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
    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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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.

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Cycling eventsCycling 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:

  • 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

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