Categories
Press releases

Bicycle Queensland Closed

The Bicycle Queensland office at Lang Parade Milton has been impacted by the recent weather event. The office is closed with arrangements in place to work remotely whilst we wait for the water levels to subside.

The best way to get in touch with us for the next few days is by email. Like many of you, we will be working from home and navigating power outages over the coming days. We will endeavour to respond to your enquiries quickly. 

Please send all membership enquiries to membership@bq.org.au.

Please send all event enquiries to events@bq.org.au.

All other general enquiries to bqinfo@bq.org.au.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to members who have been impacted in recent days.

We know that many of our Brisbane-based members will be keen to help with the clean-up of BQ HQ. But right at the moment, it’s not safe, so please don’t go to Milton.

We would love to have your assistance when the time comes. Stay tuned for when we know more!

Stay safe everyone.

Rebecca,

CEO

Categories
Uncategorised

Ride to Work Tax Scheme

Australia will have a Federal Election soon (before the end of May). We know Bicycle Queensland members are deeply engaged in working towards a better nation and are keen to have their say. We think that one simple change the Federal Government could make would be to allow the purchase of bicycles and e-bicycles for transport to work to be salary-sacrificed.

If you agree, please write to the candidates in your Federal electorate. We have some suggested text below.

Follow the prompts to send your letter:

  1. copy and paste the below draft into your email
  2. take the link to access your candidates information – https://www.craft.do/s/nQ1Nv2wnHuAWfu
  3. send your email for a healthier Australia
Letter to Federal Candidates

Dear candidate

One massive challenge facing Australia today is how to help people make personal changes towards a sustainable future, rather than relying on Government or business.

I’m writing to you as a candidate for the 2022 Federal Election to put forward one idea which would get us to Net Zero emissions faster and also make the population healthier.

Australia should follow the UK’s lead and give substantial tax breaks for people buying bicycles and e-bicycles used for transport (1). The UK Cycle to Work scheme generates twice as much economic benefit to the nation in health and physical fitness as it costs in lost taxes (2).

This 2:1 cost-benefit ratio makes this a no-brainer for the Australian context. Why wouldn’t we want to have a healthier population, with a lower risk of heart disease, more alert and productive at work, and reduce traffic congestion and pollution at the same time?

A Cycle To Work tax scheme would achieve all these benefits, and the UK example shows there’s simply no downside. I look forward to your response.

Yours towards a healthier Australia

regards

(name)

A bike rider.

Notes:

1.Cycle to Work scheme guidance for employers.

2.UK Cycle to Work scheme generates UKP 72 million in economic benefits a year.2022 Federal

Find your candidate below:

https://www.craft.do/s/nQ1Nv2wnHuAWfu

Categories
Advocacy Press releases

Bill Loveday- Bicycle Queensland Life Member

Bicycle Queensland’s longest-serving office bearer, Bill Loveday, was elected as a Life Member at a Special General Meeting on 24 February.

Bill was president of Bicycle Queensland for 20 years (1999-2019), and also served as secretary before that.

BQ vice-president Rachel Nolan paid tribute to Bill’s contribution, working closely with BQ’s first CEO Ben Wilson as the organisation experienced rapid growth in membership, capacity and influence during his tenure as President.

“Bill Loveday and Ben Wilson were the people who led this transition from a tiny community group to an organisation with 16,000 members which has a significant influence on Government policy and spending on infrastructure. Bicycle Queensland owes Bill Loveday a great deal,” Ms Nolan said.

Bill Loveday life member
From left – BQ President Rob Van Manen, Life Member Bill Loveday , BQ Vice-President Rachel Nolan.