Tag: cycling

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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.

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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.

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
Categories
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.