Bicycling Western Australia

Bicycling in WA

 

Our guest speaker today was Jeremy Murray, the CEO of Bicycling WA.  Jeremy's background is in banking and hospitality but has loved the challenge of being able to advocate for cyclists in WA.  It is a community based, not for profit organisation whose focus is to make riding more accessible for those who wish to ride.  The benefits of cycling include improved physical health and reduction in the risk of developing diabetes and having heart attacks; improved mental health through the release of endorphins; community health - because having people out riding in the community is a known deterrent to those who might be involved in crime; environmental benefits as there are no carbon emissions and cycling is now the 'new golf'!

 

There are many cycling clubs in WA, including those specifically for the Over 55's.

 

People have provided feedback to Cycling WA about why they don't ride - and they include:

Jeremy provided some interesting comparisons between cycling in WA and cycling in the Netherlands.  In the Netherlands about 50% of commuters ride to work - despite the weather; here in WA it is only 2%!  We are very car-centric here in Perth.  The Netherlands made the decision in the 1970's to move from being car-centric to bike-centric - with bikes having priority, followed by pedestrians, then cars and trucks and buses.

 

About 97% of bike riders wear their helmet - which is a much higher compliance than people wearing (or not) seatbelts.  About one third of the people killed in car accidents in the wheatbelt last year were not wearing their seatbelt!

 

Not every bike rider is the same.  There is a difference between the dedicated cyclist (such as Cadel Evans) and the bike rider.  People ride for different reasons - to commute to and from work, to go to the shops, for enjoyment. 

 

Bicycling WA is working on encouraging bicycle use by school age children.  Twenty years ago about 80% of students used an 'active' form of transport to get to school but now less than 20% do.  Work is being done on trying to turn those figures around through providing safer routes, and ensuring that bikes are kept in a safe place at school while the students are in class.  Encouraging 'helicopter' parents to allow their children to cycle is another aspect of their over all plan.  Bicycling WA runs events to help raise funds to continue their work.  By becoming a member of bicycling WA you are automatically covered by insurance when on your bike; and membership costs about $3 a week for the whole family.

 

To find out more about Bicycling WA go to their website bwa.org.au and have a look at the services they provide.

 

Jeremy is seen here with Michael Metcalf, our host chair for the day.