Thousands of bike riders in the Northern Territory and Queensland will have their movements recorded and reported tomorrow as part of Bicycle Network’s Super Tuesday North, the country’s biggest visual bike count.
More than 180 volunteers have put their hand up to help count people who ride bikes as they make their way to work in the morning. Each volunteer counter also receives a $50 donation on their behalf to their local community group, club or charity.
Super Tuesday North is the second half a national count which also occurs in Australia’s southern states in March.
Bike riders will be counted tomorrow in Darwin, Palmerston, Alice Springs and Katherine in the NT, and Moreton Bay, Redlands, Townsville and Toowoomba in Queensland. See a map with all specific locations here.
Darren Allen, Bicycle Network Chief Operating Officer, said that the data collected as part of the count is an important tool to help influence governments to build more places for people to ride.
“This is the bike riding community’s chance to show their local council exactly what is happening out on the streets. The data gathered could be the starting point for a new bike lane or path outside your front door,” said Mr Allen.
Super Tuesday North will record data on the time of day people are riding, which direction they are travelling and gender.
“Last year Super Tuesday North revealed that Darwin was one of the only places in Australia with a 50/50 split of male and female bike riders, while significant growth in bike rider numbers was recorded in Moreton Bay, Toowoomba and Townsville in Queensland.”
“We’d love to see more areas reach a 50/50 gender split, as well as record an increase in bike rider numbers overall to highlight to councils the growing need for more places to ride,” added Mr Allen.
Super Tuesday North has been conducted by Bicycle Network since 2010. Southern states are counted during the first Tuesday in March.
Click here to download a media release with further information.