Bicycle Victoria

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Coordinates: 37°49′03″S 144°57′35″E / -37.817389, 144.959603

Bicycle Victoria

Bicycle Victoria logo
Bicycle Victoria logo
Motto More People Cycling More Often
Formation 1975
Type Self-funded Community Organisation
Location Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Membership 40,000
Main organ Board of Directors
Staff approx. 45
Volunteers varies during year, estimated 50–500
Website http://www.bv.com.au

Bicycle Victoria is a self-funded community organisation who's mission is to get More People Cycling More Often.

Bicycle Victoria works to promote cycling in several ways, including campaigns and partnerships with government to improve cycling facilities, programs to encourage riding to school and to work, design and installation of bicycle parking facilities and large cycling events.

Bicycle Victoria is financially self-supporting and independent. It is primarily funded by its major events and membership subscriptions. Some events and programs receive specific government and commercial sponsorship, though Bicycle Victoria maintains financial independence as an organisation. This independence allows the organisation to lobby in the interests of bicycle riders without perceived external financial pressure.

Currently the organisation employs 45 permanent staff and has a number of additional staff on contract for events and special projects, as well as using the services of volunteers to events. Harry Barber has been the CEO since 1995.

Bicycle Victoria has two offices located in the CBD of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The organisation also has a workshop in Sunshine, Melbourne.

Contents

[edit] History

The organisation was established in 1975[1] as the Bicycle Institute of Victoria. It became an incorporated association in 1986[2] and in 2005, was renamed to Bicycle Victoria[citation needed].

The formation of the Bicycle Institute of Victoria in 1974 was instigated by Brian Dixon MP, Victorian State Government Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation. Dixon bought together a group of bicycle advocates including Keith Dunstan to help form the BIV. Dunstan went on to become the founding president of the Bicycle Institute of Victoria. Rupert Hamers Government also formed the State Bicycle Committee (SBC) which was originally within the Ministry of Transport. Under Dixon, the SBC reported directly to the Minister. Its having to report through VicRoads only occurred circa 1990.

[edit] Membership

Membership of Bicycle Victoria is open to the public and is subscription-based. Membership is a source of income for the organisation. Benefits of being a member include discounts at bike shops, crash insurance, bi-monthly membership magazine, maps, advice services and other bike-riding resources.

By July 2004, membership had grown to 40,000, stimulated by bicycle sales out-stripping vehicle sales each year from 2000 to 2007, according to the Cycling Promotion Fund[3].

Ride On (formerly BVnews) is Bicycle Victoria's bi-monthly member magazine. It provides updates on cycling infrastructure & safety campaigns, product reviews, health & maintenance articles and suggestions for places to ride.

[edit] Campaigns for Cycling

Infrastructure for Cycling in Melbourne has been greatly improved by the campaigns of Bicycle Victoria[citation needed], including the development of many on road bike lanes and shared use Melbourne cycle trails, such as the Federation Trail following the route of the disused sewer between Footscray and Werribee[4].

[edit] Annual Cycling Events

Cycling: Melbourne, Australia
Organisations
Bicycle Victoria
Melbourne Critical Mass
Events
Around the Bay in a Day
Austral Wheel Race
Amy's Ride
Great Victorian Bike Ride
Great Ocean & Otway Classic Ride
Herald Sun Tour
Hell Ride
High Country Cycle Challenge
Melbourne Autumn Day (MAD)
Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic
Melbourne Summer Cycle
Oppy Family Fun Ride
Rotary River Ride
Shepparton Fruit Loop Ride

A large portion of Bicycle Victoria's funding comes from an extensive calendar of fully supported bicycle rides and events. These events also encourage cycling.

[edit] Great Victorian Bike Ride

The Great Victorian Bike Ride was first organised in 1984 with 2,100 riders. It has become a regular event with several thousand people participating on the 20th anniversary ride in 2003. In 2004, a free new bike was given to each ride registrant. This sweetener, coupled with the attractive route following the Great Ocean Road, saw the total 2004 attendance (including volunteers and staff) exceed 8500.

Bicycle Victoria staff and volunteers have developed the facilities and the logistics plans for catering for the needs of several thousand cyclists and volunteers on the move each day. As well as toilets, showers, cooking and washing up facilities, and moving thousands of tents and luggage, an FM radio station broadcasts and a daily news sheet is produced. Hazard and direction signs, water stops and marshals are organised for the route each day.

It has been called by The Age as "Arguably the world's greatest one-week cycling holiday"[5].

[edit] Around the Bay in a Day

Main article: Around the Bay in a Day

Around the Bay in a Day is a popular single-day cycling event around Port Phillip Bay in Victoria. In October 2006, more than 14,000 riders took part in this ride.

[edit] Great Escapade

The Great Escapade is an inter-state (or occasionally overseas) cycling holiday now run by Bicycle Victoria [6] is similar in format to the Great Victorian Bike Ride. The event is usually about nine days, but varies up to about two weeks if the location is further from Victoria. The 2008 Great Escapade was in New South Wales, through the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley. In April 2008 the online publication Pushon reported that BNSW Board would support future Great Escapade rides instead of running their own multi-day event, the NSW Big Ride. This news has created discussion and criticism amongst NSW cyclists and past participants [7] [8].

[edit] Bike Path Discovery Day

Bike Path Discovery Day is an informal event to encourage use and awareness of off-road cycle paths in Victoria. In particular, riders are introduced to Melbourne's extensive network of off-road paths.

[edit] National Ride to Work Day

Main article: Ride to Work Day (Melbourne)

National Ride to Work Day is an informal event to promote and celebrate cycling as a method of commuting to work. The event encourages individuals and also workplace teams to participate. Information is provided to help workplaces build facilities and develop policies to support employees who cycle to work. In October 2006, 10,000 first-time riders and regular commuters registered prior to the event. An estimated 30,000 took part on the day throughout the state[9][10].

[edit] Other events

Several other events have been run in the past, including:

  • Great Melbourne Bike Ride: in March 2004, 14,000 people participated[citation needed]

[edit] Relationship with other cycling organisations

From 1979 the organisation was a member of the peak Australian body representing non-competitive cyclists, the Bicycle Federation of Australia, but discontinued its affiliation during 1998[citation needed].

On August 7th 2007 the Australian cycling sector which included the Cycling Promotion Fund [11], Bicycle Industries Australia [12], Cycling Australia , Retail Cycle Traders Australia [13] and the Bicycle Federation of Australia launched its key asks in Canberra [14]. for the upcoming 2008 federal election. Bicycle Victoria was one of the peak organisations included in these key asks [15]. but did not participate in the cycling sectors federal election campaign.[16].

In September 2007, Bicycle Victoria, Bicycle NSW, Bicycle Queensland and Bicycle South Australia announced the formation of the Bicycle Coalition[17]; an agreement to work together on several projects such as National Ride to Work Day.

  • Local bicycle groups (known as Bicycle User Groups, or BUGs) campaign in local areas for improvements, organise rides, bike education and maintenance workshops and provide a grassroots basis for wider bicycle campaigns. Bicycle Victoria sometimes works with these groups on projects like the "Super Tuesday" bike count.
  • Bicycle Victoria's website states that they are not involved in and do not support the Critical Mass bike rides[18].

[edit] Controversies

Some cycling advocates criticise Bicycle Victoria because they feel that the organisation is failing to represent the best interests of cyclists.

[edit] Free Bikes for ride entrants

Bicycle Victoria offered entrants of the 2004 Great Victorian Bike Ride a bike, free of charge, if they registered early for the event. The bikes were imported and distributed by Bicycle Victoria. The bikes were available fully assembled, or partially assembled in a box.

Retail Cycle Traders Australia and Bicycle Industries Australia did not approve, saying that the deal was harmful to retail business, the bikes were of low quality and cost the community and environment as waste disposal.[19]

The bikes were also subject to a safety recall, which required a replacement front quick-release skewer.[20]

[edit] "Hell Ride" Controversy

In August 2006 the death of pedestrian James Gould [21] as a result of a collision with a cyclist riding in the weekly "Hell Ride" saw a prolonged media backlash against perceived bad behaviour committed by Melbourne cyclists. Some considerate and law-abiding cyclists felt the media backlash [22] was unfair and were critical about public statements made by Bicycle Victoria CEO Harry Barber.[23] [24] [25].

[edit] Bikes on Trains Ban

From 1 January 2008, bicycles were banned from most Victorian train services during peak hour, including peak direction suburban trains. The statement on Bicycle Victoria's website said that the organisation supported the ban. An effective grassroots campaign against the ban quickly formed, and shortly thereafter Bicycle Victoria reversed its position and apologised [26], stating that it had not actually supported the ban in the first place. (The ban was overturned 6 weeks after its introduction by the Transport Minister) [27].

[edit] Subaru Promotion to Members

In April 2008, Bicycle Victoria began a cross promotion with Subaru dealers in Melbourne. The deal offered free bike maps and bike pumps to Bicycle Victoria members who test rode Subaru 4WD's[28]. It is assumed the Bicycle Victoria receives advertising revenue from the promotion.

Some criticise this promotion, [29]seeing it as pro-car and against the mission of the organisation. Others believe that the promotion is within the mission, as the majority of members also own and use a motor vehicle.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bicycle Victoria at a glance. Bicycle Victoria Website. Retrieved on 2008-04-21.
  2. ^ Incorporated Associations Register. Consumer Affairs Victoria Website. Retrieved on 2008-04-21.
  3. ^ Australian car sales slump as buyers go for imports by Bridie Smith, The Age, January 5, 2007. Accessed May 4, 2007
  4. ^ Companies fight bike path plan By Royce Millar City Editor The Age, October 17, 2005. Accessed May 4, 2007
  5. ^ On yer bike Paul Edwards, The Age August 6, 2006. Accessed May 4, 2007
  6. ^ Great Escapade. Bicycle Victoria Website. Retrieved on 2008-05-06.
  7. ^ News from the Board – April 2008.. PushOn Website. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
  8. ^ Sydney Cyclist Demise of the Big Ride? – April 2008.. Sydney Cyclist. Retrieved on 2008-05-06.
  9. ^ Pedal power pulls a crowd By Sasha Shtargot, The Age, October 5, 2005 Accessed May 4, 2007
  10. ^ Petrol price fuels surge in bike sales By Sasha Shtargot, The Age, October 6, 2005. Accessed May 4, 2007
  11. ^ Cycling Promotion Fund.. Cycling Promotion Fund. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
  12. ^ Bicycle Industries Australia.. Bicycle Industries Australia. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
  13. ^ Retail Cycle Traders Australia.. Retail Cycle Traders Australia. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
  14. ^ Get on your bike, says Abbott.. The Age. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
  15. ^ Australia faces some significant challenges;climate change,the obesity epidemic,rising fuel costs and traffic congestion in our cities.. Cycling Promotion Fund Website. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
  16. ^ Cycling Promotion Fund - Vote for Cycling.. Vote4Cycling website. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
  17. ^ Announcement of the Bicycle Coalition. Bicycle Victoria Website. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
  18. ^ Critical Mass rides.. Bicycle Victoria Website. Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
  19. ^ Bicycle Industries Australia Ltd, Retail Cycle Traders Australia Inc (2005-10). "Bicycle Industries Australia Annual Report 2005". pp. 25 Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  20. ^ Product Recalls Australia: Bicycles Victoria 'Great Victorian' - All Sizes. Product Recalls Australia 25/10/2004. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  21. ^ Man struck by cyclist dies. The Age 28/8/06.
  22. ^ Bike bullies ignore laws. Herald Sun 31/8/06.
  23. ^ Fast, furious, fatal: official eye falls on Hell Ride. The Age 30/8/06. Retrieved on 2008-05-06.
  24. ^ The death of a pedestrian makes hell for all riders. Treadly.net 31/8/06. Retrieved on 2008-05-06.
  25. ^ Bicycle Victoria 2006 AGM Member Questions and Answers. Bicycle Victoria 13/11/2006. Retrieved on 2008-05-06.
  26. ^ Minister lifts bicycle ban on peak-hour trains. The Age Website. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
  27. ^ Bin the bike ban! » Blog Archive » Bicycle Victoria link updates. Bin the Bike Ban! Website. Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
  28. ^ BV Subaru 4WD Promotion. Bicycle Victoria Website. Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
  29. ^ BV's new ad encourages increased car ownership and usage. Human Powered Cycles Website. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.

[edit] External links