Tag: bicycle

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Advocacy Uncategorised

Bridges section of Boyne-Burnett Inland Rail Trail opens

Opening of the Mt Debatebale to Mundubbera rail trail.

The Boyne-Burnett Inland Rail Trail (BBIRT) is a great success story of grassroots actions by communities a long way away from the seat of power. Last weekend a second section was officially opened, 30km of trail from Mt Debateable to Mundubbera.

This is the “Bridges” section of the BBIRT, as the rail corridor runs beside the mighty Burnett River, and crosses the many creeks feeding the river as they run off Mt Gayndah and the Binjour Plateau. The bridges which cross these creeks are listed by Engineers Australia as being of heritage significance.

Unfortunately floods have seen off two of these bridges, Reid Creek and Philpott, making it difficult for the rail trail to run along the corridor the entire distance from Gayndah to Mundubbera. At present, the trail starts 10km out of town in Mt Debateable siding, as the Reid Creek crossing prevents the trail from connecting into Gayndah. However, there is a detour around the site, where the bridge across Philpott Creek once was, adding a few kilometres to the journey.

Like many Queensland rail trails, this is an adventure experience. There are sandy sections, bumpy sections, and a few steep pinches out of gullies. The trail is best suited to a mountain bike (e-mtb is becoming popular too).

But for the adventurous who attempt the Bridges section of the BBIRT, you are rewarded with great views, and several plaques marking historical sites of interest.

‘Packs and Pedals’ runs a shuttle service on the BBIRT, and they can help you explore either the Bridges section or the Tunnels section from Kalpowar to Ubobo in the Boyne Valley.

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Advocacy Uncategorised

Gold Coast recycling hub idea takes shape

Recycles Parts

Wouldn’t it be great if regular bike riders (such as Bicycle Queensland members for instance) had somewhere local that they could drop off for recycling those consumable items of bike riding, such as tyres, tubes and chains?

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a central location for people who are interested in low-cost bike riding could access second-hand parts, especially those items such as cranks, saddles, seat posts, and wheels which often have a useful life long after they are no longer the latest and greatest.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was somewhere for mums and dads (such as Bicycle Queensland members for instance) to be able to donate children’s bikes and even adult bikes which are no longer needed but still have plenty of useful life ahead of them?

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a central training location in our largest regional city for bicycle shops to send trainee mechanics, which also had the side benefit of fixing up low-cost donated bikes to go to worthy recipients?

The City of Gold Coast is looking at all these ideas coming together in a cycling/recycling hub. The City’s Water and Waste team hosted the first public discussions on the idea this week, and Bicycle Queensland’s Director of Advocacy Andrew Demack was there to support the concept.

Also represented in industry and community meetings were bike retailers and manufacturers, as well as groups such as Men’s Sheds and community bike repair groups.

“Bicycle Queensland’s members have so much to contribute to this type of Council-led project,” Demack said.

“We are enthusiastically supporting this project and hope to see it move from concept to pilot as soon as possible. I am sure that there are local groups in Brisbane and all the major regional cities which would love to see councils engage in proactively promoting a circular economy approach to the bike industry and many other industries.

“Bikes are well-suited to be ahead of the curve on this because the bike riding community is already very engaged on sustainability and recycling,” Demack said.

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Advocacy Press releases

BQ Joins Global Pro-Cycling Campaign With Big Results

A global campaign led by the European Cycling Federation (ECF), which included an open letter to governments at COP26 signed by 350 organisations worldwide, has helped achieve a last-minute recognition of active travel in the official COP26 Transport Declaration on 10 November.

Protesting the near-exclusive focus on electric cars and total absence of active mobility in the official Transport Day agenda and the draft transport declaration. A global coalition of civil society organisations led by ECF called on world leaders and governments to recognise the importance of cycling to reach climate goals.

The last-minute inclusion of active travel (walking and cycling) and public transport in the “Glasgow Declaration on Accelerating the Transition to 100% Zero Emission Cars and Vans” was a direct result of the joint advocacy efforts by ECF and its 349 allies. While the reference to active travel and public transport is a far cry from what’s needed to cut transport emissions and reach climate goals, it’s an important recognition that will be built upon at the COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

The coalition’s open letter was first published on 2 November and called on governments at COP26 to boost global cycling levels to cut transport emissions quickly and on a massive scale. Initially signed by over 60 organisations, the letter ultimately clocked 350 signatories from all over the world.

Bicycle Queensland joined other signatories including the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), PeopleForBikes, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), International Association of Public Transport (UITP), World Cycling Alliance (WCA) and Greenpeace. Together we have campaigned to urge governments to recognise cycling as one of the best solutions we already have to combat the climate crisis.

Bicycle Queensland’s CEO, Rebecca Randazzo, “BQ advocates strongly on the role bicycles can play in combating climate change”. Substituting a car trip with a bike trip represents one of humanity’s greatest hopes for a shift towards a zero-carbon future. Riding your bike produces zero emissions, delivers far-reaching positive societal impacts and relies on technology that is already widely available today.

We can all influence and play a role in combating climate change. Over the past couple of weeks, the letter’s signatories have grown and helped raise awareness for the importance of more cycling to cut transport emissions and reach climate goals. Our joint message was simple: “the world needs much more people riding bikes if we are to combat the climate crisis.”

If you would like to write to your local councillor to ask what they are doing to reduce carbon emissions from transport, click here.

Combating Climate change by bike
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Advocacy

2025 Bicycle Queensland Survey

It is that time of the year where we need some input from Bicycle Queensland members, supporters, followers – and anyone who rides a bike or e-scooter. As a membership organisation, it is essential that we are working towards the main priorities of our members, listening to their needs and feedback. Our annual survey shapes our advocacy work along with the services and offers we deliver to members – so taking part really does make a difference. Expect to spend about 10 minutes to complete the survey.

And importantly, if you are no longer a Bicycle Queensland member or have never signed up – we also want to hear from you. The advocacy work that Bicycle Queensland undertakes serves all Queenslanders, so we want to ensure our efforts have the best focus. 

Click here to complete the survey

As a way to say thank you, we have put together a range of prizes that we will deliver to survey respondents from a random draw. The prizes include: 

  • 1x pair of BONT Riot shoes (road or mountain) 
  • 1x weekend booking for Rail Trail Refuge Linville (upto 6 people) between September and March 
  • 1 of 6 Pure Nutrition prize packs 
  • 1x Shokz OPENSWIM Pro 
  • 1x 100% Photochromic eyewear 
  • 1x pair Pirelli Cinturato road tyres 
  • 1x Magene L508/AT1600 light pack
  • 1x Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt V3
  • 2x Entity Floor Pump
  • 2x Bikerakz Ezi Hold – Bike Wall Mount
  • 2x Entity alloy flat pedal
  • 2x EVOC Hip Pacl Pro 3
  • 1x pair Maxxis Dissector trail tyres
  • 2x Krush Pro Bike Detailing kits
  • 2x Topeak Ratchet Rocket Lite DX tools 

Click here to complete the survey

Terms and Conditions 

  1. The above prizes will be chosen via a random draw from the list of survey respondents who have left their name and contact details. 
  1. Prize winners will be contacted via email. If they do not reply within 48 hours the prize will be drawn again. 
  1. Prizes will only be sent to Australian addresses. 
  1. No prize can be exchanged or swapped for cash. 
  1. Prizes may be limited to what colour is available at the time of draw.
  1. The Bicycle Queensland survey is anonymous, however you will be asked if you would like to leave your name and email address, so you can be contacted for prize delivery. This data set is held separately from any survey responses. 
  1. Bicycle Queensland will provide the names and email addresses provided to our prize partners, including but not limited to: FE Sports, Pure Sports Nutrition, BikesOnline, Rail Trail Refuge Linville and Bont Cycling.