More people in Australia are cycling than ever before. Whether it is for getting from a to b, for keeping fit or for having fun, over 1.9 million people now cycle in Australia and 2008 saw the largest ever increase in people riding their bikes. This increase is welcome – and to be encouraged. More people on bikes means a more active, healthier population. It means fitter citizens who can live in cleaner, less congested cities. And it means more people who can travel or enjoy themselves while leaving only a fraction of the carbon footprint of other modes of transport. In addition to being a pleasurable and healthy way to get around, cycling offers a unique opportunity to tackle a host of pressing issues facing Australia. In particular, all countries need to face up to their responsibilities to reduce their carbon emissions, traffic congestion is a significant issue in Australia’s cities and there is a particular need to focus on preventative health measures in light of the ever increasing rate of obesity. There is also a strong economic case to ensuring cycling continues to play an integral role in any sustainable transport strategy. Not only does cycling offer commuters the opportunity to save time, increasing cycling can also reduce traffic congestion in peak periods and support the country’s flourishing bicycle industry. More significantly for the country as a whole, a healthier, more active population misses fewer days at work and places fewer burdens on the health and social care services – those who take regular exercise are less likely to develop a number of serious illnesses, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. In order to drive forward progress on cycling and coordinate activity across the country, the Australian Bicycle Council (ABC) was established in 1999 and is made up of representatives from the Commonwealth Government, each state and territory, as well as the cycling industry and cyclist user groups. A key role of the ABC has been to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the National Cycling Strategies (NCS) 1999 - 2004 and 2005 - 2010. The NCS 2005 - 2010 represented a significant step forward in setting out a coordinated framework for the development of cycling in Australia and reaffirming the governments’ commitment to cycling as both a mode of transport and as a recreational pastime. There has been significant progress over the past 5 years and a raft of initiatives at all levels of government and nongovernment organisations to encourage more people to ride and to create a safe environment for them to do so. (Author/publisher)
Abstract