Bicycle Network

Volunteers will take up posts at more than 300 sites in more than 40 council areas around Australia for Bicycle Network’s Super Sunday recreational counts in November. https://ow.ly/kS1150TIu4w

The Streets People Love campaign, which aims to give scorecards to all 2211 candidates across 78 local government areas holding elections this October, is building momentum. https://ow.ly/a8TW50TIsXw

Providing students with the skills and confidence to ride and walk to school has never been more important, so we were absolutely thrilled to gather at Doherty’s Creek P-9 College last month to kick off the new Bike Ed program thanks to RACV. The $200,000 partnership will enable the delivery of the Ride2School Bike Ed program for primary school students in the northwest and southeast of Melbourne. A special assembly was held and 175 students took part in bike education and skills sessions, while Dr Cranky’s Bicycle Hospital provided onsite maintenance and kept everything in running order. "Multiple studies have shown that riding to school leads to better attendance, grades, cognitive performance and classroom behaviour,” says RACV General Manager Mobility Julia Hunter. "Ride2School’s Bike Ed is a Bicycle Network program that we’re excited to support as it equips students with new, valuable life skills that makes riding a real commuting option for families.” #Ride2School

Artificial intelligence is transforming everything from medical research to image generation, but have you ever wondered how it tackles the all-important task of bike rider safety? By automatically categorising and tracking riders, pedestrians and vehicles when they pass through an area, artificial intelligence helps Bicycle Network’s Transport Data and Surveys team build a clear picture of road user behaviour. These Artificial Intelligence Road Surveys (AIRS) have been hard at work around Australia, providing councils with vital data they need to make evidence-based decisions. They’ve now landed in New Zealand through a partnership with Auckland Transport, where they’re being used to study travel patterns following the recent installation of a two-way cycleway in Tāmaki Makaurau. Using AIRS technology, the study found that bike riders overwhelmingly preferred riding on the cycleway (as opposed to the road) where there was a higher volume of motor vehicle traffic. You can see bike rider movements in pink. Findings like this help planners and decision-makers gauge the impact of changes to the street environment and understand how it can be made safer for people who ride bikes. Read more: https://ow.ly/syBN50ToPXJ #activetravel #cleantransport #artificialintelligence

Are there streets in your local neighbourhood that could be made safer, more pleasant and easier to walk or ride through? Would you like to do something about it? Victorian council election nominations opened this week and members of the Streets People Love campaign are working to survey and rate candidates. The goal is to encourage people standing for local government elections to consider and commit to creating liveable communities as they nominate. Read more and get involved: https://ow.ly/gKu050TlFC0

Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack has this week written to the Minister for Climate Change Chris Bowen and Treasurer Jim Chalmers asking for a simple change to the fringe benefit tax rules for people salary sacrificing e-bikes. Last year, the fringe benefit tax was scrapped for people salary sacrificing electric cars and plug-in hybrids, even if they never use it for business purposes. This has greatly accelerated the uptake of electric cars, to the point where they now make up nearly half of all novated leases in Australia. Extending these same exemptions to e-bike buyers, for whom cost is also a barrier, would empower many thousands to leave their cars at home each day. According to the National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association, this one change would result in 57,800 extra e-bikes on the street within a year. It is time to alter our approach, release the handbrake and watch e-bikes take off alongside electric cars. Placed on equal footing, these two could achieve great things together. https://ow.ly/1h0K50TlFsB

Bicycle Network is looking for expressions of interest from councils looking to level up on sustainable transport, by signing up for our annual Super Sunday active travel counts. By taking part in Australia’s largest recreational riding and walking surveys, councils will be provided with valuable insights on bike riders, walkers, joggers, dog walkers and e-scooter riders on their trails, paths and roads. Interested councils are encouraged to sign up and nominate their sites by mid-September by contacting our team at bikefutures@bicyclenetwork.com.au. Read more: https://ow.ly/LcwK50TamPV

What joy to gather at Doherty’s Creek P-9 College in Truganina yesterday and celebrate the launch of a new Ride2School Bike Ed program, thanks to a $200,000 investment from RACV. A big thank you to the 175 students that took part in the special assembly and bike education sessions, we hope you learned some useful skills that will empower you to #Ride2School! “Learning to ride a bike safely encourages and empowers children to become physically active and Ride2School lays the foundation for lifelong healthy habits,” Ms McCormack said. “Riding to school helps children get their recommended daily physical activity needs and multiple studies have shown riding to school leads to better attendance, grades, cognitive performance and classroom behaviour.” The investment from RACV will enable Bicycle Network's Ride2School program to support students in the northwest and southeast of Melbourne over the next two years, helping them develop skills to lead active lives and travel to school in style. 😎 Images: Raceatlas

I’m excited to be part of this year’s partnership with Bosch ebike Systems and United Energy Around the Bay and eBike Expo, celebrating 30 incredible years of this iconic event! It’s the perfect time to get involved—don’t miss out! Bicycle Network #ebikeexpo #unitedenergeryaroundthebay #feeltheflow

We are thrilled to announce a new partnership between Bosch Australia & New Zealand eBike Systems and Bicycle Network for the 2024 United Energy Around The Bay event! 🥳 Bosch eBike Systems has joined us as a key partner and the official naming partner for the Bosch eBike Systems 50km Ride. Bosch eBike Systems will also be showcasing their cutting-edge eBike technology at the eBike Expo across the event weekend. This collaboration marks a significant step in promoting and education of eBikes while enhancing the rider experience. We can't wait to work together to bring even more energy, innovation, and fun to this iconic event. Save the date – eBike Expo Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October, Albert Park Lake! 🚲 If your business is looking to authentically connect with over 8,000 participants and thousands of members of the public during the weekend, we invite you to reach out to partnerships@bicyclenetwork.com.au. We offer a variety of exciting opportunities for you to engage with our diverse and enthusiastic community and to be part of the Ride that Stops Melbourne - Australia's largest one-day cycling festival – Sunday 6 October, 2024, Albert Park Lake. Bosch Australia & New Zealand #BoscheBikeSystems #UnitedEnergyAroundTheBay #BicycleNetwork #ebikeexpo #feeltheflow #eBike #CyclingEvents #Partnerships