The generosity of the Super Counts volunteers who stand on our streets collecting important data, the trash collection crew who sweep the campgrounds on the Great Vic Bike Ride and the many hands making light work at our workshop is the lifeblood of Bicycle Network. It makes our whole organisation tick.

A special ceremony was held on Wednesday 17 May, during National Volunteer Week, to mark this dedication.

“National Volunteer Week is one of the most important events on the Bicycle Network calendar and an incredible opportunity for us to say thanks for all that our volunteers do to support our organisation and bike riders across Australia,” says Bicycle Network’s Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Cunningham.

“It’s also a great opportunity to celebrate some amazing individual achievements and it’s such an honour to be able to recognise our most loyal and dedicated volunteers with Honour Board recognition and life membership,” says Cunningham.

Eight names were added to the Bicycle Network Honour Board, recognising those who have served on the board for at least five years, or volunteered in another capacity for seven — and donated at least 50 hours of time on events:

• Andrew and Rob Smith
• Bruce Traill
• James Garriock
• Malcom Smith
• Richard Crompton
• Roger Nichols
• Kate Kellett
• Lee Turner

Life Membership was awarded to a further nine volunteers who have volunteered for more than 10 years and donated at least 50 hours of time on events in each of those years:

• Andrea Burgess
• Frank Coppens
• Gary Young
• Katelyn Gigante
• Nickie Reid
• Peter Dodd
• Stewart Livingston
• Sue Mylius
• Tim Austin

A full list of Honour Board and Life Members can be found here.

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer yourself, there are opportunities to get involved at this year’s United Energy Around the Bay, Great Vic Bike Ride, Newcrest Orange Challenge and with our team in Tasmania. Head over to our Volunteer page to find out more!

The post Saying thankyou at our National Volunteer Week ceremony appeared first on Bicycle Network.

John became involved with Bicycle Network in May 2006; having retired several years earlier, he became interested in volunteering as a way to keep busy and share his skills in retirement.

“I was looking for something to occupy my time and learnt that Bicycle Network was seeking volunteers to envelope letters to be sent out to members” John recalls.

“During my initial interview I happened to mention that I was a qualified accountant. I was immediately ushered into the office of Julie King, the accountant at the time, who was looking for additional staff. So began my role as a volunteer in the Accounts Department.”

John spent 15 years volunteering with Bicycle Network’s Finance team and in 2021 transferred across to the Events team where he has been assisting with administrative duties.

In 2016 John was recognised for his efforts by being inducted into Bicycle Network’s Honour Board and in 2017 he was awarded with Life Membership.

John reflects on what it means for him to volunteer in the Bicycle Network office.

“I feel very privileged to still be involved in meaningful work at age 85,” he says.

“If ever there was a workplace offering a challenge and culture change to someone born in 1937 and employed in a most staid and conservative firm of insurance brokers, it is surely Bicycle Network!”

“This is a unique workplace where people are encouraged to exercise their creative abilities in the pursuit of a better environment for the growing number of cyclists in Australia. It’s also a unique training ground where young people can rapidly gain experience and confidence to move on to even more challenging employment”.

“I thank Bicycle Network for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful organisation.”

Thanks John for all you do for Bicycle Network.

The post John Matthews celebrates 16 years of volunteering appeared first on Bicycle Network.

Meet Di

What motivated you to volunteer with Bicycle Network Tasmania?

I was a bike rider and environmental activist in my younger years, and when I retired I was again looking for something useful to do in the community.  I attended a meeting of (then) Bicycle Tasmania and liked the people involved and the organizational style (just enough formality). I was nominated to the committee by an old friend and I’ve been very active with bike advocacy of all types ever since.  I’m passionate about making riding in Hobart and across Tasmania safer and more fun for people of all ages and abilities.  People have the right to be offered safe options for transport, and riding is so brilliant for health, social connection and the planet. 

The post Volunteer Spotlight – Di Elliffe appeared first on Bicycle Network.

Meet Anthea

What motivated you to start volunteering on the Great Vic Bike Ride?

I had some time off work due to an injury and was trying to find purpose without work. I had always wanted to volunteer and attended an information session. Plus it sounded like a holiday to places I’d never been. I find it’s at the perfect time of year before Christmas before it gets busy. I can also pick up a few gifts from the communities along the way. 

Tell us a bit about your role on the lunch team

As part of the lunch team I often do the special diets so vegan and gluten free options, plus helping to stock up the standards to keep the lines moving. I enjoy being part of the lunch team as I am a morning person and enjoy seeing part of the rider route, where the riders go. It’s also a unique setting that we transform in time for the truck with the food to arrive. We also love to celebrate at the volunteer evening that Neil Warren finds a theme (even if there’s not one) for the team to dress up bananas, 80’s and fairies in Port Fairy. 

What is your favourite thing about volunteering?

The friendships you make based on the person not their age and getting to catch up each year. 

What is your most memorable moment of volunteering on the Great Vic?

Last year we endeavoured to try local cheeses along the way before dinner most nights. 

I suppose the weather has been pretty memorable like finishing early in Maffra because of the rain and floods. The dusty last night in Glenrowan and being blown away at lunch in at a fire station at St Helens. 

What advice would you give to someone thinking about volunteering?

It’s a great holiday you don’t have to plan, you get fed and watered. It’s very unique, that makes you appreciate the moment for the places and people along the way. It’s kind of addictive. 

Thank you Anthea! We can’t wait to see you back on an event with us soon!

If you or someone you know would like to get involved, you learn more here.

The post Volunteer spotlight – Anthea MacDonald appeared first on Bicycle Network.

21 of Bicycle Network’s most loyal and dedicated volunteers were recognised at the event, with twelve volunteers inducted to Bicycle Network’s Honour Board and nine volunteers receiving Life Membership.

Honour Board recognition is achieved after a minimum of five years on Bicycle Network’s board, or seven years in another volunteer capacity, donating at least 50 hours of their time.

Life Membership is achieved after a minimum of ten years of active volunteering, donating at least 50 hours of their time.

The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the award ceremony from being held in 2020, so fifteen of these volunteers were presented with their awards retrospectively.

Volunteer Coordinator, Sarah Cunningham says National Volunteer Week is one of the most anticipated events on the Bicycle Network calendar.

“It gives us an opportunity to say thank you for the incredible work that volunteers do to support our organisation and our mission of creating a more bike-friendly Australia”, said Ms Cunningham.

Since Bicycle Network was established more than 40 years ago, volunteers have assisted across all areas of the Bicycle Network organisation – from events to super counts, to serving on the board and helping in the office.

The celebrations will conclude on Friday morning with a breakfast at Bicycle Network’s headquarters.

Interested in volunteering with Bicycle Network? Click here to find out what opportunities we have available.

Bicycle Network Volunteer Awards

2020-21 Inductees

Life member and honour board inductees

The 2020-21 Life Member and Honour Board inductees at National Volunteer Week celebrations.

The post Life Member and Honour Board inductees 2020-21 appeared first on Bicycle Network.

The not-for-profit charity connects elderly and less-able people all around the world with their community and the outdoors by giving them free rides on trishaw ebikes, piloted by volunteer cyclists.

They are currently advertising for volunteers positions in Bibra Lakes, Fremantle, Melville, Mount Lawley, Wembley, Wilson and Kings Park.

Pilots (bike riders) ride trishaw e-bikes on pre-approved routes on shared paths only, with a maximum speed of 10km/hr. You need to be able to ride a bike and be comfortable communicating with the elderly and those with disability.

Assistants (non-riders) meet and greet passengers, complete paperwork and instructions with passengers and help sanitise the bikes between rides. 

The volunteer listing states: “The joy that comes from volunteering with Cycling Without Age is seeing the smiles on the faces of our passengers and hearing them share their stories, sometimes from people who have lost the will to speak due to dementia/alzheimers or disability. Feeling the wind in their hair from the comfort of our ‘lounge on wheels’ at scenic locations around Perth brings a smile to all our faces: volunteers, passengers and carers.

“More volunteers means that we can increase the number of locations around Perth where we offer rides, and thus increase the number of passengers, and age care facilities that we can reach. We are keen to expand into the suburbs north of Perth, so if you live north of the river please consider joining us.”

Bicycle Network is a huge fan and supporter of the Cycling Without Age movement, and are putting the callout to any of our Perth-based members or friends who might be interested in helping out.

See the volunteer listing for more information.

The Cycling Without Age dream

We dream of creating a world together, in which the access to active citizenship creates happiness among our fellow elderly citizens by providing them with an opportunity to remain an active part of society and the local community.

We do that by giving them the right to wind in their hair, the right to experience the city and nature close up from the bicycle and by giving them an opportunity to tell their story in the environment where they have lived their lives.

That way we build bridges between generations and we reinforce trust, respect and the social glue in our society.

Ole from Rod Blackhurst on Vimeo.

The post Trishaw pilots wanted in Western Australia appeared first on Bicycle Network.

Meet David:

What motivated you to start volunteering with Bicycle Network?

As I approached retirement, I recognized that, after working at a flat-out pace for many years, it was important to keep active during retirement. I determined to exercise and to be socially active. It was a long time since I had ridden a bike regularly but I joined a group of recreational riders – Dandy Bikers, part of Dandenong U3A. I loved my return to riding and this motivated me to check out the web. I found myself on the Bicycle Network site and was attracted to the idea of helping to support major Bicycle Events. I applied to become a volunteer.

Tell us a bit about your role on the Route Services team.

I was invited to join the Route Services Team. I had really no idea what to expect but Bob Cater, the Route Services Team Leader invited me to join him at the workshop in Sunshine and ran a valuable induction session. Of course, the only way to really understand the role is to do it. My first Volunteer event was the Great Vic Bike Ride 2018 and my role included:

• Driving a 3-tonne box van stacked with all the required equipment for each rest site
• Early morning rises to ensure that the Route Services Team were on the road in sufficient time to prepare the rest site for the first cyclists
• Unloading/loading equipment at nominated rest sites
• Assembling the rest site and ensuring that all equipment is correctly located and setup
• Rest site bump-out including careful repacking and storage of all equipment
• The priority role is to ensure water supply means that the main water tank (bartlett) needs to be filled with water, ready for the first cyclists.
• Site preparation includes the setup of an area for the medics
• and
• (like any other Position Description) anything else that is requested!!!

Given my background in project management, I like to recognise the need for continuous improvement and always provide a “Lessons Learned” report after each event.

What is your favourite thing about volunteering? 

The support and friendship from volunteers is magic. I have made many new friendships and I find myself excited as each new event approaches. The bike riders are also quick to acknowledge the support of volunteers adding to the general good feeling. The Bicycle Network staff are always there to provide support. They work tirelessly and yet always seem to have a smile.

What is your most memorable moment of volunteering with Bicycle Network?

I arrived a Rest Stop early one morning. The portable toilets had been delivered. My colleague and I prepared the bartlett and then, courtesy of the water tanker, received 3000 litres of water in readiness for the day ahead.

Not long after that we were approached by the neighbouring farmer who identified themselves lived in the house next to our site. He asked who had given us permission to setup in this location as we were on their land!

An explanation was offered that we were under the impression that all permissions had been sought and obtained but were now in a difficult position as we could not easily lift 3000 litres of water or relocate the toilets. We suggested to the farmer that perhaps this could be an opportunity to sell some of his produce. He declined but did agree that we could stay at the location.

I requested the Event Leaders to speak with the landowner and they did. As they had received permission from the council it could only be assumed that a mistake had been made but they promised to follow up.

Diplomacy won the day

What advice would you give to someone thinking about volunteering?

New friendships, fun trips, opportunity to help people. Give it a go and you won’t regret it.

Thank you David! We hope to see you back on route in 2021!

If you or someone you know would like to get involved, you can learn more here.

The post Volunteer Spotlight – David Purdon appeared first on Bicycle Network.

Whether it’s hitting one of the many mountain bike tracks across the state or idling along one of our many river trails, parents and kids are rolling together.

Bicycle Network is hosting three social rides for families in the lead up to and during the week:

East Devonport Family Ride – Saturday 6 March

Our north-west riders group is organising a ride starting at 10.30 am at the Bike Safety park within Pioneer Park in East Devonport.

The kids get to practise on the mini-road network while everyone’s bike gets a check to make sure brakes are working, tyres are pumped, seats are at the right height and everyone has a helmet.

From the Bike Park they’ll set off along the Heritage Trail which hugs the coastline and has easy riding conditions for young children.

Please RSVP online: https://ridewithgps.com/events/143966-devonport-2021-family-bicycle-ride

The ride is free but all children under the age of 16 must be supervised by a parent/guardian.

Cornelian Bay Family Ride – Saturday 13 March

This is a short ride completely on protected path with lots of sites for kids to get excited about riding alongside the waterfront and under the bridge.

Starting at the car park at the Cenotaph at 10 am, we’ll head slowly to Cornelian Bay where we’ll stop for a coffee and workout of the playground before heading back.

Please RSVP online as the ride will be cancelled if the weather is bad: https://ridewithgps.com/events/142651-family-ride-to-cornelian-bay.

The ride is free but all children under the age of 16 must be supervised by a parent/guardian.

Kingborough Treasure Hunt – Sunday 14 March

This is always a popular one with families in the south as the kids gets to try out their mountain bikes while also puzzling over the clues in the treasure hunt.

Because it is so popular we are asking people to register beforehand so we can manage numbers for our COVID plan: www.registernow.com.au/secure/Register.aspx

Starting times begin at 2 pm and the ride is free but we wouldn’t say no to a donation to help cover costs.

You’ll get your starting time when you register and the ride leaves the entrance to the Peter Murrell Reserve in Huntingfield off Huntingfield Ave, next to Kingsgate Circuit.

Women on Wheels

While not technically a family ride, our monthly Women on Wheels ride on Sunday 7 March is a great one for mums and daughters, sisters or cousins to go on together.

As in previous Bike Weeks the riding route has a few challenges in it for newer riders but is mostly on shared paths, footpaths and quiet roads.

This is a free ride but we do need people to RSVP so we can be prepared with enough ride leaders and buddies: https://ridewithgps.com/events/141852-women-on-wheels-margate-to-snug-loop

The ride is leaving Dru Point car park at 10.30 am but riders should get there at least 15 minutes before for the pre-ride briefing.

Membership offer and bike give-away

To celebrate all the new riding families, we are offering a deal for Tasmanians up until 21 March – buy a family+2 membership for the same price as a concession membership – $109, or a family+3 membership for the same price as an individual $129.

And for people who become members or sign up at our Bike Week events, there is a near-new Apollo city bike to give away courtesy of Hobart Bike Kitchen. The bike was bought at a going-out of business sale a few years ago and has only been ridden a couple of times since and has been checked out by one of the Hobart Bike Kitchen chefs.

It’s a medium sized city bike – perfect for teens or parents.

Launceston events

As well as co-presenting the Why We Cycle film about riding in The Netherlands with Bicycle Network, The Tamar Bicycle Users Group is holding the following events and rides in and around Launceston.

If you’d like to go to the Phil Liggett screening please book your ticket before Sunday 28 February – if not enough tickets are sold it will be cancelled.

Sunday 7 March

• Tas Premiere Screening Phil Liggett – The Voice of Cycling– Tamar BUG, Village Cinema, 4:30 pm
• Great Community Social Bike Ride & BBQ– Tamar BUG, 10.30 am, Churchill Park

Monday 8 March

• International Womens Day Celebration ride and picnic– Tamar BUG, 5 pm from Royal Park

Tuesday 9 March

• Launceston Bike Maintenance Workshop 1– Tamar BUG, free – 6.30 pm, Cycle 2, 46 Brisbane St Register at contactus@tbug.org.au  or 63312400. Refreshments provided.

Wednesday 10 March

• Children’s Story Time & fun ride in the Square– Tamar BUG, 10.15 am, Launceston Library.
• Pop up display in the Brisbane Street Mall– Tamar BUG, all things about bike riding fun in Launceston, from 10 am.
• Bike Riding 101 Free beginners class– Tamar BUG, 6.30 pm, Royal Park or QVMAG. Register at contactus@tbug.org.au  or 0416 310 722. Refreshments provided.
• Public Forum – Staying Healthy: Integrating Preventative health strategies with a more active Tasmania– Tamar BUG, Enterprize Centre, Macquarie House, Civic Square, 7.30 pm.

Thursday 11 March

• Pop up display in the Brisbane Street Mall– Tamar BUG, all things about bike riding fun in Launceston, from 10 am.
• Launceston Bike Maintenance Workshop 2– Tamar BUG, 6.30 pm, Roll Cycles, 112 Cimitiere St. Register at contactus@tbug.org.au  or 63252940. Refreshments provided.

Friday 12 March

• Pop up display in the Brisbane Street Mall– Tamar BUG, all things about bike riding fun in Launceston, from 10 am.
• Why we ride – Lessons from Amsterdam’s bike culture– Tamar BUG, Enterprize Centre, 12.30–2 pm, Presented by Bicycle Network Tasmania.

Saturday 13 March

• Ride 2 Night– Tamar BUG, bling up your bike & you, QVMAG car park, 7.30 pm.

Sunday 14 March

• Launceston Local History Ride– Tamar BUG, Park St Royal Park, 9.45 am.

For a full listing of all the bike activities happening during Bike Week, including bike polo, Le Tour de Flinders and the Hobart Bike Kitchen, visit the Tasmanian Bicycle Council website: https://tasbicyclecouncil.org.au/bike-week/

The post It’s all about the family this Bike Week appeared first on Bicycle Network.

Paul Garry

They’re a tough breed, the Route Marshall team!

If you prefer a relaxing lie-in, becoming a Route Marshall may not be the ideal volunteer role for you. Members of the team receive details of their allocated position on the course each day at a team briefing the evening before. Finding out where you will be positioned tomorrow is always a moment of great anticipation – “Will I be positioned just outside the camp exit, or will my position be 100km along the road?”

Regardless of where you are stationed each day, you have to make an early start to make sure you beat the young guns who ride the course as if it was a stage of the Tour De France.

After grabbing a hasty breakfast, courtesy of the early volunteer-only start at the meals tent, you set off on your bike to your designated spot. If the distance to your marshalling point is a little too far for comfort, you have the option of taking a Sag-wagon ride part of the way, with thanks to Frank and the rest of the Sag team.

Once you arrive at your spot, you don your luminous reflective Marshall’s jacket – so you can be easily spotted by approaching cyclists – and there you wait for the first cyclists to begin passing.  Here, you are required to help all participants safely negotiate a difficult and potentially dangerous intersection or kink in the day’s cycle route.  This usually involves shouting instructions such as “Slow down, right turn ahead”, “Slow down, stopping at T-Junction ahead”, and “Slow down, roundabout ahead”.  You will have picked up from this the importance of safe cycling and our aim is to help every cyclist reach the finish line without incident.

It is at this point that the most gratifying part of the Route Marshall role takes shape.  You are bombarded with literally thousands of cyclists yelling out “Thank you” to their trusty Route Marshalls and I’m sure it is this that keeps the team coming back year after year.

Standing beside the road, typically for many hours, requires you to have a degree of physical stamina but the thanks received from the passing hordes make that all worthwhile.

A Route Marshall must stand on duty regardless of what the weather throws at them.  On one occasion, just outside Rutherglen camp over 100kms for the start line, I stood for over 6 hours. The day started in glorious sunshine where I was busily applying sunscreen and by the end of the day, myself and the slower participants were enjoying torrential rain. It is Victoria after all but remain at your station you must.

Relief is always provided by the superb Motor Marshall team who deliver lunch packs and make sure the Route Marshall’s have always got water to drink. The Motor Marshall will also advise when you are free to set off and complete your ride for the day as the last stragglers have already passed.

A Route Marshall must expect the unexpected, whether it’s taking over duty from professional road management teams whilst they take a bathroom break or helping a cyclist with mechanical problems – either on their bike or their legs .

Having completed a day on the route, we enjoy a briefing from our fabulous team leader, Declan, who provides an update on the day and hands out details of tomorrow’s postings and the daily cycle begins again.

Nicole Lane

When I received the email to say I was accepted as a ride marshal I was really excited to not only be part of the Great Vic Bike Ride but also be able to ride some of the roads that I grew up near which I was really looking forward to. When I arrived in Robe and received my first briefing pack and met other marshals, I knew I was in for an awesome week with a great group of people. Although the 5am alarm sounded crazy my first day I jumped out of the tent eager to start my experience! Lucky for me some friendly marshals that had been around for years took me under their wing and off I went to my first marshal station which was the beautiful Beachport pier. Getting to support the thousands of riders coming in for their first lunch break was really fun and having such a stunning backdrop on a warmish November day made it a great start to the week.

After my first day I established my general routine of getting up at 5am, heading to breakfast, putting my bags in the truck, riding to my marshal point with a sneaky coffee stop along the way, (the coffee van was so good!) marshalling, directing riders and encouraging riders even despite some crazy weather days, riding to the campsite, showering, finding snacks, checking out my marshal location and how early I had to get out of camp to make the time to my station, socialising with other marshals, riders and volunteers, having dinner and then exploring the township. Each town was so different, with such friendly locals and it was good to stretch the bicycle legs and explore the township before it got too dark. 

The day off halfway was especially great to be about to spend time in the beautiful township of Pt Fairy as well as take part in some water aerobics at the local pool to relieve the sore muscles as well as catch up with family. Getting to spend time with other volunteers at the Bowls Club was also a great evening to meet new people. 

The thing I loved the most about being a ride marshal was getting out early to have the road to myself and just pedalling amongst nature. My favourite day was riding along Turton’s Track where I had the entire road to myself as I wound down through the spectacular rainforest knowing the road was closed and no cars could interrupt the serenity. Then on arrival to my marshal point I was stationed out the front of the Forrest Brewery where I experienced sunshine and blue skies for the first time in a few days… just amazing to have warmth on my back! 

Then of course to experience riding along the Great Ocean Road was also a highlight! Having then crossed the finish line on my final day was a great feeling to know I had conquered the Great Vic Bike Ride without any issues or SAG wagon support which was a great feeling! Am looking forward to the next Great Vic Bike Ride and getting involved in 2021!!

Clement Clarke

July 2019 – I’d recently returned to Australia after living overseas for many years. In many ways Australia felt like a new country to me and while I still had family and friends here gone were the days when friends and I could go cycling, camping or lie on a beach for a month or even a week.

Ever since late high school I had explored Australia by cycle touring with friends. Fast enough to move across our vast country at a respectable pace, but slow enough not to miss too much, cycling was a happy compromise between hiking and road trips in a car. It had also been a great way to explore parts of Europe and America. What better way to understand how much Australia had changed than organise another bike tour?

I quickly realised that this was easier said than done. Many of my old cycle touring friends had other commitments and I didn’t just want to ride. I wanted to meet new people and make new friends. Then a solution presented itself – volunteer as a Road Safety Marshal on the Great Victorian Bike. I’d be helping people to do something I loved, I could make new friends, I could escape the office, get outside and get over winter.

I’d never ridden on a Great Vic before, but the Network staff quickly put my fears to rest. When I got to Robe my own excitement grew as I met the staff and as the other volunteers and riders arrived. There were people of all ages, from all walks of life. People from America, Europe and Asia mixed with Indigenous teenagers from Alice Springs, New Zealanders and, of course, lots of Melbournians. Over the course of the ride I got to know lots of them, taught more about road safety, worked with the police to keep people safe and used my ‘outside’ voice without being reprimanded. The days were similar without being the same, there were always new people to meet, new landscapes and towns to explore and (literally and figuratively) new mountains to climb.

If you’re thinking about volunteering this is taste of a typical day:

5:00am

Wake up, pack up, resolve not to thrown everything around the tent next time.

Find the bag drop site (very important).

Go to breakfast and convince the catering volunteers and staff that I need an extra banana or apple for the road (tip: make friends and help out the other volunteers, BN staff and the people running the bike repair shop)

6:00am

Meet up with the other marshals assigned to the same location. People who push you a bit are very useful if you’re running late or have a fair distance to go!

At your assigned location

Arrive at your assigned location. Look over the route and hazard notes. Coordinate with other marshals, traffic wardens or police officers in your area.

Give clear hand and vocal directions to cyclists (marshals can’t direct other road users such as cars or trucks). It’s especially important to watch for build ups of cars and cyclists, as well as people who might be tired or not paying attention.

Sometimes people will get a bit annoyed. Don’t take it personally, they’re probably exhausted and will often thank you later!

After the cyclists have passed through

Once the cyclists passed through, you’ll find yourself riding through and past groups of GVBR cyclists. Some days you might ride as hard as you possibly can, on others it’s a great chance to meet interesting people along the way. Since you’ve been a marshal almost everyone will recognise you and usually be more than happy to have a chat.

Sometimes I came across people who were struggling and needed a bit of encouragement or just something to take their mind off the road ahead. It’s amazing how much a little conversation can help people. I’ve seen people go from 9 kms an hour to over 20 just because I gave them something else to think about. I’ve also had some amazingly interesting conversations along the way.

In Camp

Once you get into camp and have found the tent site find the generators and charge your phone. All the rest will be pretty obvious – you’ll get your assignment, eat, explore the town or find some new people to talk to. Then sleep and start again.

Being a marshal is a privilege. You’ll be keeping people safe while still enjoying the whole ride. You’ll meet a huge range of people. The more seasoned volunteers will always be there to give you advice or help you. The Bicycle Network staff are wonderful, responsive and full of enthusiasm.

Whether it’s a perfect day or raining it’s always a bonding experience and you have 5000 new people to meet. 

Prathmesh Trivedi

Do you know what it takes to be a Riding Marshal at the Great Vic? Well, you need to be organized and disciplined to be one… just kidding; you don’t really have to be that tough. All you need is a smile and a lot of enthusiasm to cheer fellow riders and ensure that they enjoy their ride. Let me give you a sneak-peak of what a typical day as a Riding Marshal Volunteer looks like:

5:30am: It is time to wake up and have some breaky. (Fun Fact: No waiting in the line as you are the first one in the queue!)

6:00am: It’s an early start to the day but with pleasantly empty roads; and most early morning rides are accompanied by a blissful view of the sunrise. This is the time to start riding to your assigned spots.

Consider yourself lucky if you are positioned at the start; you get to have breakfast and some bonus time to sleep. But if you are posted near the Rest Area 2, you will have to brace yourself and get rolling till the end…haha hopefully before the first rider passes by you. But don’t worry, we keep trading places which means at least on one of the days, we will be rewarded with some extra sleep!

We ride to our assigned spot before the first riders get there so that we can guide them correctly and be present if they need any assistance. Just a gist of how our timeline looks like throughout day.

Rest area 1 (approx. 25-30km from the starting point): the first rider may get there as early as 8-8:30am.

Lunch stop (marks approx. 50-60km from the starting point): the first/fastest rider may get there around 11-11:30am.

Rest area 2 (75km mark): the fastest rider may probably reach here by 1pm.

Campsite: (approximate 80-90km from the starting point and the final point for the day): the riders may start reaching this spot around 3pm.

Note: These are approximate times and may vary depending on the riders. We may be positioned at spots in between these points along the riding route to cheer and guide the riders. There can be incidents and hazards which we need to keep in mind and make sure they are dealt immediately by informing Team Leader, Event Control Team, SAG team & Route Marshal Team. As a Riding Marshal, we reach the spot before the first rider gets there and stay there until the last rider has crossed it.

Let’s get back to our journey. While riding to our assigned spot, we can enjoy the route and beautiful scenery. Once we reach our designated spot, then the real thing begins. We tend to appear energetic and enthusiastic, so that we pass that vibes to all our riders and encourage them.

This is how I usually try to cheer the riders:

Coming back to our schedule:

4:00pm – 5:00pm: Yayy, you made it! Time to freshen up and get ready to relax.

6:00pm – 6:30pm: Meeting and ref assigning for next day’s journey.

6:30pm: Dinner time! Unfortunately, you wouldn’t get an upper hand at the queue this time and will have to join the line with the others in the group.

8:00pm – 10:00pm: Time to destress and unwind – listen to live music and have fun watching the events planned for everyone. If time permits, checkout the nearby places and explore the town.

10pm: Lights out, time to sleep and rejuvenate for another exciting day!

Volunteer

Get involved

Looking to help out, meet some friends and be a part of something exciting? There really is something for everyone so why not give it a go and join this phenomenal team.

Learn More

The post A day in the life of a riding marshal appeared first on Bicycle Network.

However, research worldwide has found that most business owners/managers overestimate the number of people who arrive at their business by car and underestimate the numbers of people who walk from distant car parks or come by public transport, walking, or riding.

One Austrian study found retailers thought about 58% of customers arrived by car but the reality was 32%, with the majority (44%) walking. Similar results have been found in research carried out in Scotland, England and New Zealand.

A proposal to remove 9 car parks in Victoria’s popular bayside suburb St Kilda to widen the footpath was opposed by the traders association until they saw the results of a customer survey, which found 57.2% of expenditure came from pedestrians, 16% from cyclists and public transport users, and only 26% from drivers.

University intern local research

We put half of this question to a local test with an intern from the University of Tasmania’s School of Business and Marketing, who devised a public survey to gauge transport attitudes in Hobart’s city centre.

The online survey ran for two months from August 2020 and was publicised online, including via Bicycle Network sites, and short articles about it appeared in The Mercury and Kingborough Chronicle newspapers.

It received 265 responses, and while as a self-selected group it is not a representative sample of the population, it does provide interesting insight into the behaviour of a sizeable number of visitors to Hobart.

More than half of the respondents said they were willing to walk up to 10 minutes from their car park to their destination, while one-third wouldn’t walk more than 5 minutes.

This also correlates to the finding that more than half of the respondents usually parked in one of the major council-owned car parks where they get the first 90 minutes of parking for free: Argyle Street Car Park, Hobart Central Car Park, and Centrepoint Car Park.

This is important information for those business owners who worry about losing car parking on the street in front of their shop.  A 5–10 minute walk from a car park covers several city blocks and means many people would park in an off-street car park or several streets away from their destination. This opens up the opportunity for Hobart to remove some on-street car parking in a handful of streets to provide separated cycleways.

Safety puts people off riding

By contrast few of the other respondents said they caught a bus to get into the city or rode a bike, and of the small number who did ride a bike most said safety was their biggest concern about riding. The majority of respondents who said they did not usually access the city by bicycle said they would be open to riding if physically separated bicycle lanes were available.

Unfortunately, another intern working on the research project was unable to engage enough businesses to complete a survey of how they thought their customers were getting to their premises and how far they may have walked. This is an outstanding area of research that would be helpful to better understand the dynamics of car parking politics in our urban centres. 

The post Survey finds customer willingness to walk appeared first on Bicycle Network.