Bicycle Industries Australia Ltd. News

National Cycling Participation Survey

On 31 August 2011 the Australian Bicycle Council released the results of the National Cycling Participation Survey.  The survey found that in a typical week around 18% of Australians ride a bicycle for transport and recreation with around 3.6 million people riding for recreation, leisure or sport and 1.2 million people making at least one transport journey.

The survey was conducted by telephone interviews with a random selection of households across Australia. A total of 9,661 households consisting of 24,858 individuals were interviewed. Respondents were asked when they and other members of their household had last ridden a bicycle, and if in the past week, how often and for what purposes they had ridden.

Industry Workshops

In supporting the bicycle retail sector, the BIA with the RCTA, negotiated with the Australian Retail Association to provide discounted access to workshops in Melbourne and Sydney.

The first workshop on (mobile) M-Commerce and the use of social media in the promotion of your product was held in Melbourne on Tuesday the 4th of October, with the Sydney workshop to be held on the 25th.

As an industry body, we have identified the benefits of providing these workshops and educational opportunities to your business. I would welcome your feedback on what other workshops, or training you would like to see the BIA and RCTA deliver in the future.

Bicycle Import Data

August import figures are still demonstrating a fall in imports from the 2010 calendar year, but poor children’s bike numbers have been offset by adults number which are similar to last year.

Full details of the import data will be provided to all CPF and BIA members.

Cycling Promotion Fund News

Cycling Promotion Fund takes cycling to Federal Parliament

In a first for cycling in this country, the Cycling Promotion Fund (CPF) organised the Active Transport for Sustainable Cities Dinner in Parliament House Canberra. The event was extremely well supported with 19 Members of Parliament, Senators and senior advisors attending, including Cabinet Secretary Mark Dreyfus QC, Shadow Minister for Health, the Hon Kevin Andrews and senior advisors to Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce.

The CPF, with Government Relations Manager Stephen Hodge as MC, was able to present unique perspectives on the benefits of increased cycling from the UK, China, USA and Australia from four international and national key note speakers we flew in direct from the Asia Pacific Cycle Congress in Brisbane.

Asia Pacific Cycle Congress

The Asia Pacific Cycle Congress was hosted by Brisbane from 18 to 21 September 2011. The Congress (APCC) brought together key cycling experts, researchers and enthusiasts from around the world. The APCC provided a forum for industry networking, developing technical approaches to cycleway planning and discussing strategies for reaching critical velocity in cycling mode share.

With delegates from around the world, the event was a show case of cycling across Asia Pacific and future opportunities to increase government and key stakeholder engagement.

Heart Foundation

One of the CPF’s project partners, the Heart Foundation, this week presented at the Walk 21 conference in Vancouver. Walk 21 is an annual conference that assembles experts in urban planning, active transport, health promotion and community development from around the globe with a vision to create a world where people choose and are able to walk as a way to travel, be healthy and to relax.

Following from the presentation, the HF was invited to participate on an international panel looking at future opportunities and for improvements at an international level. The HF was the only Australian organization invited to be represented on the panel.

Australian Bicycle Dates

For a comprehensive listing of International bicycle shows, see the Bike Europe calendar.