Tag: cycling

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Education Partner News

White Cloud Foundation Partnership

Bicycle Queensland would like to announce an exciting new partnership with White Cloud Foundation. White Cloud is a charity organisation that provides free tele-mental health services to Queenslanders struggling with anxiety and depression. White Cloud also provide an incredible meals for mums service which support women at risk of or experiencing perinatal depression.

This partnership enables Bicycle Queensland members to access support without a diagnosis, no referral, and at no cost. White Cloud’s services include mental health nursing and counselling, psychology, social work, dietitians, and exercise physiology.

White Cloud was created to remove the barriers to accessing mental health treatment, identifying that getting access to early support when you have the speed wobbles is incredibly important.

BQ CEO Rebecca Randazzo said, “We know that some of the reasons why we ride a bike is for that social connection and wellbeing and we are really excited to partner with White Cloud and bring about great outcomes for our members”.

If you need support, you can access White Clouds service by calling 07 3155 3456

Find out more about White Cloud

Adam Scott Chair of WCF with BQ CEO Rebecca Randazzo
Categories
Events

Annual General Meeting Results

The Bicycle Queensland (BQ) board and members gathered online on September 22 for the Annual General meeting. The Annual report can be accessed here.

BQ welcomes Richard Buning to the board. Richard has a love for all things cycling. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise both as a bike rider and academic expert in active lifestyle. In his role as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland Business school, his research interests reside at the intersection of physical activity, travel, and events. Outside of work, Richard can be found pursuing his passions of mountain biking, running, rock climbing, and hiking. 

The board thanks departing directors, Rob van Manen, Audine Bartlett, and Craig Davis for their years of service to BQ. The board wishes to acknowledge the leadership, care, and commitment of Rob van Manen who has served as a management committee member, President, and Chair of BQ over the past four and half years.

Categories
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.

Categories
Advice Advocacy

Local Government Association of Queensland

For the first time, Bicycle Queensland’s advocacy team (Rebecca Randazzo and Andrew Demack) attended the annual Local Government Association of Queensland conference held in Mackay.

We had a prime location between the rugby league and AFL booths on the way to the refreshments area! As a result, just about every Council in Queensland stopped for a conversation. We had prepared three posters with our main talking points: cycle tourism, education and schools, and building the cycle network.

Cycle Tourism

Cycle tourism was clearly the top priority for councils. Many councils are already working on attracting mountain bike riders, following the example of the Wangetti Trail, now under construction from Palm Cove to Port Douglas in FNQ. Mackay Council is also building a trail of similar epic quality, from Eungella to Finch Hatton — that will be amazing.

We are working through our follow-up contacts with councils including Mareeba, Mackay, North Burnett, South Burnett, Scenic Rim, Cassowary Coast, Livingstone and Ipswich. Most of these are interested in either developing rail trails and other cycle tourism opportunities, but also getting the best value for money in cycle infrastructure.

Local Counterparts

On the way to Mackay, BQ’s Director of Advocacy Andrew Demack arranged meetings in Maryborough, Bundaberg and Rockhampton, meeting up with bicycle user group representatives and Councils. In Maryborough, we were delighted to see and experience the remarkable progress being made by Fraser Coast BUG on the Mary to the Bay rail trail. In Bundaberg, we met with Council staff to encourage progress on the Bundaberg to Gin Gin Rail Trail. In Rockhampton, we met with the local cycling group to discuss our collaborative response to the Council’s just-released Walking and Cycling Strategy.

Proudly supported by the Queensland Government

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Advice Advocacy Press releases

SEND A LETTER TO YOUR LOCAL COUNCILLOR

On the back of the COP26 conference in Glasgow, cycling organisations around the world have joined together and rallied for cycling to be a part of the Glasgow Declaration on Accelerating the Transition to 100% Zero Emission Cars and Vans.

Now it’s time to ask the question locally, what are your councillors doing to combat carbon emissions from transport?

If you would like to ask your local councillor what they are doing to combat carbon emissions from transport and emphasis the important role bike riding can play, follow the instructions below.

  • Download the draft letter here
  • Find your local councillor here
  • If you are unsure of your council area, click here 
  • Fill in the details on the draft letter
  • Send to your local councillor

Let’s make bike riding a priority transport method to combat carbon emissions.

Send a letter to your councillor
Categories
Advice Advocacy

Bicycle Queensland State Budget Submission

BQ Budget Submission

Bicycle Queensland has recently submitted our recommendations for the 2022-2023 State budget. The focus area of our submission is to promote more people riding more often. The recommendations focus on investment in infrastructure, cycle tourism and getting more women and kids riding.

Read the full submission below.

BQ-State-Budget-2022-2023Download