The Cycling Promotion Fund has released a media release in response to the Goverment tabling its report into the inquiry into Australia's future oil supply and alternative fuels on the 7th February 2007.

"With rising world demand and increasing concern over availability, the need to reduce Australia's oil consumption has to be a priority, and this was noted by the Sentate Committee's report:" says Elliot Fishman, Policy Officer with the Cycling Promotion Fund

"The Senate Inquiry made it clear that in addition to being an oil-free form of transport, cycling is an effective tool against our obesity and diabetes epidemics.

Click here for the media release

No Fuel Tank, No Exhaust Pipe: Cycling is the No Regrets option to reduce oil dependence

The Inquiry into Australia’s future oil supply and alternative transport fuels tabled its report in Parliament yesterday, the 7th February 2007. Of the 192 submissions received by the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee, the majority warned of the impending petrol shortfall due to Peak Oil.

“With rising world demand and increasing concern over availability, the need to reduce Australia’s oil consumption has to be a priority, and this was noted by the Senate Committee’s report”, says Elliot Fishman, Policy Officer with the Cycling Promotion Fund. Cycling is seen as a “No Regrets” option by the Committee, meaning that even if the onset of Peak Oil occurs later than expected, the community benefits from numerous social, environmental and transport outcomes inherent to cycling.

The Committee noted that Australia’s oil production has reduced over recent years and is set to decline further in the future. The interim report identified work by Geoscience Australia that our nation may only be capable of producing 20% of its oil needs by 2026. Mr. Fishman highlights that “The Senate Inquiry made it clear that in addition to being an oil-free form of transport, cycling is an effective tool against our obesity and diabetes epidemics.”

The Senate Committee’s report produced supply and demand side responses to Peak Oil. Supply side responses involve measures to increase the availability of transport fuels, such as coal-to-liquid technology. Converting coal to liquids is a notoriously greenhouse gas intensive process. The Committee acknowledged that it would be a “flawed response” to undertake solutions to our liquid transport fuel problem without consideration for climate change.

Fishman says “Unlike many of the supply side options provided to the Senate Committee, such as coal-to-liquids, cycling represents a zero emission form of transport. Our current policy environment requires us to propose responses to Peak Oil that are greenhouse sensitive. Bicycles have no exhaust pipe.” Unlike dirty supply side responses, the Committee identified cycling as a zero-oil, zero-emission solution to the pending oil crisis.

During public sessions, the Senate Inquiry was told by urban transport experts that over 30% of car journeys in Australian cities are less than 3km. Fishman adds that “given a significant proportion of our car trips are incredibly short, cycling represents a realistic, sustainable alternative to unnecessary car use”.

The report underscores the important contribution cycling can make by highlighting “A litre of oil saved…by turning a car trip into a bicycle trip, is just as real as a litre of oil found by new exploration…” The drought and subsequent water restrictions have demonstrated that Australians have an excellent capacity to adapt to new situations. “We are on the verge of entering a petrol drought. As we approach the point at which less and less oil will be available year upon year, Australian’s will need to become fuel smart and adapt to a low oil lifestyle, just as we have done with water” says Fishman.

Central to this process will be the need to reduce car use and increase rates of cycling. The international and domestic evidence is clear - people choose to cycle when the urban environment supports it. All levels of government have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for people to cycle. One of the most cost effective methods of responding to rising oil prices in a significant increase in investment for bike lanes and paths, lower speed limits and better bike parking.

As Fishman points out “increasing the attractiveness of cycling not only allows Australians to reduce their oil dependence, it’s also one of the best ways of combating climate change, obesity and congestion”.

Media inquiries:

Elliot Fishman, Research and Policy Officer, Cycling Promotion Fund, Ph: 0438 547 450

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