Dear Members of BUGs and Clubs,

Great opportunity to have input into improving road safety for bicycle riders

The good news is that the number of people cycling on our roads has been increasing considerably over the last year, which could be a response to higher petrol prices, congested roads and greater awareness of the many benefits of cycling.  This is terrific and hopefully puts pressure on Governments to create more supportive environments and culture on our roads.

The bad news is that road safety statistics are telling us that bicycle injury rates have been increasing at a greater rate than cycling participation. One factor is that many people who have taken up cycle commuting have limited experience of riding in traffic, resulting in reduced hazard detection skills, putting them at increased risk of injury.

The Cycling Promotion Fund has been successful in gaining a grant from the TAC to develop some video clips addressing the four key road safety risks for cyclists riding in traffic:

 

• Car doors opening in the path of cyclist
• Left turning vehicles not giving way to cyclists
• Heavy vehicles and cyclists
• Cyclist visibility

We are going to work with advertising company O’Keefe Murphy Gaff to develop the clips. We are keen to get input from BUG and Club members and other bicycle riders to develop the key messages for the script and the supporting material.  We are also looking for people who are interested in being “actors” in the video clips.

We strongly believe that resources developed by bicycle riders for bicycle riders are the most effective to assist people to become more confident riders with good traffic hazard detection skills.

Please let us know if any of your members are interested in having input into this exciting project.

We have organised a workshop on Saturday 23rd of August 2008 at the Augustine Centre, 2 Minona Street, Hawthorn from 2pm to 5pm.  It will be great to see a good response - the more input we have, the better the outcome will be.

We are very much aware that we also need an education campaign for motorists, but unfortunately this did not fit the TAC funding criteria. If this project is successful we may have a better chance to make the case for a campaign to target motorists.  If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to have input but cannot attend the workshop, please contact us anytime. 

To assist with catering please register if you are able to attend the workshop.  To contact the CPF Office, email Kathy or Chris: office@... or call: (03) 9818 5400

In other cycling news

-          Dreams On Wheels in Melbourne – 12 – 19 August 2008

-          Economic Benefits of Cycling Issue Sheet

-          New Cycling Promotion Fund Posters

-          Australia’s First Dedicated Cycling Centre for Commuters

Dreams On Wheels in Melbourne – 12 – 19 August 2008

The Dreams on Wheels exhibition will be in the Atrium at Federation Square in Melbourne from 12 to 19 August.  The exhibition is a showcase of Danish culture of cycling and innovative Danish bicycle design. This exhibition has been brought to Australia as part of celebrations marking the re-opening of the Royal Danish Embassy in Canberra.  

For more information follow this link:
http://www.canberra.um.dk/en/menu/Cultural+Services/Events/DreamsOnWheelsInMelbourne12To19August/

Economic Benefits of Cycling Issue Sheet
The Cycling Promotion Fund has developed a resource that outlines the significant economic savings to government and the economy from current and future participation in cycling.  Follow this link below to download the resource or contact us to get some hard copies to use in your advocacy work.
http://www.cyclingpromotion.com.au/content/view/334/150/

New Cycling Promotion Fund Posters
The CPF has recently updated its range of promotional posters. The new selection will be available at the end of August. Please check our website for more details then or call the CPF office to make your order.

Australia’s First Dedicated Cycling Centre For Commuters
Australia’s largest cycling centre has recently opened in Brisbane, providing commuters with access to:

• 420 bike parking spaces, secure, electronic entry for members
• 270 secure lockers and 18 showers for men, 150 secure lockers and 15 showers for women
• 12 lockers in the people with disability (PWD) area
• A fresh towel provided daily, ironing boards (and irons)
• Valet laundry and cleaning service*
• Bike spares and commuter refreshments, air conditioned locker rooms

*This is simple and convenient, when laundered, clothes can be returned (by staff) to individual lockers.

For more information about this great facility and to do an online tour, follow the link below
http://www.cycle2city.com.au

Brisbane City Council has also called for tenders to provide a ‘city bicycle share system’ similar to the one run in many European countries. A few of the Australian cities have been considering setting up such a system, but it appears that Brisbane will again take the lead in getting such a system off the ground.

CPF’s Program Director, Rosemarie Speidel, was fortunate to visit Paris last month and experience their Vélib system in action. She was very surprised how visible it has made cycling in the city and how residents and visitors have taken to it.  After the first year of operation, the system has saved the city 10 million km in car trips and some argue has slowed down traffic and made motorists more aware of bicycle riders. 

Watch this StreetFilms clip about the Vélib system: http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/velib%E2%80%99/

Hope you are inspired.

Warm regards,

The Cycling Promotion Fund team

Ph: (03) 9818 54000, Email: office@...
www.rideabike.com.au
www.vote4cycling.com.au
www.cyclingawards.com.au

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