BQ is pleased to be playing a larger role in the heavy vehicle safety space. Last month the NVHR’s 5-year heavy vehicle safety strategy was released, and our Director of Education was happy to see the partnership approach between industry, supply chain, government and community that will bring about improved safety outcomes.

Bicycle Queensland put in a response to the strategy looking to improve awareness of vulnerable road users and more clearly identify the safety improvements to older vehicles.

View the response feedback here.

If you would like to find out more about our response to this strategy, please get in touch by emailing bqinfo@bq.org.au!

Launching the Commuter Harmony Alliance, working on submissions on major issues and an on-going focus on strengthening our involvement with regional councils have been three of the major themes of Bicycle Queensland’s advocacy work in the first quarter of 2021. In the education department, Bicycle Queensland’s Director of Education, Patrick, has had a busy start to 2021 as the demand for our education services increases. The development of online learning tools remains a priority to ensure we meet our statewide membership and stakeholder base.

Read the full report in detail via the link below.

On Saturday 5^th June, Bicycle Queensland and Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Users Association Inc (BVRTUA) are teaming up to host the first Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Festival of Cycling.

It will be the biggest event of its kind held on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, catering for gravel riders and holiday goers with options to purchase transport to and from the event available.

Riders will be fully supported with ride marshals, mechanics, first aid, support vehicles and rest stops with food throughout the whole event. Participants will also have access to event photos taken by professional photographers, free of charge.

Riders can choose from three different distances for all ages, preferences and abilities:

• 44km from Linville to Yarraman
• 75km from Toogoolawah to Yarraman
• 161km from Wulkuraka to Yarraman (end-to-end).

All distances end in Yarraman, where the Yarraman Business Group is hosting a Finish Line Festival with music, food, markets and activities for the whole family from 10am to 4pm. 

CEO of Bicycle Queensland, Rebecca Randazzo, is excited to offer a gravel bike event in partnership with BVRTUA.

‘Adventuring through one of Queensland’s most historic landmarks is a great way to holiday at home this year, especially as the event offers transport options, food, bike support and entertainment for the whole family. We’re proud to be working together with a regional organisation to bring a gravel ride event to this iconic Queensland cycling destination.”

Early bird entries are available until Tuesday 4^th of May – Purchase tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/bvrt-festival-of-cycling-2021-tickets-95188500367

Bicycle Queensland members save $10 off the ticket price – contact Bicycle Queensland for more information.

Bike with Brisbane, that’s a wrap!

Thanks to everyone who came along, grabbed some breakfast & coffee and took the Commuter Harmony Alliance pledge with us on a perfect Autumn morning in March. Bike racks were full and many bananas were tossed

A shout out to our partner’s Cycle Law, Cycling Brisbane, Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland, Advance Traders BMX & Scooter division, NAQ Nutrition, Boral and Department of Transport and Main Roads (Queensland) for having activities and information set up at the event – we couldn’t have done it without you!

And finally a special thanks to those who rode in the harmony ride to mark the launch of our newest advocacy initiative, Commuter Harmony Alliance. Harmony ride riders and VIP supporters:

• Mark Bailey MP – Labor for Miller
• Cr Ryan MurphyRachel Nolan – Executive Chair, Director, Mckell Institute
• Dr Matthew Burke Cr Jared Cassidy – Councillor for Deagon Ward
• Amy MacMahon – Greens MP for South Brisbane
• Grant Stack – Training and Compliance (Boral)
• Emily Billiau – Principal – McInnes Wilson Lawyers
• Anna Campbell (Queensland Walks)
• Sean Phillips – Driver (Boral)
• Dan Crawford (BORRA – Brisbane Off-Road Riders Alliance)
• Robyn Davies – Cycling & Walking (Department of Transport and Main Roads)
• Professor Narelle Haworth – (Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland)
• Matthew Longland – Deputy Director-General (Department of Transport and Main Roads (Queensland))
• Gail Rehbein – BQ Ambassador
• Anna Beck – BQ Ambassador and Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS)
• Madeline – Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS)
• Mark Tuohy – Chief Operating Officer (Health and Wellbeing Queensland)
• Matthew Beasley – Project Director (Dexus)
• Sgt Chris Bird
• S/Con Scott Barton
• S/Con Simon Little
• S/Con Travis Clark

We’re constantly looking for new ways to improve and add value to our memberships, whether this is through benefits, insurance, events or advocacy. As a member you enable us to make real, impactful changes in communities all over Queensland, but sometimes we get so caught up doing it all that we don’t get a chance to recap on what we’ve done. To keep you in the loop, every quarter we will share with you everything we do to make cycling better for you, and other cyclists in Queensland.

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Dear members and friends,

I can’t believe it is March already – what a difference twelve months makes. I was so proud of how the team adapted in 2020 to a changing environment yet were still able to service our members and establish new partnerships. Despite not being able to run face to face events we worked tirelessly in the advocacy and education space to support existing and new riders.   

2021 is about driving our agenda. 

The staff and management committee have been working hard on a new strategic plan for Bicycle Queensland, which will guide our services and new initiatives for the next three years. Thank you to everyone who participated in the open workshops over the past four months. I look forward to sharing the plan with you shortly. 

Our work has never been more important. The experiences of COVID 19 have highlighted the value of riding a bicycle, as thousands of Queenslanders turned to bike riding to support their health during challenging times. As we unite and recover, the relevance of bike riding as a transport alternative, recreational and wellbeing option as well as an environmental movement remains a priority body of work for us.  

So far, 2021 has been very busy. 

We are excited to be returning to the events space with the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Festival of Cycling (5th June) and our iconic Brisbane to Gold Coast event (17th October). We have been working hard on new collaborations to further enhance these experiences. We recently ran an activation event in Toowoomba and look forward to working with communities in Logan, Redland City Council and central Queensland later this year.  We continue to build out more benefits for our members and lobby hard (read our response to the BCC draft strategy on e-mobility here and BCC’s Draft Strategy on Off-Road Cycling here) at the political level for more funding and revised policies which support more people to ride more often.

Earlier this month we also saw the very successful launch of Commuter Harmony Alliance – a platform for speaking about advocacy and safety issues from a broader perspective than just bicycle riders. It is a new way to build a coalition across all transport sectors to look at positive behaviour change programs that emphasise common values between all users of the transport systems. We encourage all our members to take the pledge and help us raise awareness about protecting those most vulnerable on our roads and shared pathways. 

Despite being very busy at work I have stayed true to my goals of riding regularly, even if it’s a short, sweaty session on the trainer at 5am. Like many of you, I wear my many hats during the week (mum, wife, daughter, career, coach, and my community work). I have struggled in the past to prioritise my own wellbeing, but this year I am dedicating more time to social rides with friends and family and encourage you to do the same. We all know life is better when we ride more.

Until next time, happy and safe riding.

Rebecca

The emergence of e-scooters and other “rideables” highlights the imperative for Governments of all levels to work together towards a resilient, legible and attractive network for active transport users and rideables.

In our response to Brisbane City Council’s draft e-mobility strategy, Bicycle Queensland has:

• Called for BCC to revise its current planning for walking and cycling infrastructure in light of this e-mobility strategy
• Increase the investment level
• Review path widths on routes likely to carry significant numbers of rideables and e-bikes;
• And shorten the timeframes for delivering the network.

Bicycle Queensland has supported the e-mobility strategy’s directions, despite expressing safety concerns about e-scooters, as reported by BQ members since rideables were introduced in 2018. We are writing to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads to request a review of primary safety concerns around rideables, and to mandate turn indicators and brake lights on e-scooters.

View Bicycle Queensland’s response to the BCC draft strategy on e-mobility here, and CEO Rebecca Randazzo’s letter to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, The Hon Mark Bailey MP here.