Happy Father and son riding their bicycles by the lake. Father and son having fun together on their bikes in the park. Happy family, outdoors activities, childhood and parenting concept.
Bicycle Queensland welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of a $100 million Active Transport Fund, but BQ and the other bike advocacy groups have met and assert that a more substantial commitment is needed to create meaningful change. The $100 million is a step in the right direction, but insufficient for any impact nationwide.
Working with other state bodies, Bicycle Queensland are preparing a submission to highlight our key concerns. These revolve around:
– a lack of specific deliverables and a framework for delivery. – a need to scale up investment for meaningful impact. – recognition of e-bikes and e-scooters as light EVs, as part of a lower emissions solution. – promotion of, and investment in active transport networks, including strategic cycling networks in all major cities.
Bicycle Queensland and the other state bodies appreciate the government’s efforts to promote active travel through the net-zero roadmap, however we urge a more ambitious and holistic approach so Australia can realise the full potential of active travel. We will be working on our submission, but you can read the details about the policy and have provide your own feedback via the portal right now.
Bicycle Queensland was pleased to take the opportunity to participate in Brisbane City Council’s community working group for the next and final stage of the North Brisbane Bikeway: between Price Street to Kedron Brook.
This 500 metre section of bikeway will unlock a direct connection from Sandgate and even Redcliffe, all the way to Brisbane’s CBD. As a missing link which makes a difference to every bike rider, e-bike rider and e-scooter rider on the north side of Brisbane, it is hard to understate the significance of the NBB project.
We’ve been working closely with Brisbane North Bicycle Users Group as we look for the best way to help BCC see that even with some local opposition, this project is one which benefits almost everyone, through reducing congestion and enabling safe active transport.
On May 22, 2024 We Ride submitted a crucial proposal to the Climate Change Authority, co-authored with Bicycle Queensland and other state advocacy bodies. Our aim is clear: to ensure that the vital role of active transport, including bicycles, e-bikes, and e-scooters, is recognised and prioritised in discussions surrounding climate action in Australia.
“Bicycle Queensland is proud to be part of this multi-jurisdictional approach to recognising the vital role that cycling plays in helping to decarbonise our transport sector.” said Alton Twine, CEO of Bicycle Queensland. “Its not just about a transition to EV cars – Climate Change policy needs to consider the significant potential to reduce emissions that active transport modes can play if appropriate investment is made by government to support meaningful mode shift in Australian Cities.”
“Everyone who rides a bike for their daily transport and recreational purposes is contributing to a cleaner, greener and healthier planet. If Australia is to achieve its emissions targets, every sector needs to help and cycling needs to be formally considered as part of this.”
At the heart of our concern lies the omission of active transport in the Climate Change Authority’s proposal. With the urgent need to transition towards low-emission alternatives, promoting the use of bicycles and small electric vehicles emerges as a readily accessible, equitable, and affordable solution.
Currently, Australia’s investment in active transport infrastructure lags far behind international recommendations, constituting a mere 2% of expenditure compared to the suggested 20% outlined by the United Nations. This discrepancy underscores the pressing need for increased support and funding in this area.
Bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters offer a swift transition towards sustainable transportation, particularly for short trips. By prioritising incentives and infrastructure for these modes of transport, we can avoid exacerbating emissions through the rapid uptake of electric cars and the subsequent need for extensive infrastructure updates around EV charging.
As highlighted in We Ride’s submission, there is a strong public interest in active transport. However, concerns about safety persist, with two-thirds of individuals surveyed expressing reservations about the suitability of current infrastructure designed primarily for internal combustion vehicles.
We fully endorse the points raised by We Ride, including the health benefits and economic advantages associated with widespread adoption of active transport networks. In preparation for the upcoming state election in October, Bicycle Queensland urges our members to engage with local representatives to understand their stance on active transport.
Together, let’s pedal towards a greener, healthier future!
Bicycle Queensland welcomes the announcement by the Australian Government of its commitment to invest in active transport infrastructure, fostering more liveable, active, and connected cities and regional centres nationwide.
Catherine King, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, announced $100 million to establish a ground breaking national Active Transport Fund. This fund aims to enhance and develop new bicycle and pedestrian pathways, promoting zero-emission travel, ensuring safer routes for cyclists and pedestrians, and fostering active and vibrant communities.
“The creation of the national Active Transport Fund marks a significant step towards building sustainable and accessible transportation options across Australia,” said Alton Twine, CEO at Bicycle Queensland. “We applaud the government’s recognition of the importance of active transport in promoting social connection, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and creating vibrant urban and regional environments. Bicycle Queensland commends the government for prioritising investments in infrastructure that enable individuals to commute to school, work, and local services safely and sustainably.”
The program guidelines for the Active Transport Fund will be collaboratively developed in consultation with states and territories. These guidelines are set to be unveiled to the public before the fund’s anticipated commencement on July 1, 2025.
Minister King emphasised the government’s commitment to creating thriving communities across urban and regional Australia.
“We want communities to thrive whether they be in cities or in the regions,” stated Minister King. “We are investing to build economic opportunity and also the opportunity for people to enjoy the spaces and places they live in, building connection and improving safety.”
“It’s great to see the federal government on board with providing transport for all users,” stated Andrew Demack, Bicycle Queensland’s Director of Advocacy. “Funding to grow and maintain an active transport network has been missing at both a federal level, and this is a fantastic first step by the government towards progressive transport investment.”
Bicycle Queensland looks forward to collaborating with the Albanese Government and stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the national Active Transport Fund, advancing the vision of healthier, more connected, and sustainable communities nationwide.
In a recent event that marked a strength of purpose in creating a more bike-friendly Queensland, leaders, supporters and advocates of bike riding and active transport gathered for a Bicycle Queensland event.
The event, which included the Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services, The Hon. Mark Bailey, and the Shadow Minister for Customer Service and Shadow Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Steve Minnikin, were joined by Bicycle User Groups, the BQ board, councillors, industry representatives, peak associations, and devoted members of the cycling community and the state and local government.
Hosted by the Chair of BQ, Rachel Nolan, the event was a celebration of the sheer joy that riding a bike brings and a shared desire to enhance the cycling experience across Queensland. In her address, Rachel Nolan, as the Chair of the state’s premier industry body, underscored Bicycle Queensland’s commitment to supporting micro-mobility users and their dedication to creating an environment where people of all ages, abilities, and locations can safely experience the joy of riding or scootering.
“As the state’s premier industry body, representing the bicycle and e-scooter community, Bicycle Queensland reaffirms its dedication to supporting micro-mobility users, and we commit to working towards creating a state where everyone, regardless of age, ability, or location, can revel in the joy of riding or scootering safely,” expressed Rachel Nolan.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services, The Hon. Mark Bailey, addressed the growing challenges posed by the surge in traffic over the past four decades. He emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to establish cycling networks that span across various levels of government. Minister Bailey stressed the pivotal role of local government in actively participating and committing to retrofitting active transport solutions in communities, including the development of separate bike lanes.
“There’s three times the traffic there was from forty years ago, it’s a lot faster and it’s dangerous. How do we solve that? We work together as a community to get cycling networks up and running. That means local government is to work with other levels of government to achieve that. The majority of roadways are owned by councils, and we need more councils actively involved and committed to retrofitting active transport in communities to develop separate bike ways. We know that having the right infrastructure will make a huge difference in encouraging people to buy and ride bikes or e-bikes,” stated The Hon. Mark Bailey.
Both The Hon. Mark Bailey and Shadow Minister Steve Minnikin reiterated their commitment to collaborative efforts with Bicycle Queensland in reshaping the Queensland landscape. The shared vision revolves around implementing tangible solutions such as dedicated bike lanes and enhanced cycling networks to create a safer and more accessible environment for cyclists and micro-mobility users across the state and supporting behaviour change and community activation.
This event stands as a testament to the passion and determination of all involved parties to pave the way for a future where active transport is not just a mode of commuting but an integral part of Queensland’s identity – a state where the joy of riding is accessible to all, irrespective of age, ability, or location.
Work will soon be commencing on a shared pathway in Minnippi Parklands, between Porters Paddock Park carpark and Bulimba Creek pedestrian bridge.
Construction start date will be Monday 13 March and work is expected to be completed by early May (weather permitting).
The pathway on the eastern side of the Lake loop will be closed during construction. The detour will advise pedestrians and cyclists to travel via the western side of the lake as shown in the map below.
Minnippi Lake Bikeway/Shared Pathway Upcoming Closure
Bicycle Queensland members Nellie and Richard Logan embarked on a bike ride of more than 4000km over 28 days, to help raise funds for children facing poverty. Read the recount of their amazing journey below:
On 17th September 2022, Richard and I headed out with a team of 22 cyclists and 15 support crew from Cottesloe Beach, Perth to begin a 28-day ride across Australia. Our final destination was Bar Beach in Newcastle NSW, 4200km away and our goal was to raise $1 million for Compassion’s Critical Needs Fund and see 150 children sponsored.
We were an odd assortment of riders from all over the country, some had done this ride previously and others had never ridden in a group. A few cyclists used to race in their younger days, one even at an elite level. One man had ridden across a few continents. Then some had never done a multi-day ride before training for this event. Our backgrounds varied from businesspeople to teachers to physios to working in IT, we were a mix of ages and sizes.
Team riding
The accommodation was also a bit of a mix. We would find ourselves in caravan park cabins, or roadhouse motels (sometimes squished in because there weren’t enough rooms to accommodate us). Many times we would be bunking down together in church halls or sports centres. Occasionally we got billeted out to locals. We stayed in a few delightful old buildings, such as the Catholic Convent in Coolgardie, a beautiful 120-year-old plus property in Muswellbrook, and the town hall at Burra that is now a museum.
There were many tests along the way, headwinds of 30kph, crosswinds up to 50kph, sickness, rain and rain mixed with coal dust (we were filthy dirty that day). Even icy winds coming straight off the Southern Ocean. There were long days in the saddle, sometimes arriving just as the sun set. We dodged kangaroos, emus, and snakes on the roads, we came across the occasional cranky truckie who would decide to pull in a little too soon after overtaking. There were plenty of highlights, seeing the beautiful landscapes, like the green rolling hills near Burra, meeting the townsfolk who would openly welcome us and feed us.
Each morning Richard would give us the numbers for the day, distances to each stop and the elevation report. We’d also get a weather report and a reading of a child story. These child stories would tell us of the hardships faced by children living in poverty and how Compassion has made a difference in their lives. These child stories were powerful reminders to us of why we were riding.
Riding along the highways and through the towns sparked plenty of interest. Truckies would honk in encouragement, some would even ask how to donate. Caravanners would come and visit us in the evenings, telling us they had passed us along the way and would then give us a donation to the cause. Sometimes people would even pull up on the side of the road to pass on a donation. Richard had a local come and chat with him one lunchtime. The guy told him not to leave town just yet, the fellow took off and came back 10 minutes later with some cash in his hand. In Port Pirie, the local bakery donated pallets of bread and donuts to the team after one of the team members popped in for a pie and told them what we were up to. We were overwhelmed by the generosity of people and their kind hearts.
We met plenty of characters along the way. 10-year-old Ethan from Minnipa was quite enamoured with what we were doing, he rocked up on his bike the morning we were leaving Minnipa. One of the team gave him their jersey, Ethan put on his new jersey, jumped on his bike, and led us out of Minnipa, despite the rain. We later heard from his Mum that Ethan had been saving for a phone but he would now like to donate his savings to the children of Compassion.
Then there was 84-year-old Doris. We met Doris in Parkes at a church meeting, and she also came down to see us off. Doris was on her red push bike, and once again led the team out!
Ethan
Doris
One of the most heartfelt was meeting Linda from Kenya. She told us that her brother had been sponsored through Compassion and proceeded to tell us how it had made a difference to her brother and their family. We also found out that this woman was born in the same town as one of our support crew. Wow, to hear first-hand the work of Compassion.
Our last days were our biggest in elevation and some of our longest in kilometres. We had to cross the range to reach the coast, and what a welcome we received as we road into Bar Beach! The footpath was full of friends and family and all the Compassion Staff from all over the country, there to greet us and cheer us in. It was a very emotional moment. We had done it, we had made the journey across Australia. We fostered awareness of the great work Compassion does in developing nations, and we had raised much-needed funds for children living in poverty. We aim to reach $1 million, the current tally is almost $950,000.
Thank you Bicycle Queensland and members for your support.
Nellie and Richard are keen to reach their target by the end of 2022. To help break the cycle of poverty you can sponsor a child or donate to Compassion’s Critical Needs Fund.
If you’d like to become a member and help support more people riding more often, join us here.
Our very own Amanda Hernandez, Membership Coordinator completed the IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast on 11 September 2022. A swim that started on the beautiful Mooloolaba Beach, followed by a fast and furious ride and a picture-perfect two-lap coastal run. What an amazing effort, below you can read Amanda’s recount of the day.
Last year I rode the bike leg of the IRONMAN Sunshine Coast 70.3, and I thought anyone who runs a half marathon after riding 90km had to be crazy. Then I thought, I wonder if I could do it? I had run a few half marathon distances on road and gravel. Next minute, it was on my goals list for 2022! I needed a swimmer and luckily I knew a good one who kindly stepped up. Learning how to swim is also on my goals list for this year!
I knew nothing about how to train. I didn’t understand the training plans, they were all about the length of time and effort. I normally work on distance, and go as fast or as slow as I feel like on the day. I asked a few people who had done Ironman events for advice and devised a plan. I started using gels and Gatorade, a change from post-ride hot chocolates and pastries. Most of my training was done solo, and with early winter starts, it was tough.
While I’m a confident rider, my main concern was not being able to fix a flat, and not making it to the run leg. I knew the steps involved, but my hands are not overly strong or dexterous, and I’ve always needed help to get a tyre off and on the rim. I didn’t know how to take the rear wheel off a bike – also on my goals list! A week before the event, I managed to take the rear wheel off and put it on. Once you understand the mechanics, there’s no turning back. Three nights before the event, for the first time, I installed new tubes and tyres, front and rear, all by myself with supervision and coaching from my bike handler.
Race day nerves weren’t present, because I was a little stressed about my delay in arriving at transition. I had to pump my tyres and unpack my gear bag before transition closed. Then, I lost my swimmer after dropping off the pump – so many wetsuits, everyone looked the same, and I didn’t have my glasses. Off to the beach I went to wait for the start and hoped to see her run into the water. Once I thought I saw her I went back to transition to prepare for the ride. The bike leg went well although I rationed my fluids too much. I hit the same small patch of glass and pothole on each lap, at least I was consistent! I couldn’t stomach a gel until I was 12km into the run leg, and that was the only one. The rest of the leg was done on water and Gatorade. I need to work on different nutrition for the next 70.3.
That’s right, the next one. There will be another 70.3 on my goals for next year. Challenge yourself and step outside of your comfort zone. You will learn and grow.
