Bicycle Network has campaigned for side underrun protection on trucks in Australia for more than a decade.

“We managed to get them on construction trucks used in major projects in the big cities, but the rest of the national truck fleet remained a hazard to riders everywhere, says Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack.

Protective railings that prevent riders falling under trucks were knocked back by federal government transport regulators for years, despite being an internationally proven safety measure and having support from major trucking organisations.

“Collisions with trucks have always been a concerning proportion of road deaths and serious injuries involving bike riders and pedestrians,” says McCormack.

“Other safety issues with trucks, especially blind spots, have appeared on the radar more recently as trucks and their often long trailers became more common on urban streets.”

The changes come into effect on 1 October, but it will take time for the new vehicles to filter through as the industry replaces older vehicles in the fleet.

The new truck safety features have been combined with changes to truck dimension standards, which will allow slightly wider Euro-standard trucks to be used unmodified in Australia.

The Safer Freight Vehicles package includes an increase to the overall width limit from 2.50 to 2.55 metres for new trucks that are fitted with a number of safety features.

These safety features include devices to reduce blind spots, electronic stability control, advanced emergency braking, a lane-departure warning system, better reflective markings, and side guards to stop pedestrians and cyclists from being caught up under the rear wheels of trucks.

Additionally, a number of safety devices and sensors will be able to be fitted to trucks without counting towards the width and length measurements.

This includes front and kerb view mirrors to better see around the front-left corner of the vehicle, external parts of camera monitor systems for improved indirect vision, blind spot sensors, and cross-view mirrors to see in front of bonneted vehicles.

This will ensure manufacturers and owners are not disadvantaged by fitting trucks with these road safety technologies.

Federal Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Carol Brown said: “This Safer Freight Vehicles package responds to direct calls from industry to increase the width limit of trucks and follows extensive public consultation and feedback.

“These changes will be a real game changer for industry, businesses and other road users, as they will save lives by adopting technology to reduce the likelihood of crashes, while also lowering freight costs and supporting better environmental outcomes.

“Our truckies play a vital role in the Australian economy and our day-to-day lives, ensuring we can access the food, medicines and other goods we need.

“Today’s announcement will mean they can carry out their work more safely and efficiently, so they and those they share the road with can get home safely at the end of each trip.”

McCormack says Bicycle Network has worked long and hard behind the scenes to see these critical changes implemented.

“Today’s adoption of safety measures will save the lives of bike riders across Australia. Including side underrun protection and blind-spot improvements in the new vehicle standards is a breakthrough.

“We are greatly appreciative of the fresh approach to vulnerable road user safety now underway at the federal level, which will bring Australia much closer to the safer heavy vehicle standards already proven internationally.

“And it’s also a win for the trucking sector which now has a better choice of safer, more efficient trucks and trailers.”

The post Feds deliver on safer trucks appeared first on Bicycle Network.

Candidates and parties are there to listen to the views of the public and if elected, represent your needs in parliament. The more people who contact politicians about bike riding, the harder it is to ignore us.

As a voting constituent, your opinion holds a lot of weight. Candidates could win or lose the election based on the way you vote.

Letters and emails are one of the simplest ways to engage candidates and politicians about bike riding, an issue you care about.

Find your candidates

First, you’ll need to know your electoral district. There are 88 electoral districts across Victoria, and many electoral boundaries will be changing this year. You can find your district on the Victorian Electoral Commission website. 

Some candidates are still being locked in for the state election. Here’s a list of candidates that are known for each electorate so far.  

Contact information can be found for the major party candidates via their respective party websites. We will update this page once candidates are announced.

For smaller party or independent candidates, a quick Google or Facebook search will turn up the contact information for candidates from other parties and independents.

If you receive a response, forward it onto campaigns@bicyclenetwork.com.au and any commitments will be published on our commitment tracker.

Tips for writing an email or letter

1. Address your letter/email correctly

Make sure you use the candidate’s correct title and contact details.

Politicians who have been or are government ministers will have the title “The Honourable” prefixing their name. For example, use The Hon. Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr First Name Last Name MP’ in the case of Ministers who are MPs or ‘Senator the Hon. First Name Last Name’ in the case of Ministers who are Senators.

Start your email or letter with Dear Sir/Madam’ or ‘Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr Last Name’ in the case of MPs, and ‘Dear Senator’ or ‘Dear Senator Last Name’ in the case of Senators.

2. Introduce yourself and the issues you wish to address

Start your letter or email by stating who you, any groups you are involved with or may be contacting on behalf of are and why you are contacting them – make sure your purpose is precise and focused.

3. Know what you’re going to say

Keep it brief, objective, polite and as short as possible. Stick to the facts while highlighting the need for urgent action.

It’s a good idea to start local, outline your vision for bike riridng in your local community. If you’re unsure about the content of your letter or email, Bicycle Network’s Victorian Election priority paper is a good place to start. It’s full of quick and reliable information about bike riding as well as priorities for the incoming government.

If there is nothing you’d like changed in your local area, you can just ask them and their party to commit to one of our priority policies such as a national bike incentive scheme or ask for a commitment to match the European Union’s General Safety Regulation (GSR) for vehicle safety requirements.

If you would like to add a local element but not sure of the best infrastructure to request, check out our 10 marginal electorates article, or email us at riderserives@bicyclenetwork.com.au and one of our policy advisors will send through some priority projects for your electorate.

4. Add a personal touch and use your own words

We won’t provide you with a letter or email template because using your own words is much more impactful. 

Using a short personal story to explain why the issue is important to you is a great way to connect with their head and heart.

Think about what you want to see changed and why. How does it make you feel? For example, does current infrastructure make you scared, nervous about riding? Are you worried about your child getting enough exercises? Are you too scared to ride on some roads because of the trucks, etc?  

Let the candidate know how their position on bike riding or active transport will impact how you will vote and that others in the electorate also care about the issue.

Collective action makes a difference

With the election now called for mid-May, now’s the perfect time to let your candidates know that you want to see a commitment for bikes and the people who ride them.

A letter or email from a person riding a bike is not just another submission full of facts and figures from experts, its everyday Australians telling their story. It makes the facts real. 

Together if we get enough members and friends contacting candidates then we can make a difference for bike riders.

Please take the time to share our Victorian election policy paper with your local candidates. Don’t forget to cc’ campaigns@bicyclenetwork.com.au.

The post Writing to local candidates appeared first on Bicycle Network.

The project will provide a vital link for Residents of the Wyndham West and Werribee regions to Melbourne and Geelong via the Princes Freeway.

The project includes opportunities for active transport, including a walking and cycling path as well as dedicated on road bike lanes in both directions.

The proposed planning and design were open to community consultation, which attracted more than 4000 participants.

Wyndham City Mayor Peter Maynard said: “Wyndham City has been advocating for funding for this project for a number of years, so the announcement is a big win for our community.”

Major Road Project Victoria are also planning improvements to the Werribee Main Road and Princes Freeway Interchange in Werribee, with active transport and cycling options also being considered in the planning process.

“Investment in safer, more reliable roads in an area of such significant growth will provide long-term benefits to locals,” federal Lalor MP Joanne Ryan said.

Construction on the project is expected to begin in 2023.

The post $114M for the Ison Road Rail Overpass appeared first on Bicycle Network.

Candidates and parties are there to listen to the views of the public and if elected, represent your needs in parliament. The more people who contact politicians about bike riding, the harder it is to ignore us.

As a voting constituent, your opinion holds a lot of weight. Candidates could win or lose the election based on the way you vote.

Letters and emails are one of the simplest ways to engage candidates and politicians about bike riding, an issue you care about.

Find your candidates

First, you’ll need to know your federal electorate. If you don’t know it, you can use your postcode to find out: https://electorate.aec.gov.au/

Some candidates are still being locked in with nominations open until 10 days after the election is called. Here’s a list of federal candidates that are known for each electorate so far.  

As nominations close, 10 days after the election is called, candidates will start to be listed here: https://www.aec.gov.au/election/

Contact information can be found for the major party candidates via their respective party websites:

• Liberal members and candidates
• Labor members and candidates
• Greens members and candidates

For smaller party or independent candidates, a quick Google or Facebook search will turn up the contact information for candidates from other parties and independents.

If you receive a response, forward it onto campaigns@bicyclenetwork.com.au and any commitments will be published on our commitment tracker.

Tips for writing an email or letter

1. Address your letter/email correctly

Make sure you use the candidate’s correct title and contact details.

Politicians who have been or are government ministers will have the title “The Honourable” prefixing their name. For example, use The Hon. Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr First Name Last Name MP’ in the case of Ministers who are MPs or ‘Senator the Hon. First Name Last Name’ in the case of Ministers who are Senators.

Start your email or letter with Dear Sir/Madam’ or ‘Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr Last Name’ in the case of MPs, and ‘Dear Senator’ or ‘Dear Senator Last Name’ in the case of Senators.

2. Introduce yourself and the issues you wish to address

Start your letter or email by stating who you, any groups you are involved with or may be contacting on behalf of are and why you are contacting them – make sure your purpose is precise and focused.

3. Know what you’re going to say

Keep it brief, objective, polite and as short as possible. Stick to the facts while highlighting the need for urgent action.

It’s a good idea to start local, outline your vision for bike riridng in your local community. If you’re unsure about the content of your letter or email, Bicycle Network’s Federal Election priority paper is a good place to start. It’s full of quick and reliable information about bike riding as well as priorities for the incoming government.

If there is nothing you’d like changed in your local area, you can just ask them and their party to commit to one of our priority policies such as a national bike incentive scheme or ask for a commitment to match the European Union’s General Safety Regulation (GSR) for vehicle safety requirements.

If you would like to add a local element but not sure of the best infrastructure to request, check out our 10 marginal electorates article, or email us at riderserives@bicyclenetwork.com.au and one of our policy advisors will send through some priority projects for your electorate.

4. Add a personal touch and use your own words

We won’t provide you with a letter or email template because using your own words is much more impactful. 

Using a short personal story to explain why the issue is important to you is a great way to connect with their head and heart.

Think about what you want to see changed and why. How does it make you feel? For example, does current infrastructure make you scared, nervous about riding? Are you worried about your child getting enough exercises? Are you too scared to ride on some roads because of the trucks, etc?  

Let the candidate know how their position on bike riding or active transport will impact how you will vote and that others in the electorate also care about the issue.

Collective action makes a difference

With the election now called for mid-May, now’s the perfect time to let your candidates know that you want to see a commitment for bikes and the people who ride them.

A letter or email from a person riding a bike is not just another submission full of facts and figures from experts, its everyday Australians telling their story. It makes the facts real. 

Together if we get enough members and friends contacting candidates then we can make a difference for bike riders.

Please take the time to share our federal election policy paper with your local candidates. Don’t forget to cc’ campaigns@bicyclenetwork.com.au.

To keep track of the announcements and commitments so far, check out our federal election campaign page. 

The post Writing to candidates this federal election appeared first on Bicycle Network.

Australia has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world with one third (31%) of Australian adults living with obesity.

About 14 million Australians are living overweight or with obesity—that’s two in every three adults and one in four children.

This is a crippling problem, not just for the individuals involved, but because related diseases will overwhelm the health system.

Although there has long been a focus on healthy eating as a solution, increasing emphasis in now being placed on the role of sedentary behaviour and inactivity.

Car travel is particularly unhealthy because of its sedentary nature, and the extended periods of time many people spend at the task.

And this is why bike riding of all kinds has become central to the solution.

“Our environments and lifestyles have made us less physically active. More machines and technologies, as well as traditional urban design, encourage us to drive and have led to more sedentary work and leisure activities, and much more screen time,” the strategy reports.

The report highlights active travel in Strategy 1.8: “Grow participation in walking, cycling, public transport, active recreation and sport by minimising cost and access barriers.”

“Promote and support safe active travel for adults and children (for example, through integrated land use planning and transport policy, accessible change rooms and free end-of-trip facilities, participation incentives, reduced car registration for bicycle commuters)”

And in Strategy 1.7: “Build more connected and safe community spaces that inspire people of all ages, abilities and cultures to engage in regular physical activity.”

“Urban planning and design can create neighbourhoods that are activity friendly for everyone. This includes:

• accessible, interconnected and well-lit bikeways
• wide footpaths with shaded tree canopy
• access to the natural environment
• safe streetscapes and community spaces for social engagement
• short (400–800 metre) walking distance to local destinations including shops, schools, parks, and transport stops.”

The strategy says benefits of physical activity extend beyond the positive effects it has on the physical and mental health and wellbeing of individuals across their life.

“Physical activity brings people and communities together. More active forms of travel (such as walking and cycling) also benefit the environment.”

You can read the full strategy here.

The post Bikes prominent in new obesity strategy appeared first on Bicycle Network.

It’s time to lobby for bikes!

While we will send our wish list to political parties and independent candidates, having our members and supporters raise their voices really makes the pollies sit up and listen.

So, we need you to call, email, message and attend in-person events so candidates are under no illusion that bikes matter to Tasmanians.

The most powerful representation is when you speak from experience, so you should talk about what would make life better for you as a regular bicycle rider or how you and your family could ride more for transport if there was safer infrastructure/help to buy a cargo bike/secure parking etc etc!

Different parties and candidates are motivated by different values but in general:

• People who care about individual responsibility appreciate that bike riders are keeping themselves healthy and saving money by riding.
• People who want to protect the environment can see bike riding reduces air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions.
• People who want greater social equality understand that making riding easier for transport helps more people access education and work.
• People who worry about big government spending know that infrastructure for riding costs less to build and maintain than that for cars, moves more people and reaps rewards for health and productivity.

And of course, some candidates will care about all of the above – they are our favourites.

If you want to help amplify our calls, please talk about one or more of our Top 5 asks or our electorate-specific projects.

The Top 5

We are asking all political parties and candidates nationally to back our Top 5 asks:

1. increase federal funding for paths and cycleways
2. bike paths on all new federal road projects
3. fund bike education programs like Ride2School and Ride2Work
4. provide tax breaks to help people buy bikes for transport
5. implement safer vehicle standards that help improve safety for people riding. 

More detail is in our election policy paper: https://s23705.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BN_Federal_Election_policy_paper.pdf

Tasmanian asks

If Tasmanian parties and candidates backed our Top 5 asks then we’d be in a pretty good position.

But we all know how much parties like to back particular projects in electorates, especially marginal ones like Bass and Braddon, so we thought we’d help out by nominating a project for funding in each electorate.

Some were difficult to choose from so we’ve included two!   

BASS
Filling in the missing link to complete the Rocherlea to Inveresk path.

Build a Launceston to Legana path.

BRADDON
Funding for the remaining sections of the Coastal Pathway from Burnie to Heybridge and West Ulverstone to Penguin.

CLARK
Commit to funding a greater Hobart Active Transport Network – Collins St would be a good first route.

FRANKLIN
Fund a greater Hobart Active Transport Network which would include a Kingston to Huntingfield cycleway.

LYONS
Commitment to a Derwent Valley Rail Trail with funding for a full feasibility study.

Candidate Contacts

We’ve put together a list of all the known Tasmanian candidate contact details. Keep an eye on our webpage for updates

Candidate list

The post Getting bikes onto federal election agenda appeared first on Bicycle Network.

The new links on Beacon Road and Swallow Street provide a low stress route to the Sandridge Trail and the Bay Trail and to the Garden City Reserve.

There is an off-road bike path along the nature strip on the western side of Beacon Road between The Boulevard and Howe Parade.

And an off-road bike path along the northern side nature strip of Swallow Street between Garden City Reserve and the Sandridge Railway Trail.

Several much-improved road crossings were included in the project. Traffic lanes are now narrower and lower speed, improving safety for all road users.

It is notable that this project was funded by a Federal Government Local Roads Community Infrastructure grant. The Morrison Government is not renowned for its enthusiasm for active travel, so this is a positive sign.

Also notable is the fact that the project required the removal of 30 car spaces. If the Morrison Government can see the sense in removing car parking for bike lanes, hopefully some of the ‘progressive’ councils in Melbourne’s inner north will follow suit.

This project is one of a series of local active transport upgrades in the City of Port Phillip planned for delivery over the next decade.

The post Garden City Links in full bloom appeared first on Bicycle Network.

The two-way shared path will run next to the upgraded north-south arterial—Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road—that connects the two centres through flat horticultural farmland.

It will be one of the longest trails built in or near metropolitan Melbourne.

Eventually it will connect to a network of trails proposed in Cardinia Shire, including the Southern Rail Trail east of Clyde to Nyora, the Princess Highway trail to Pakenham, and the Rail Towns Trail from Pakenham to Bunyip.

The arterial upgrade includes new intersections, bridges and extensive safety treatments as well as an extra lane in both directions between the Princes Freeway and Manks Road.

The contract to deliver the project has been awarded to Seymour Whyte and McConnell Dowell, with early works already underway and major construction scheduled to begin later this year.

It is expected to be completed during 2025.

Funding is jointly from the federal and state governments.

Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade will improve safety and help reduce travel times for the tens of thousands of motorists that rely on this busy key route every day.

“Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road is a vital connection for the south-east, and this upgrade will provide a huge benefit for the area, while also creating local jobs,” Mr Fletcher said.

Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure, the Hon Jacinta Allan MP, said the upgrade includes duplicating the road from two to four lanes from the Princes Highway to Manks Road, as well duplications from two to four lanes from the Princess Freeway to Soldiers Road, and Soldiers Road to Manks Road.

“Major works will commence this year, with the benefits of the project to be felt right across the growing south-east suburbs,” Ms Allan said.

The post Koo Wee Rup link underway appeared first on Bicycle Network.

We believe this is integral to a well-rounded national bike strategy, and that motivating young people by increasing their skills, easing their concerns and highlighting the advantages of active transport is essential to building a happier and healthier population. 

Unlike previous generations who firmly believed the future belonged to cars, we now know that increasing rates of active travel is necessary to build thriving communities, boost health outcomes and reduce harmful emissions. 

Education and exposure at an early age is one of the most effective ways to impact behaviour change outcomes for the future, and should be considered just as important as infrastructure or legislation when it comes to building a more bike-friendly Australia.

Most (not all) Aussie kids learn how to ride a bike outside of school, with Mum or Dad happily spending hours steadying and encouraging their kids through the learning process before proudly witnessing them wobbling off on their own two wheels. 

And in some schools (not all) this learning is boosted by bike education programs. But a lack of formalised bike education in Australia means that while many young people use bikes for recreation, very few ride for transport purposes, such as school or work travel.

Though most people know how to ride, many do not build habits or learn important road safety behaviours that will keep them pedalling into the future. 

Furthermore, bike education programs are notoriously underfunded by state governments and often lack the support needed to make a large-scale impact.

Yet the results speak for themselves…

Bicycle Network’s Ride2School program takes an holistic approach to behavior change by not only offering bike education sessions, but also helping map out the safest routes to school, overcoming physical barriers like lack of bike parking and addressing current behaviours and attitudes toward active travel within a particular school community. 

Between 2019-21, the program worked with over 300 schools in Victoria, and those who worked closely with Ride2School saw close to a 20% increase in active travel rates during that period. 

Similarly, Ride2School’s MIND.BODY.PEDAL initiative – that focuses specifically on addressing active travel barriers for teenage girls – saw a 29% increase in active travel among participating students in 2020.

On top of this, the program helped nearly 1000 schools around the country celebrate the simple joy of riding on National Ride2School Day.

Despite these statistics, wide-spread benefits of programs like this are hinded by a lack of federal funding.

We need to start playing the long game with bike culture!

This is why we’re calling on the federal government to allocate $20m per fiscal year for behaviour change programs that provide young people with bike education, safety training, and skill development, and allocate a nominal percentage of the national sport and recreation budget to fund pilot programs that aim to increase bike riding participation.

By providing bike education at a young age, we can foster a generation of Australians that are familiarised with the diverse benefits of active travel, and are motivated to enjoy an active travel lifestyle as they approach adulthood.

Behaviour change funding is one of Bicycle Network’s five recommendations in our 2022 Federal Election Policy Paper.

You can learn more and download the full submission here.

The post Starting young to build bike culture appeared first on Bicycle Network.

The impact of COVID-19 of Australia’s tourism sector was abrupt and swift. In 2020, Australia experienced a $35 billion loss in tourism revenue, a 40 per cent decrease in international visits, and staffing reductions between 15-20 per cent.

By March 2021, tourism-filled jobs had fallen a further 5 per cent. The slow and grueling economic uncertainty lead some to label 2021 the ‘life-and-death’ year for tourism.

In response, our governments started to ramp up the benefits of domestic tourism. Victoria, for example, launched the ‘Stay Close, Go Further’ campaign.

And why not? Australia is a rich haven of natural and manmade wonders, fascinating heritage, and unique native flora and fauna.

Eventually another word was thrown in the mix: ‘bike tourism’.

Every time you pop out on a day of riding, you are engaging in bike tourism. You might be gliding along a rail trail with family, taking a gentle cruise around a lake, or you may have chucked your bikes on the roof racks to conquer one of the many mountain bike trails across Australia. Most importantly, you are enjoying yourself on a bike.

Of course, so much of bike tourism happens beyond the handlebars: we stimulate local economies, celebrate local and regional heritage, we get healthy, and holiday sustainably.

Most tourist activities, unsurprisingly, are undertaken using private vehicles, which leads to highway congestion and pollution.

Bike tourism offers an exciting opportunity to bring Australians out of their homes and back into their communities and regional areas.

It offers a sustainable and economic option, whilst providing the social and leisurely qualities that keeps holidays fun and invigorating. It’s also an opportunity to promote healthy behaviours and get our tourist economy back on track.

How can we do it? We should connect our rail trails and off-road paths with public transport and metropolitan bike networks. We need to upgrade and extend our bike paths, improve the carriage of bikes on trains and buses, and promote the benefits of being an active travel tourist.

In our 2022/23 Federal Pre-Budget Submission, Bicycle Network recommended the Australian Government spend $150 million per annum on a ‘local discoveries’ fund that supports local and state government to repurpose existing space with active travel facilities, or to develop and expand current facilities (e.g. rail trails), as a means of stimulating domestic tourism and regional jobs. 

You can read more of our Federal Pre-Budget Submission here.

This article was made possible by the support of Bicycle Network’s members who enable us to make bike riding better in Australia.

The post Is it time to ramp up ‘bike tourism’? appeared first on Bicycle Network.