It’s Bike Week in Queensland, Australia
It’s Bike Week!
Saturday 25th April marks the beginning of Bike Week in Queensland, Australia.
This celebration of cycling takes place every year. It involves workshops, group rides and Ride2Work day, all with the intention of seeing “more people cycling more often”. This is the mantra of Bicycle Queensland as they organise this annual festival.
“more people cycling more often.”
Bicycle Queensland is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to “promote safe, everyday bicycle riding”. I’m a member for a range of reasons. One is because they perform a valuable role in advocating for and influencing the provision of cycling facilities and participation in bicycle riding in my home state of Queensland. You can learn more about them here.
“Eat. Sleep. Ride. Repeat.” Now that’s a good rhythm!
You can find out more about Bike Week from the Bicycle Queensland website here.
If you live in regional Queensland, some local city councils have a program of events. The Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns City Councils each have Bike Week celebrations and here is a link to what’s on around Queensland.
Ride2Work takes place on Thursday 30th April and is an easy way to participate.
Do you think you’ll be involved in any of the Bike Week workshops or events?
a bike for all seasons 
I’ll ride down the driveway
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent news! 🚲💨
LikeLike
I think that if Australia is serious about getting more people cycling we will remove mandatory helmet laws in suburban streets and bikeways, and stop focusing on how apparently dangerous cycling is. Because we send a message to parents that they should not let their kids do it as freely as they could. In Japan, Holland and France everyone cycles from a young age. Bikes are everywhere. No helmets so easy to jump on and go. Cars are not the problem. It’s our “cycling is dangerous” message that we live by. Or the “it’s not you as a cyclist but the cars we have to worry about” message too.
When I was a kid everyone rode (no helmets back then). We crashed but were all fine. Now my generation won’t let their kids ride (or apply insane levels of supervision so that it’s no longer fun). No cycling to the shop for bread because you will be out of Mum’s sight. No trying to ride no hands because Dad will have to see you fall.
My view will never be popular but I believe that we cannot make cycling more attractive until we change the message we send about it.
Me, I love cycling overseas where I can let the wind blow through what’s left of my hair or protect my face from the sun with my worn out old baseball cap.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree entirely Andrew and I’m sure there are others who do too.
My experience, as a child riding a bike and as an adult cycling overseas, tells me we don’t need to be so excessively cautious as a society.
There are far greater benefits to our society, in terms health and wellness, if more people cycle, more often.
Making helmet wearing optional is likely to increase participation in cycling. So, let’s get over this excessive caution (that our communities never used to have) and ride into a healthier, happier life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was pondering this some more. In Japan the police apply a strict civil liability policy on anyone involved in an accident with a smaller vehicle (including pedestrian or cyclist). So if a car hits a cyclist, the driver will be made to pay for repairs to the bike / kit, out of pocket medical and (if necessary) a new bicycle. It is not just cyclists … If a truck hit a car, if a car hits a motorbike, if a cyclist hits a pedestrian. Everything flows downstream in size. Good incentive to drive considerately of smaller road users (though some cars here are so small my loaded VWR might be bigger than them – haha)
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a good system… it builds in accountability for the potential harm a vehicle can cause.
🙂 love the visual of your VWR* outsizing some cars…
* Vivente World Randonneur
LikeLike