Mountain Bike Trail at the You Yangs Regional Park. The Mountain Development commenced in 2002 with Parks Victoria, the Geelong Mountain Bike Club and committed Volunteers establishing a vision and putting place a staged development program.
Travis has committed over 4,000 hours of his own time over a five year period toward the establishment of the trails that now attract 60,000 riders annually and host local, state and national events. Travis’ contribution was recently recognised by Parks Victoria with a Volunteer of the Year Award.
Contribution to Cycling by a Politician
Joint Winners: David Bartlett, Premier of Tasmania, Will Hodgman, Leader of the Opposition, Tasmania and Nick McKim, Leader of the Tasmanian Greens
The three Tasmanian political leaders have repeatedly put aside political differences to show leadership by jointly attending cycling events in Tasmania such as the
reconstituted Courteous Critical Mass and the Ride to Work Day breakfast.
Having all three political leaders stand shoulder to shoulder with a shared dream for cycling in Tasmania has changed the way the Tasmanian State Bureaucracy is viewing cycling and has begun the process of cultural change in the Island State.
Nominee: Anna Bligh, MP Queensland Premier
Anna Bligh officially launched the 2007 Wilson HTM Brisbane to the Gold Coast Cycle Challenge. She participates in the event and encourages others to also participate. She said “I will be writing to Queensland business leaders encouraging them to join my peloton and ride alongside me.”
In 2008, Anna announced the Healthy Queensland Awards: all communities, schools and workplaces are invited to enter. Prize money will go towards “healthy” infrastructure including walking and cycling paths. Anna wants to see Queenslanders become Australia’s healthiest people by leading healthier lifestyles and acts as a great role model.
Nominee: Verity Firth, MP Minister for Education, Minister for Women, Member for Balmain NSW
Verity was a City of Sydney Councillor between 2004 and 2008, during which time she strongly supported the development of the City of Sydney Bicycle Strategy and Action Plan and the Sustainable Sydney 2030 Plan – both have resulted in significant
development of bicycle infrastructure and over 55kms of off road paths are planned over the next four years.
In 2007 she announced a $900,000 funding grant towards the “On Your Bike” project to support initiatives to encourage riding to school and bicycle commuting. As Minister for Education and Training, she has been a strong supporter of the Ride to School program.
Award for an educational institution for innovation in encouraging cycling to school
Joint Winner: Bayswater North Primary School, Victoria
Bayswater North Primary School (BNPS) has doubled the number of children cycling to school in 2008. It has done this by consistent and persistent promotion of the benefits of cycling to school, regularly surveying children about their modes of travel to school and reporting this to the school community each month, and talking about active travel at every school assembly where a weekly award is presented to a randomly selected student.
BNPS has been promoting active travel for three years now and consistently achieves over 60% of students walking or cycling to school and yet it can still significantly increase the number of students choosing to cycle to school.
Joint Winner: Benalla West Primary School, Victoria
Benalla West Primary School undertakes a comprehensive and well-organised year
long bicycle program for Year 4/5/6 who already have their own bicycle and is currently building a “Bike Bank” at the school – for children who do not have a bicycle – to foster greater exposure and participation in the Cycling Program.
All of the programs onducted have large, varied and continuing assistance from Parents and volunteer staff alike and the school has achieved many fine outcomes from this particular program. The student response to all the activities and in particular the lunchtime rides has been enthusiastic, focused and encouraging.
Honourable Mention: Bowden Brompton Community School, South Australia
Bowden Brompton Community School has developed a bike riding program in the middle school curriculum that encourages students to ride to school. The innovative cross curricula riding program serves to engage students experiencing a range of complex social and mental health issues. The program’s success has seen an increase in consistent attendance among participating students.
Many students in the program ride their bikes and use trains so that they can bring their own bikes to ride at school. The school has employed a specialist teacher with extensive bike riding skills and experience, is funding development of a ‘pump track’ on school grounds, and is enlarging the program across the school’s three campuses.
Honourable Mention: Kurnell Public School, NSW
Over the past year and a half Kurnell Public School has shown astounding enthusiasm and dedication to promote cycling as a healthy and sustainable form of transport. The Deputy Principal, Darryl La Coste, has, has energised and excited the students making
cycling to school a natural part of everyday life. Ride2School Days are held once a term and parents are encouraged to ride with their children.
An average day sees around 70% of students riding to school. Over the past year, whole of school cycle skill workshops were conducted as well as a workshop for parents on cycling conduct and road safety. The school has its own active travel guide for the school community. The school’s cycling activities regularly feature in the local newspaper.
Nominee: Ashby Primary School, Victoria
Ashby Primary School’s strong emphasis on combating the car culture and encouraging Active Travel to help preserve the environment and create a healthier world received a large boost when the school received grant money to construct a sustainable bike shed. Ashby’s application, devised by parent Mark Sanders, displayed creativity and
ingenuity in design when combined bike storage with sustainability features.
It houses forty bikes, is made from recycled materials, is solar powered and has incorporated vines on one side and on another an outdoor sink and rainwater tank which irrigates the vegetable garden. It was built with the help of parents, local businesses and community members.
Nominee: Bellarine Secondary College, Victoria
Bellarine Secondary College’s student government team have been looking into making riding to school more efficient for students. They have tried to achieve this by doing a number of things such as: the boys on the team had a meeting with the assistant principals, registered with the Ride to School program, encouraged students to ride to school through the school newsletter and bulletin articles, won a bike to give to one of the students, applied for bike shed grants, designed a bike shed for the school and made a survey for school students to participate.
Nominee: Brinkworth Primary School, South Australia
Teacher Cindy Growden rode from Queensland to Melbourne in 2005 and was keen to inspire the spirit of adventure in the children. The staff combined this positive energy with “Program Achieve” which promotes Persistence, Resilience, Organisation, Team
Work and Confidence within the children.
A goal was set to ride to Koolunga, 15km north. The local police officer ensured bike rules were understood and riders and bikes were to a safe standard. Practices around the school then town and nutritional advice ensured all children were well prepared. The goal was achieved and more rides have taken place, the longest being 40km. More adventures are planned.
Nominee: Brunswick South West Primary School, Victoria
Bicycle Victoria, through their Ride2School program, provide 1,000 bikes to grade 6 children across the state. The bikes are given, 2 per school, to a boy and girl who are encouraged to cycle to school now and into their secondary schooling.
Brunswick South West is thrilled to be the recipient of two bikes plus helmets and locks. This is part the school’s ongoing commitment to be an active travel school. The Bike Ed program is about to begin for grade 5/6 students.
Nominee: Castlemaine Steiner School and Kindergarten, Victoria
Suzie Bourke is the Ride to School parent coordinator at Castlemaine Steiner School and Kindergarten. With two small children at the school and a long time interest in bike riding and running and fitness, Suzie has done a wonderful job in sharing her enthusiasm and encouraging many new families to ride to school.
Nominee: Cowes Primary School, Victoria
Cowes Primary School has an exemplary record of promoting cycling. Programs include Bike Ed, where the school has progressed to the state finals again this year, two Riding School Bus routes developed in conjunction with Bass Coast Shire Council, and the
Bicycle Victoria Ride2School “Hands Up” data collection.
About one-third of staff act as excellent role models by regularly cycling to and from school. The school has developed significant partnerships with a local cycling group, a local bike shop, local council and RoadSafe. The school considers safety to be a major consideration, and has taken action to maximise traffic safety around the school.
Nominee: Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design, NSW
Only a handful rode to school at the start of 2008. A Ride Your Bike to School/Work committee was formed and discovered that more would ride if there were bike racks.
A competition was conducted to design racks, a fabricator engaged and funding obtained. The racks will be built early 2009.
The survey also revealed that one-sixth of students do not know how to ride. Bike riding lessons are being investigated and well as bike hire. Ride Your Bike to School Day activities took place during the year with prizes, competition and a presentation by Bicycle NSW. Newsletters now feature cycling stories.
Nominee: Gosford TAFE, NSW
Teacher Nicolette has developed the Rebycycle bike maintenance program for at risk youth including the development of a curriculum and process complementary to TAFE modules and competency requirements. This enables those youth who graduate from the program to have a certificate at the end enabling them to get into a TAFE course or
the Bike industry easier.
The course includes bike building and maintenance, bike safety and fitness, team building skills, OH&S training, network opportunities with bike industry specialists, careers and work options information and a healthy breakfast, and for those that graduate, a free bike.
Nominee: Hawkesbury High School, NSW
Hawkesbury High is committed to increasing the number of students, staff and parents who regularly cycle to school and surrounding areas. In 2008, the school was invited to join the Bicycle NSW Ride2School program. It has had a strong response, particularly for the Ride2School Day.
A group of 50 students, parents and teachers rode to school together and enjoyed prize give-aways and a healthy breakfast. The weekly sport program includes a cycling group of 15 students that use local roads and the BMX facilities within riding distance of the school.
Nominee: Kyneton Secondary College, Victoria
Kyneton Secondary College MTB Squad was established five years ago to introduce students to cycling and to provide cycling activities out of school hours and during recess and lunchtime, making it accessible to all. The program has provided a place
to belong and be proud of.
Over 200 have participated in the Squad. When students leave school, they come back and help at events and many ride in competition of some sort, or just for fun. The Squad’s 2008 highlight was winning the 2008 SA Dirty Weekend event outright by 3 laps over the 24 hour period (90 teams entered).
Nominee: Norlane High School, Victoria
During 2008 Norlane High has made a continuous, ongoing effort to raise the profile of cycling and its many benefits. A major initiative has been to join the Ride2School program where students have been encouraged to ride to school regularly. It has
promoted students joining the 500km Gold Medal Challenge and then supported them by initiating after school rides, providing copies of local cycling maps and supportive articles in the newsletter.
Students in Outdoor Education classes at Years 8–10 study relevant road laws, practice individual and group riding skills and build up to complete day riding tours.
Nominee: O’Loughlin Catholic College, NT
Teacher Michael Bowden and his Year 9 Integrated Studies class began an initiative to promote cycling within the O’Loughlin Community. The class decided to showcase the values of cycling; health and fitness, environmentally friendly transport, safe cycling
strategies and social interaction between all age groups.
They launched an expedition to ride the 130km around Darwin Harbour in one day. To this end they worked as individuals or in teams with the help of cycling enthusiasts, parents, other students, teachers and local radio stations. The students covered the distance in 11 hours with three students and two adults riding the entire distance.
Nominee: St Josephs Primary School, Victoria
100 of St Josephs Primary’s 429 students regularly ride to school. On Ride2School days this rises to 187, with 80% of students arriving at school by active transport. There are several teachers who also cycle. Warrnambool City Council has provided an offroad network where students are able to ride from their neighbourhoods into the school gates without having to cross a road unsupervised.
The school runs bike education for the upper grades and has a TravelSmart champions trophy for the grade with the highest number of students who arrive at school without a car.
Nominee: St Leonards Primary School, Victoria
St Leonards Primary encourages students to walk or ride to school as part of its approach to creating a lifelong healthy active lifestyle for all students. Through programs to repair old bikes and the involvement of the local community, all children are given the opportunity to participate in the Bike Ed. program to ensure they are safe riding to school.
Monthly Ride2School days featuring breakfast, newsletter articles and bike decorating competitions are part of the strategy to involve as many children as possible. Support has come from local police and businesses, VicRoads, Ride2School, Kids Go For Your Life and the City of Greater Geelong.
Nominee: Youngtown Primary School, Tasmania
Mario Bergamin and Brad Colson are two teachers at Youngtown Primary School who are exploring the concept of experiential learning as part of the school's differentiated learning focus and Move Well Eat Well Initiative. Fat Tyres teaches how to ride a bike, provides knowledge of road rules, safe riding skills and the ability to identify safe places to ride.
It is designed for fun, fitness, road safety awareness and practice of fundamental skills in an extended out of school riding activity. The aim is to increase bike riding in the neighbourhood and increase children safely riding their bike to and from school.
Local Government Award for Special Initiative to encourage and promote cycling
Joint Winner: City of Casey, Victoria
With strong commitment to developing a reliable, wide ranging network of safe places to ride, whether for transport, recreation or sport, combined with sound bicycle education programs for all ages, the City of Casey is a leader in local government. An investment of more than $10 million over the past decade in developing an extensive cycle trail network, as detailed in the Casey TravelSmart Map, is also testament to this commitment.
The Casey Road Safety Education Centre promotes safe bike riding, while the State Mountain Bike Centre at Lysterfield Park, the venue for the 2006 Commonwealth Games mountain bike races, and the Criterium Cycling Track at Casey Fields provide facilities that accommodate international competition standard venues for local sports people to further develop their cycling skills.
Joint Winner: Darebin City Council, Victoria
Darebin City Council continues to maintain an excellent reputation for a commitment to improving environments for cyclists and increasing cycling rates. This has been done through strategic commitment to continue to upgrade and provide new cycle facilities, run a number of behaviour change programs to encourage cycling, and work with other stakeholders – in particular State Government agencies – to achieve excellent outcomes for cyclists in Darebin.
The holistic, collaborative approach in providing for cyclists and promoting cycling taken by Darebin has ensured solid success in terms of outcomes, as well as engaging community and stakeholders in their efforts to lead by example.
Nominee: Brisbane City Council, Queensland
Brisbane City Council has committed $100 million over the next four years to increase cycling infrastructure. It has established Australia’s first bike parking station, at King George Square in Brisbane’s CBD, called Cycle2City. An election commitment by
the Lord Mayor, the Centre is operated by Fit-2-Work on behalf of Council that retains ownership of the facility which caters for up to 420 cyclists and has 35 showers.
Members receive daily access to secure bike parking and a fresh towel, personal lockers, laundry and bike maintenance services. The Centre overcomes a significant barrier to commuter cycling – the lack of end of trip facilities – needed in the subtropical climate of Brisbane.
Nominee: City of Charles Sturt, South Australia
The City of Charles Sturt has shown initiative and leadership by supporting cycling through engineering and encouragement. They have supported investment and re-investment on the linear park and coastal park sections within the council area, investment on the Port Adelaide Port Railway Corridor with the Rosetta Street Bridge and sections close to the city.
The city supported the 2008 National Ride to Work Day with a council breakfast, encouraged the formation of a BUG in 2008 and have a Road Safety and Bike Maintenance Workshop for 8–14 year olds planned for 2009.
Nominee: City of Gosnells, West Australia
Since 2007 GO BUG (Gosnells Bicycle User Group) has been meeting weekly for social rides and meetings to resolve local cycling issues via the TravelSmart Officer. Members mentor others and promote cycling for all ages and fitness levels. GO BUG members are gradually exploring the extensive 600km Gosnells path network in high visibility shirts, cycling along bike friendly back streets, shared paths and on road cycle lanes, helping to build a critical mass of local cyclists.
Members report hazards they encounter promptly to City staff so they are resolved quickly and reduce barriers to cycling and walking in the area.
Nominee: City of Prospect, South Australia
City of Prospect has produced two unique cycling maps that seek to engage the community with cycling by experiencing the City of Prospect by bike. The two maps take the cyclist (novice to experienced) along a journey of local history, public art and recreational opportunities within the City.
The routes focus on local road travel to enhance rider’s safety and the enjoyment of the ride. These maps are the first of their kind in South Australia. The maps take you along a journey of local roads with ‘Points of Interest’ described along the way. The maps encourage ‘pause and play’ at various playgrounds and open space.
Nominee: City of Sydney Council, NSW
The City of Sydney is leading efforts to provide a sustainable future through the delivery of cycleways and promotion of cycling in inner Sydney. It has adopted the landmark Cycle Strategy and Action Plan 2007–2017 and begun construction on an ambitious program of 55kms of separated cycleways.
Detailed market research by the City shows that cycleways separated from traffic are needed for cycling to become a mainstream mode of transport. With the NSW Government, the City has developed innovative treatments giving cyclist priority over cars and is developing a 235km separated network with 14 other Councils to be potentially funded by the Australian Government.
Nominee: Fraser Coast Regional Council, Queensland
Fraser Coast Regional Council piloted an Active Transport to School program at a primary and a secondary school that emphasises cycling and walking. The program included: a comprehensive survey of students to identify barriers to cycling to school, the construction of two secure bike enclosures at each school, the construction of 10 new bike racks for each school, participation by both schools in Ride2School Day, publication of Stay Safe Rider Guide and Best Routes to School brochures, and conduct of Bike Education workshops. The number of students cycling and walking to both
schools has increased by 10%, to 36.5%.
Nominee: Gold Coast City Council, Queensland
Queensland’s Gold Coast attracts 10 million visitors annually and is home to more than 500,000. Cyclists with varying interests ranging from Tour de France hero Robbie McEwen and Olympic gold medal triathlete Emma Snowsill count themselves as locals
as well as thousands who cycle for work, pleasure or recreation.
Gold Coast City Council has sought to address these competing needs. Since the 1970s Council has been providing cycling facilities to the point where there are now more than 620km of cycle paths. Council has a blueprint for the expansion of the network to 2020, including potential spending up to $36 million on more than 100 projects over five years.
Nominee: Southern Flinders Regional Tourism Authority (comprising Mt.Remarkable, Northern Areas and Orroroo Carrieton District Councils), South Australia
The Southern Flinders Regional Tourism Authority is a partnership between three local councils based in the Southern Flinders Ranges. Five years ago it embarked upon its Cycle Tourism Development Programme in an effort to create a local environment which encourages locals and visitors alike to participate in a wide range of cycling activities.
The main aims of the programme are to maximise the health, social, environmental and economic benefits of cycling throughout the region. Its articulated vision is for ‘The Southern Flinders Ranges to become the pre-eminent cycle friendly destination in Australia that is renowned for its range of cycling opportunities including world class mountain biking.’
Nominee: Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Queensland
Noosa is recognised as a great place to walk and ride a bike and has a well established coastal path network and off road trail network in bushland areas. The region is a popular destination for road cyclists and has an expanding on road
cycling network.
Noosa has been working in partnership with local workplaces through initiatives such as the TravelSmart Workplace Challenge that 35 businesses/schools participated in, to encourage other workplaces to encourage staff to cycle to and from work. Council has spent $120,000 upgrading its end of trip facilities that now include showers, lockers and secure parking.
Award for Contribution Towards Cycling by a Bicycle Retailer
Winner: Robert Tucker Adelaide Hills Cycles, South Australia
Adelaide Hills Cycles offers cycling education with maintenance and skills sessions to schools, clubs and community groups. Rob is also a consultant to the District Council of Mt Barker and was involved in the Larratiga Wetlands cycling path. He also instigated and designed a multi-use Extreme Cycling Park designed for Four Cross and Freestyle dirt jump. It exceeds National level standards.
Rob was the driving force behind the Adelaide Hills Veterans Cycling Club and is its president. Rob has instigated a ‘Caution Cyclists Share this Road’ campaign with signage potentially being placed at strategic roads around the local community.
Honourable Mention: Greg and Bonnie Martin, The Scooter Shed, Queensland
Greg and Bonnie opened the Scooter Shed in 2008. The store specialises in power assisted bikes and fills a void in the Cairns market, as their store stocks bikes suitable for all, not just the fit and able. They are very supportive of Cairns Bicycle User Group (CBUG) and Bike Week and donated a bike to be raffled for a Movie Night during Bike Week.
They also donated bicycle repair kits to every rider attending the breakfast and movie night and provided bicycles that are not available in other Cairns shops. They attend CBUG social and inspection rides.
Nominee: 99 Bikes, Queensland
99 Bikes established the Brisbane 'Green Team' in 2008 as a way of raising awareness of cycling as a healthy, clean alternative to commuting. Over 300 applications were received from around Brisbane, with the eight winners each receiving $1,500 including a bike and cycling gear.
Winners agree to ride to work at least three times a week over the next year and keep a diary of their progress. The Green Team led a group ride to the Ride To Work Day breakfast. 99 Bikes hopes to expand the Green Team in 2009 by partnering with businesses to create more Green Teams in workplaces.
Nominee: Jon English Ray’s Bicycle Centre, Victoria
Ray's Bicycle Centre in Balwyn North is the hub of a Bicycle Friendly Business. Jon offers his customers personal and friendly advice and is always there to promote cycling as a very enjoyable and safe pastime. Jon loves cycling himself and his
enthusiasm rubs off onto his customers.
Nominee: Thor Stovell PD Bikeworks and Holiday Bike Hire, Queensland
PD Bikeworks promotes cycling through shop rides with customers and the general public, supporting the Bike education program at Port Douglas State School and supporting Julatten Primary school, doing maintenance and repairs on the bikes the school provides to its pupils at no charge.
The store sponsors a number of local riders who compete in Triathlon, Road and Mountain Bike events. It partners with a local MTB tour company to offer rides to local kids and works with a local hotel group to provide assistance and bikes to staff to participate in a local fun Triathlon training group that meets monthly.
Nominee: Stacey Goodman Ramp2Ramp, South Australia
Stacey owns two stores for BMX riders and skateboarders, but started with a decked-out trailer. She has put in a lot of time effort into the SWAS Extreme Comp ’08 Series, a new BMX/skate competition series in the four Riverland towns over the four seasons. It brings BMX riders, skateboarders, friends, family and local communities together, and gives the riders a chance to show their skills.
For the final round, Stacey organised food, drink, judging, prizes and a BMX demonstration, and has already organised dates for next year’s Series! Stacey really looks after the BMX riders and skateboarders and is always keen to help.
Special Achievement Award by a Bicycle Organisation
Winner: Pedal Power, ACT
Pedal Power’s mission is ‘More Canberrans cycling, more often, for a better community’. Its advocacy was very successful in 2008 and focussed on six projects. By year end all had funding and three had been virtually completed.
Their lobbying resulted in $3.6 million for cycle projects in the 2008–09 ACT Budget and a later commitment by the new ACT Government to spend $3.6 million per annum on cycling projects and maintenance and a one-off $2.5 million on signage and the backlog of maintenance. Its annual cycling count found that cycling into Canberra centre increased 48% over the past four years.
Encouragement Award The Miller Aboriginal Cycling Project - 'Bike Fleet', NSW
The Miller Bike Fleet was developed by the Miler Aboriginal Men’s Group in partnership with Sydney South West Area Health Service, the HUB Miller, Mission Australia and other local organisations. The group developed Policy and Procedures in a Risk Management framework to operate the fleet.
The Miller Community have access to bikes for health, social and recreational benefits. The Aboriginal Men’s group hosted a ‘Bike Maintenance Fleet’ Certificate of Attainment with Miller TAFE where the men assembled bikes and learnt skills to maintain them. The fleet is comprised of those six bikes and the fleet organises free bike skills courses.
Honourable Mention: Geelong Mountain Bike Club, Victoria
The Geelong Mountain Bike Club has been actively advocating Mountain Biking since the mid 1990s. The Club formed a partnership with Parks Victoria in 2002 and has worked tirelessly on trail development, working bees and cycling events in an effort to increase participation in the emerging sport. It was recognised by Mountain Bike Australia to host the recent National Titles at You Yangs Regional Park.
The event ran successfully despite trying weather conditions and other challenges and has verified the status of the club as a major event organiser in Victoria. The You Yangs now attract around 60,000 riders annually.
Honourable Mention: Calala Mongrels Mountain Bike Riders, NSW
The Calala Mongrel Mountain bike group is a social riding group who encourage locals to take up bike riding and cycle safely. The group has been together for seven years and has an active membership of around 20. Each year they ride in the annual Westpac Rescue Helicopters Mountain Bike Bash, an 8 day mountain bike ride that fundraises for the Westpac rescue helicopter.
They usually call into the four schools along the way and talk about bike safety and the importance of wearing helmets. This year the group helped raise $108,000 to assist the fit outs of the two locally based helicopters.
Nominee: Bent Kranks Mountain Bikers, Victoria
Bent Kranks is a bike club promoting cycling within the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Intersex community of Melbourne. Weekly bike rides are mostly away from busy roads and are either on bike paths, rail trails or dirt tracks in the hills around town.
Rides range from coffee shop hops, to climbs up Mt Macedon, to mountain bike rides through state forests. Rides have leaders and if newcomers join amember will ride and encourage them as they learnskills. The club organises two try and see ridesduring the Gay and Lesbian Mid Summer festival and participate in the Pride March on bicycles.
Nominee: Bicycle NSW, NSW
Bicycle NSW, a member based association, has over 30 affiliated local community based Bicycle User Groups (BUGs) around NSW. As well as working closely with their respective local councils, BUGs run over 100 community based rides throughout NSW every month.
Bicycle NSW works collaboratively with many areas of government, industry and the community (including some 500 committed volunteers) to deliver broad based community participation cycling events and programmes. The organisation also provides a range of insurance products and cycling related services to its members. Bicycle NSW is the publisher of Australian Cyclist, a national bi-monthly magazine.
Nominee: BIKESydney, NSW
Sydney's roads can seem unfriendly and just living in a big city can feel isolating. BIKESydney aims to develop a strong sense of community amongst people who ride bikes in Sydney. It has 250 members; membership is free. BIKESydney runs
rides and events, including this year's main celebration, the Big Bike Love Festival, that attracted more than 3,000.
It does a lot of lobbying, produces a newsletter and have secured funding to produce maps to explore the city’s hidden green spaces, architecture and public art. BikeSydney has a bicycle valet parking service for events that generates an income.
Nominee: Eurobodalla BUG, NSW
Ride leader Guy organises and leads a weekly Monday ride for a significant and growing group of retirees. Details of upcoming rides are regularly communicated by email. Everyone can benefit from Guy's enthusiastic work by looking up the large
number of rides he's detailed on Bikely.com (search for Eurobodalla).
Guy is furthering the momentum that another active local cyclist, Graham Andrews, began. Eurobodalla BUG has have brought cycling into the lives of many of the local residents.
Nominee: ManMosBUG, NSW
John and Geoff have worked tirelessly in establishing ManMosBUG. They are key drivers in the promotion of cycling in the local area. The one thing that sets them apart is that they don’t restrict themselves to purely organising riding events.
They send out emails concerning all facets of cycling, from trialling GPS to information about how to lobby local, state and federal government about cycling issues that impact not just the local area. They set up a stall at the local council environment weekend and arranged for shirts to be printed and rosters to staff the information stall.
Nominee: Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade Cycling Club, Victoria
Firefighters are regularly listed in the top three most trusted professions in Australia. Children look up to them and adults count on them in a range of emergencies. The MFB Cycling Club participates in charity rides to fundraise for a variety of charities and promote and encourage cycling to all MFB employees.
They ride in the MFB club colors and are easily recognised. In October 2009, the Club will ride 15,000 km around Australia in 25 days to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer and to promote the positive benefits of cycling. Primary schools will follow the ride on the web and club members will visit schools.
Nominee: Phillip Island Bicycle User Group, Victoria
The Phillip Island BUG provides a range of regular social bicycle rides for people of all ages and abilities, as well as advocating for improved infrastructure and amenities for all cyclists in the Bass Coast Shire. Lobbying Council officers has resulted in many maintenance and infrastructure items being addressed.
The BUG promotes improved cycling through supporting Bike Ed in schools and supports two Riding School Buses, working with community groups to run cycling events and acting as positive role models for all road users, leading to improved health, safety, environmental, economic and social benefits to the community.
Nominee: St Kilda Cycling Club, Victoria
St Kilda Cycling Club is one of Melbourne’s youngest but largest cycling clubs. It has made a concerted effort to address the competition gender imbalance, by easing women into competition through free race skills training and discounted race entry.
The club has made a huge commitment to the program, with club volunteers involved from 6am on nominated Sundays. The program, now in its second year, has proven that coaching in a supportive environment builds rider skills and confidence to try (and enjoy) racing. The club’s website includes a women’s column.
Nominee: Sydney Body Art Ride, NSW
Running since 2005, the Sydney Body Art Ride is a high profile event that has resulted in a lot of positive media coverage about cycling. Lots of people who don't usually ride have been weaned back onto their bicycles in order to participate. The ride raises money for childhood cancer research and attracts around 300 people ranging from young children to aged pensioners and a lot of first time riders.
It holds the world record for the largest number of painted people on bicycles. The group has successfully lobbied local councils and the city of Sydney to improve bicycle infrastructure.
Nominee: Western Sydney Cycling Network, NSW
Western Sydney Cycling Network (WSCN) is a community organisation established by Fairfield City Council in 2007 and now run by volunteers. It aims to reduce waste going to landfill and encourage people to use the extensive cycle path network. WSCN- accredited ride leaders and cycling coaches coordinate leisure bike rides and also train local people including coaching, including in the Active After Schools Communities (AASC) program at two local schools.
This is the first time that cycling has formed a part of AASC in this Council area. Following the initial successful pilot program two additional schools are slated to join in 2009.
Award for Bicycle Friendly Business
Winner: Victoria Hotel Rutherglen, Victoria
The Victoria Hotel Rutherglen has introduced an exciting new concept the ‘Cycling Concierge’ offering a range of services, facilities and information designed to assist the cyclist of today.
This new initiative helps cyclists from the outset in planning their trip following through with practical help and a range of facilities and services designed to make their visit as easy as possible. It has been designed by the staff at The Victoria Hotel, as a way of making life easier for and to encourage cyclists to visit.
Honourable Mention: FREEDOM WHEELS Modified Bike Service, NSW
The FREEDOM WHEELS Modified Bike Service is run by Technical Aid to the Disabled and sponsored by Amway's One by One Foundation, to give children with disabilities the opportunity to ride a bike for the first time. Each child is assessed at a "clinic" for a bike to meet their needs.
Bikes are then constructed by technical staff and volunteers. The program operates in NSW, VIC, and QLD and will soon extend to other states. In the words of Poppy (aged 13) on receiving her first bike: "I love this bike. I can ride it. I want to ride it all the way home."
Honourable Mention: Clifton Child Care Co-operative, Victoria
Clifton Childcare Co-op is a small community owned and managed childcare centre in Melbourne’s inner north. It encourages cycling through annual Green Travel Days to Clifton that reward families for travelling sustainably and Green Living Facts in the fortnightly Parent Bulletin.
Co-op also provides information about sustainable transport options to the centre with the enrolment pack at the start of each year, and it has ff-street parking for those wanting to leave bicycles, child bicycle seats and trailers at Clifton during the day. The majority of staff ride bicycles to Clifton, as do many of the families.
Nominee: Austin Health – Healthy Options Working Party, Victoria
Austin Health organized a month long workplace cycle challenge to encourage an increase in staff health and fitness, bicycle use amongst casual riders and uptake of active transport to work. The Challenge was launched on National Ride to Work Day, with participating staff offered a free workplace breakfast.
Each of the 287 challenge registrants were offered a free cycle computer and local bike path maps. A web page was constructed to communicate with registrants and to enable logging of kilometres cycled. Free cycle maintenance workshops were offered during the challenge to support new riders.
Nominee: Melbourne Bicycle Film Festival, Victoria
This festival reaches and encourages parts of the cycling community that are not normally recognised. The Bicycle Film Festival celebrates the bicycle. It is a complex, multi-faceted event fuelled by the enthusiasm and energy of a very small group of
tireless volunteers. It is a wonderful addition to Melbourne's already vibrant cycling scene. All styles of bikes and bike riding are celebrated with not a skerrick of lycra in sight!
Nominee: Bikes@Work, Victoria
Bikes@Work is an innovative business helping to promote health and sustainability in the workplace through active transport initiatives. Bikes@Work specialises in setting up workplace bike fleets within a risk management framework, delivering road safety and cycling proficiency training and promoting walking and cycling for health and transport. We all know that active transport is a healthy, sustainable and economical choice, Bikes@Work helps to make it the first choice.
Nominee: Cycle Education, ACT
Cycle Education's school holiday program: Kids Bicycle Skills & Safety Programme is original in concept, endeavouring to be accessible to all children aged 6–12. Cycle Education Pty Ltd is a Canberra based company established and run by Raynie McNee to educate local community groups and individuals in the enjoyment and freedom of safe bicycle riding by teaching them to be capable, confident cyclists.
The objective of the programme is about developing responsible behaviours, attitudes and decision making skills for the safe use of bicycles in all circumstances. It also encourages physical activity, confidence, fitness, fun & safety.
Nominee: MS Society, NSW
The MS Society has had a huge impact on Sydney's acceptance of 'cycling for all' as a result of the Sydney to the Gong ride. The impact of this event is long lasting and improves community attitudes towards cycling and cyclists.
The MS Society organises the Sydney to the Gong ride for their own fundraising, but the huge number of participants in these rides has caused many more people to cycle on a regular basis, and non riders to become riders after experiencing the support and improved fitness enjoyed on the ride. The high number of participants helps to make cycling mainstream.
Nominee: Futsal Oz, Victoria
Futsal Oz has a purpose built Futsal (indoor football) stadium with courts imported from France at their premises in Victoria St Brunswick. Under its permit, it was required to put in two bike parking hoops. Instead it put in 11 which are well used in the evenings. The CEO stated he hoped to attract members to ride to the stadium, especially as it is near a bike path.
Nominee: Roadie Rob’s Bicycle School, QLD
Rob takes the time to teach people from any age to cycle. He has great patience and loves to spend time teaching people to ride all types of bicycles. The goal of Roadie Rob’s is to encourage and assist in skill development in all forms of cycling.
Whether it be road or mountain bike, BMX or track cycling participants are coached to meet their own personal goals. The school has coached the 70 year old who has never ridden but wants to ride with the grandchildren at the local park through to experienced cyclists competing at a national level.
Nominee: Victoria Police Region One Division One (Melbourne), Victoria
Over the last two years, over 500 bicycle lights have been distributed to ‘at risk’ cyclists by police in the City of Melbourne (Region One Division One), found riding in low light or darkness with insufficient or no lighting. Traditional police methods are to issue warnings and penalties.
October is Community Safety Month in Victoria and a time when more people make use of improved weather and start riding. When lights were given out, they were generally instantly installed. This is the first initiative of its kind in Victoria and possibly Australia. The campaign included media promotion.
Nominee: Department of Sport & Recreation, WA
In July 2008, The Department of Sport And Recreation (DSR) purchased five bicycles for employees to use for business (commute to/from meetings) and recreational purposes (commute to/from home) and part of the Corporate Health & Wellbeing Program (cycling group and SPIN fitness class).
These were purchased as part of the DSR Travelsmart initiative by providing a sustainable, environmentally friendly mode of transport - cycling. DSR employees have shown keen interest. The success of the DSR bicycle system is reliant on employees looking after the equipment, and being courteous and responsible.
