 Action is essential in achieving more cycle friendly communities
This includes several issues such as
- Well maintained roads,
- Traffic Management systems which minimize the risk for cyclists,
- More on and off road bicycle facilities,
- Considerate and bicycle aware car drivers,
- Competent bicycle riders,
- Well planned and designed neighbourhoods and communities,
- End of trip facilities for cyclists.
All of these factors are what need to be addressed in
order to improve cycling conditions in our communities. To achieve
this, the public will have to voice their needs and expectations. This
can happen at a range of levels.
What you can do!
- Every trip you undertake, consider if you could cycle instead,
- Inform yourself about the bicycle facilities in your community and
workplace (try Local Government, State Transport Departments cycle
units, State Bicycle Advocacy group, Public transport operator)
- If unhappy about the facilities contact your local Councilor, State or Federal Member of Parliament,
- Talk to your neighbors, friends and colleagues about cycling,
- Approach your children's school and ask about their cycling policy and bicycle education,
- Join a bicycle user group in your area and assist them with campaigns and or join them for some bicycle rides.
The Family
Local Bicycle User Groups
Making your community more bicycle friendly is likely
to require lots of people working together over a long period of time.
Many interested people have joined together and formed local bicycle
user groups (BUG's). All BUG's share a commitment to cycling in common,
but many differ in their focus and strategies used.
 State Bicycle Groups
Each State has a State Bicycle Peak Body. These are
membership organisations which represent cyclists at the local, state
and national level by working collaboratively with other stakeholders
in advocating for better infrastructure and traffic management systems
which support cycling.
In addition to advocacy their focus includes the
promotion of cycling, dissemination of information on cycling and the
organisation of events. Their income relies on membership fees,
donations, government contracts for specific service delivery and
financial support from other relevant sources.
Consider joining your State Bicycle Group to assist
them in continuing their important work in making our communities more
cycle friendly. If you have some time on your hands, consider to
volunteer your skills; many have special volunteer programs. Membership
benefits vary between organisations and may include newsletter,
subscription to the Australian Cyclist, insurance cover and discount
schemes.
Check out yourself what they do, what they have achieved and what they can offer you.
National Bicycle Organisations
The Bicycle Federation of Australia
is the peak user group for bicycle advocacy in Australia. The
organisation was formally established in 1990. Membership is primarily
drawn from State Peak User groups but includes the potential for
non-voting supporting members. To ensure that a coherent and considered
position is presented by the national cycling interest, national policy
guidelines have been developed to assist in and encourage the
development of a consistent and coherent bicycle network of world class
infrastructure and service utility.
These guidelines maximise the beneficial aspects of
cycling to provide least cost - most benefit outcomes when assessed
from an integrated health, environmental, urban planning, equity and
economic impact perspective.
The Cycling Resource Centre is a on-line resource for cycling information. This world class site developed by Austroads and Department for
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
features a powerful search engine, topical pages ranging from
infrastructure and funding to ride to school programs, road safety and
cycling promotion.
The Cycling Promotion Alliance
was established at a historical meeting in Canberra in August 2002 to
bring together the entire Australian Cycling Sector: competitive
cycling clubs, advocacy groups, professional associations, industry
bodies and others, to speak in one voice.
The grassroots muscle of the Alliance comes from
thousands of people who care about cycling, whether it be for
commuting, riding recreationally, riding for fitness or
competitively.The Cycling Promotion Alliance is working to achieve
better outcomes for bicycle riders at the National Level.
International Bicycle Advocacy
There are a range of international bodies advocating for better and
more integrated cycling policies, infrastructure and support.
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Promoting Cycling