Partnerships in Promoting Cycling

Accessible information on recreational trails and facilities is vital in ensuring trails are utilised and active and healthy lifestyles are promoted. Two key things to remember when promoting cycling for recreation:

  • Focus on fun and fitness;
  • Ensure publications include images of a diversity of people (age, fitness level, culture)

Maps of local cycling facilities

All state and many local council jurisdictions produce maps to assist identification and use of safe bicycle routes for cyclists with different needs and abilities. These are generally available through the cycling hub on the relevant jurisdictional web site.
Some samples include:
Australian State and Territory:

  • ACT Planning and Land Authority, website, Canberra and Queanbeyan cycling and walking map.
    Visit Site
  • Roads and Traffic Authority, website, New South Wales Cycling Maps
    Visit Site
  • Department of Planning and Infrastructure, website, Northern Territory Cycling Maps.
    Visit Site
  • Queensland Transport, website, Queensland Cycling Maps.
    Visit Site
  • Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, website, South Australian Cycling Maps.
    Visit Site
  • VicRoads, website, Online interactive bicycle maps.
    Visit Site
  • Department of Planning and Infrastructure, website, Western Australian Cycling Maps
    Visit Site

Australian Local councils:

  • Brisbane City Council, website, Brisbane's Bikeway Experience.
    Visit Site

    Also available from Brisbane City Council is an innovative multimedia CD ROM with cycling routes, tips and maps.
  • City of Darebin, 2004, Discover Darebin Map.
    View PDF

    This one page PDF map highlights green travel options in the City of Darebin.
  • Redland City Council, website, Redland Shire Walking and Cycling Map.
    View PDF

    This one page PDF map highlights cycling opportunities in Redland Shire.
  • TravelSmart Victoria, website, TravelSmart Maps.
    Visit Site

    TravelSmart Maps cover local government areas and use a traditional Melway base with the colours altered to favour cycling and public transport above the arterial road network and other car based information.
  • Cycling Connecting Communities, Explore Fairfield and Liverpool by Bike. Visit Site

    Cycling Connecting Communities is an exciting new project which aims to promote cycling in the Liverpool and Fairfield local government areas. The project is funded through a NSW Health Promotion Demonstration Research Grant and project partners include the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, Fairfield City Council, Liverpool City Council and Bicycle NSW. 
    Local maps for bike trails, events and skill courses in cycling are available via this website.

  • The Cooks River Cycleway is an example of multiple government agencies and community groups working together to create a commuter and recreational cycle route that links various areas and interconnects with destination hubs and public transport.  Visit Site

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International:

  • San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, 2006, San Francisco Bike Map & Walking Guide, San Francisco,
    View PDF

    One of the most effective urban bicycle maps available. Covers official and scenic bike routes, as well as colour coded gradients. An excellent example of world’s best practice in bicycle maps.
  • Bikely is a web based mapping tool to enable bicycle riders to share their knowledge of good bicycle routes.
    Visit Site

SignageGood signage of recreational trails is vital in encouraging and promoting their use and improving safety and comfort. Ideally at all decision points, signs should be positioned so that bicycle riders are able to follow the routes without confusion. It is useful to provide an indication of distances on the signs.

  • Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand, 2000
    Visit Site

    Specifies requirements for signs, pavement markings and other informational devices. Includes recommendations for guide signs and other navigational information for cyclists.
  • Department of Planning and Infrastructure, website, Signage and a good map make route planning easy.
    Visit Site

    Briefly outlines signage of more that 750 km of metropolitan cycle facilities in Perth and other WA towns.
  • SA Tourism Commission and Recreation Trails Signage and Interpretation Working Group, 2003, Guidelines for producing trail signage, South Australian Trails, Adelaide
    View PDF

    These guidelines have been prepared to assist government, industry, community and
    recreation trail groups to develop and produce effective trail signs for direction, interpretation, and management. They aim to answer the common questions about sign development and production without significantly replicating information from other sign standard manuals.
  • Railtrails Australia, 2004, Signage Development for Rail Trails, Railtrails Australia Inc, Melbourne
    View PDF

    Targeted at Rail Trail Committees of Management, this is a useful supplement to current Australian Standards. These guidelines provide good practice tips for the design of signage for Rail Trails and outlines strategies to use in the development of a life cycle signage program for Rail Trails.

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Accessible informationPromoting the benefits of cycling is vital in encouraging more people to actively participate in cycling; be it for recreation, health or transport. Effective promotion should happen at a range of levels, the individual, the business sector, the community and government.

There are an increasing number of publications available for people interested in taking up cycling or in cycling more often which can be tailored and adapted for different target groups and communities, from novice to experienced riders. A list of these resources (or web sites hosting them) from a variety of different sources is provided below:
State or Territory Transport Authority examples:

  • Roads and Traffic Authority, website, Bicycle riders.
    Visit Site
  • Queensland Transport, website, Bicycle User Guide series.
    Visit Site
  • Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (SA), website, Fact sheets series.
    Visit Site
  • VicRoads, website, Bicycle and Pedestrian information.
    Visit Site
  • Department of Planning and Infrastructure (WA), Cycling Fact Sheets series. Visit Site

Health Service or Health and Fitness Campaign examples:

  • Better Health Channels (VIC), website, Cycling … all about
    Visit Site
  • Go For your Life (VIC), website, Cycling and your health.
    Visit Site
    and 1,753 kms of bike paths for family outings
    Visit Site
  • Sydney South West Area Health Service, website, Promoting Cycling for Transport and Recreation
    Visit Site
  • VicHealth Fact Sheet, 2007, Sport and Active Recreation
    Visit Site
    and
    Visit Site

Local Council examples:

  • City of Darebin, website, Walking and Cycling in Darebin
    Visit Site
  • City of Yarra, undated PDF file, Cycling Information
    View PDF   and Bike Trails Route Notes Visit Site

Non Government Organisation examples:

  • Bicycle Victoria, website, Bikes and bike riding
    Visit Site
  • Cycling Promotion Fund, website, Fact Sheets
    Visit Site
  • Heart Foundation, website, Australian Physical Activity Network (AusPAnet)
    Visit Site

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Organisations and Encouragement programsHealth promotion evidence suggests that encouragement programs are a vital component of any strategy to achieve behaviour change. A review of the theory suggests that there are fives stages of behaviour change, outlined as follows:

  • PRECONTEMPLATION: Changing behaviour has not been considered: person might not realise that change is possible or that it might be of interest to them;
  • CONTEMPLATION: Something happens to prompt the person to start thinking about change - perhaps hearing that someone has made changes - or something else has changed - resulting in the need for further change;
  • PREPARATION: Person prepares to undertake the desired change – requires gathering information, finding out how to achieve the change, ascertaining skills necessary, deciding when change should take place - may include talking with others to see how they feel about the likely change, considering impact the change will have and who will be affected;
  • ACTION: People make changes, acting on previous decisions, experience, information, new skills, and motivations for making the change;
  • MAINTENANCE: Practice required for the new behaviour to be consistently maintained, incorporated into the repertoire of behaviours available to a person at any one time.

For more information on behaviour change theory see:

  • TravelSmart Victoria, undated PDF file, Theories and Models of Behaviour Change.
    Visit Site

It is important to remember the above stages when developing encouragement programs. Some useful examples and resources are listed below:

  • Department of Planning and Infrastructure (WA), website, Cycle Instead Campaign
    Visit Site

    This is a good Government funded campaign to encourage and promote cycling, with a number of innovative marketing tools.
  • Garrard, J., Crawford, S., Hakman, N., 2006, Revolutions for Women: Increasing women’s participation in cycling for recreation and transport: Summary of key findings, Department for Victorian Communities, Sport and Recreation Victoria
    View PDF

    This study identifies motivations, supports and constraints associated with women’s
    participation in cycling, conducts case studies of a range of programs and initiatives that have been developed and implemented to promote women’s participation and develops recommendations for strategies and programs to increase women's participation in cycling. A two page summary of the findings is found in Cycling and loving it! Encouraging women to cycle.
    View PDF
  • Fairfield City Council, website, Western Sydney Cycling Network
    Visit Site

    An innovative program to encourage and promote cycling for recreation and transport which includes a bicycle recycle and bicycle loan scheme.
  • Alice Springs Youth Accommodation & Support Services, website, Deadly Treadlies
    Visit Site

    An innovative program to encourage and promote cycling. Deadly Treadlies trains young people in a variety of skills: team work and planning, mechanical skills, personal development and enterprise development.
  • Cycling Promotion Fund, website, Bicycling Achievement Awards
    Visit Site
    These awards case study many innovative programs to encourage and promote cycling.
  • Heart Foundation, Local Government Awards
    Visit Site

    Great Case Studies of Local Governments playing an active role in promoting active and healthy lifestyles.
  • VeloVision, a Gosford City Council Initiative
    Visit Site  
     
    Gosford City Library and Vision Australia are proud to announce a new initiative through Woy Woy Library whereby vision impaired riders and nominated Captains are able to freely borrow a tandem bicycle for a two hour ride utilising Gosford City Council's completed cycleways.
  • The Bike-sharing Blog
    Visit Site

    A blog / website site that has gathered information on all the major bike sharing business programs around the world.
  • Cycling Safety Tips Videos
    Visit Site

    The Cycling Promotion Fund, the Amy Gillett Foundation and Digicast have produced four great video clips with tips on how to avoid common risks when cycling in traffic.

    Dealing with Intersections (3.32 mins video)
    Heavy Vehicles & Cyclists (3.48 mins video)
    Dealing with car doors (3.02 mins video)
    Cyclist Visibility (3.29 mins video)
  • Airservices Australia Media Release - Cycle Path keeps our Soldiers safe - 23/09
    Visit Site  

    Airservices has made a major contribution to keeping Defence personnel in the Top End fit, healthy and safe.  A new cycle path on Airservices land near Darwin Airport will allow Army personnel commuting to work by bicycle to do so safely after a spate of accidents. 

International

  • Jennifer Hattam, 11 July 2009, "'I Ride My Bike, I Love Nature,' Say Turkish Cyclists", Turkey: TreeHUgger - Cars & Transportation
    Visit Site

    "You notice a flower blooming near the road [when] riding a bicycle, but you cannot see it driving a car," says Mustafa Sarı, the president of the Turkish Nature Watchers Society. Though cycling is not a common pastime in Turkey, the group is trying to build interest in it through a project called "Bisikletime Biniyorum Doğayı Seviyorum" (I Ride My Bike, I Love Nature) Visit Site
  • Connecting Bike Riders with Bike Friendly Employers 
    Visit Site

    Bike riders make great employees, and companies that recognise this are great places to work.  Domestique is dedicated to connecting cyclists of all kinds with employment opportunities. Our passion for sustainable transport is as much a key issue for us as is the sheer enjoyment you get from riding.

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Re-Cycling for Developing Nations

  • World Bicycle Relief - The Power of Bicycles (Visit Site ), Case Study - Empowering People
    Visit Site

    Simple, sustainable transportation is an essential element in disaster assistance and poverty relief. Bicycles fulfill basic needs by providing increased access to healthcare, education and economic development, especially when compared to the alternative of walking. Bicycles empower individuals, their families, and their communities. Our mission is to provide access to independence and livelihood through The Power of Bicycles.
  • Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI), Visit Site , Case Study - Village Bicycle Project
    Visit Site

    The Village Bicycle Project provides donated used bikes, bicycle repair training and new tools to help bicycles become a sustainable transportation choice for thousands of people in Africa, where over 99% of the population cannot afford cars. 
    VBP came about in response to a critical lack of basic reliable and affordable transportation for millions of Africans. When the only other choice is walking, bicycles ease poverty by improving access to farms, markets, jobs, schools, and health care.
  • Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (Visit Site ), Case Study - South Africa: Culture Puts the Brakes On Women’s Mobility
    Visit Site

    The bicycle has been hailed as having done "more than anything else in the world to emancipate women" -- the words of 19th century American feminist Susan B. Anthony. But for many women in South Africa, culture and tradition make it difficult to take advantage of the increased mobility and access to social and economic opportunities, not to mention the reduced carbon footprint, offered by bicycles.
  • The Otesha Project (Australia): Cycling for Sustainability
    Visit Site
    The objectives of The Otesha Project (Australia) are to increase awareness about the impacts of the products and resources we consume, increase the number of responsible consumer choices made by young Australians, and increase the number of young role models and sustainability advocates.
  • IBike - Guide to Organizing & Implementing an International Recycling (Reusing) Bicycle Programs
    Visit Site

    Redistributing bikes to people who will use them is a great idea and can be a win-win experience. But, bike distribution in Less Developed Countries (or communities) (LDC) can be good or bad depending upon how its done.

    People aware of a surplus of bikes in there community may want to organize a shipment to a destination that can absorb them and make good use of them: Just as going to an affluent suburban mall and trying to hand out used bikes might be a misdirected effort, so sending bikes to an LDC can be misdirected.  If instead of going to an affluent mall, you create a bike programs and provided bikes for a social service agency in Europe or North America that works with disadvantaged youth, you will positively change some lives.  The same can occur in a LDC.

    Organizations Recycling Bicycles - Visit Site

    Organization Requesting Bicycles - Visit Site

 

Cycling events

Cycling events are a great way to lift the profile of cycling, enable people to explore local cycling infrastructure and promote active and healthy lifestyles. Information on these are easily available through scanning Bicycle Federation of Australia Visit Site web sites or magazines.
Event management:

  • Roads and Traffic Authority, 2004, New South Wales Guidelines for Bicycle Road Races, Government of NSW.
    View PDF

    These guidelines explain the process for obtaining approval to conduct bicycle racing on roads and highways within NSW. A permit issued by NSW Police is required to conduct a cycle race.
  • VicRoads, 2001, On-Road Cycling Events: A Guide to obtaining approval, VicRoads, Melbourne.
    View PDF

    Takes the reader through relevant safety issues for cycling events.
  • Australian Greenhouse Office, website, TravelSmart Special Events Planning Resource Kit.
    Visit Site

    A toolkit designed to help organisers of special events reduce car parking requirements by providing smarter alternatives, such as walking, cycling and public transport usage.

Case studies
Some case studies include the following:

  • The Bike-sharing Blog
    Visit Site

    A blog / website site that has gathered information on all the major bike sharing business programs around the world.
  • National Ride to Work
    Visit Site

    Partnerships: Bicycle Victoria, Bicycle NSW, Bicycle QLD, Bicycle South Australia, numerous local councils, businesses and workplaces across Australia
    Summary: National ride to work day across Australia
  • Spring Cycle
    Visit Site

    Partnerships: Bicycle NSW, City of Sydney, Sun-Herald, MS Australia, Sydney Olympic Park.
    Summary: The Spring Cycle is Sydney’s most popular annual recreational cycling event where thousands of cyclists of all ages and abilities join together to enjoy a Sunday cycle through some of the most picturesque surroundings of the city
  • Brisbane to the Gold Coast Cycle Challenge
    Visit Site

    Partnerships: Bicycle Queensland, Wilson HTM Investment, Queensland Transport & Main Roads, Gold Cost City Council, Brisbane City Council, TransLink, Planet Cycles, Cannondale
    Summary: Queensland’s only long-distance mass-participation challenge ride
  • NRMA Careflight Woodford to Glenbrook Classic
    Visit Site

    Partnerships: NRMA, New South Wales Government, Ambulance Service of New South Wales
    Summary: Fundraising ride for NRMA CareFlight
  • Cyclovia
    Visit Site

    Partnerships: Moreland City Council, Sydney Road - Brunswick Traders Association Yarra Trams, MetLink Melbourne, Great Event Company, Moreland Bicycle User Group Rotary Club of Coburg, Coburg Traders Association, Cycling Promotion Fund
    Summary: Cyclovia Sydney Road - Moreland, the first of its kind in Australia, was held on Sunday 28 May 2006. Around 5,000 people enjoyed a great day on Sydney Road and for 6 hours "life to the street" was a reality in Moreland
  • Kelly Country Classic
    Visit Site

    Partnerships: Wangaratta Bicycle Users Group, Northeast Health Wangaratta
    Summary: A fundraising ride for Northeast Health in Wangaratta.
  • Music festivals: some music festivals which have good programs to encourage and promote cycling access, including:

  • 7Stanes is a Scottish Forestry Commission recreation and tourism project Visit Site

    The 7stanes are seven mountain biking centres spanning the south of Scotland, from the heart of the Scottish Borders to Dumfries and Galloway.  'Stane' is the Scots word for stone, and at each of the 7stanes locations, you'll find a stone sculpture reflecting a local myth or legend.
    The stanes are found out on the trails in the forests, in prominent locations near cycling and walking paths.  They’re accessible on foot or by horse as well as by bike, and range in size from one to three metres high and from two to six tons in weight.
    Find out more about the STANES themselves Visit Site

  • Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (Visit Site ), Case Study - On PARK(ing) Day, People Demand More Parks, Less Parking
    Visit Site

    On September 21, 2007, people in 47 cities transformed parking spots into over 180 small parks during an annual global event called PARK(ing) Day. By thinking of metered parking spaces as short term, inexpensive leasing of the space, PARK(ing) Day takes those parking spots and turns them into public spaces. These passive places where cars would sit all day became active places of recreation, interaction and play.
    PARK(ing) Day seeks to create awareness about the need for more open spaces in cities and challenge the way people think about how streets are used.  Growing every year, more cities from more countries participated this year, including New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Seattle, Portland, Miami (United States), London (United Kingdom), Utrecht (the Netherlands), Barcelona, Valencia (Spain), Munich (Germany), Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte (Brazil), Toronto (Canada), Melbourne, Brisbane (Australia) and Vilnius (Lithuania).

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