Australian Bicycling Achievement Awards

This year’s Australian Bicycling Achievement Awards will be presented in Canberra today at an event to be opened by Heart Foundation CEO (ACT) Tony Stubbs and with the key note address from Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Maxine McKew.

“2009 has been a landmark year for cycling, with this year’s commitments to fund bicycle infrastructure blowing away previous investments by all three levels of government,” said Stephen Hodge, spokesperson for the Cycling Promotion Fund.

Queensland Minister for Transport, Rachel Nolan, is leading the way nationally with $100 million invested in cycling infrastructure and programs in the last year and will receive the Award for Contribution towards Cycling by a Politician.

Making cycling on of her department’s top 5 priorities, projects included the $68m Kurilpa cycle and pedestrian bridge in Brisbane’s CBD, the world’s largest Travelsmart behaviour change project to 324,000 households and the largest ever cycling centre built in Australia, the $9m Royal Brisbane Hospital Cycle Centre that will hold in excess of 750 bikes.

The Minister for Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese, and Tasmanian Greens Senator, Christine Milne, each gain an Honourable Mention Award for Contribution by a Politician for negotiating the $40 million National Bike Paths Fund.

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council will receive the Local Government Award for Special Initiative to Encourage and Promote Cycling. They have invested $6 million in bicycle paths and on-road facilities and committed $20 million for the next five years.

The Bicycling Achievement Awards have been held by the Cycling Promotion Fund annually since 2002.

Awards finalists will join Federal MPs and Senators from around Australia and principal partner the Heart Foundation, to celebrate cycling encouragement and promotion and the role cycling plays in supporting active living across all ages.

According to the Award’s Principal partners the Heart Foundation, physical activity, including walking and cycling, plays an important role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases.

“Physical inactivity is a major health problem in its own right. Disturbingly, about half of Australian adults (54%) are not sufficiently physically active to gain health benefits. Physical inactivity costs the health budget an estimated $1.5bn a year and causes 16,000 premature deaths a year, “said Susan Anderson, National Director - Healthy Weight, Heart Foundation.

“It is particularly concerning for the future health of Australia when you consider that the last decade has seen a rapid decline in the number of children walking or cycling to school and few adults choosing walking or cycling as a mode of transport,” she said

“The innovation and success recognised in these national awards show us all that the future of cycling in Australia, whether as a recreational activity or mode of transport, is healthy, environmentally sustainable and more active than ever”, said Hodge.

“The record investment in infrastructure over the last year and commitment by individuals and organisations across Australia is making the choice to cycle easier and safer,” he concluded.

Winners of the Eighth Annual Bicycling Achievement Awards are:

• Cycling Promotion Award of the Year (Professional) – Warren Salomon, Bicycle
  
• Cycling Promotion Award of the Year (Honorary) – Joint winners: Damian Maclennan, Sydney Cyclist and Paul and Di Truebridge, volunteers - Pedal Power ACT.
  
• Contribution to Cycling by a Politician – Hon Rachel Nolan MP Minister, Queensland Department of Transport. (Honourable Mentions – The Hon. Anthony Albanese, NSW and Senator Christine Milne, TAS).
  
• Award for an educational institution for innovation in encouraging cycling to school - Bowden Brompton Community School, South Australia.
  
• Local Government Award for Special Initiative to encourage and promote cycling – Sunshine Coast Council, Queensland (Honourable Mention - Blue Mountains City New South Wales).
  
• Award for Contribution Towards Cycling by a Bicycle Retailer – bikerepairs.com.au, New South Wales
  
• Special Achievement Award by a Bicycle Organisation – BIKESydney, New South Wales (Honourable Mention – Brunswick Cycling Club, Victoria).
  
• Award for Bicycle Friendly Business – The Munda Biddi Trail Foundation, Western Australia. 

Learn more about the Cycling Promotion Fund.