Bicycle Network: Our Organisation

High level statements

Bicycle Network Victoria is an independent, not-for-profit organisation. We work with our supporters to get More People Cycling More Often and measurably grow the cycling world.

We want everyone to experience that Life is better on a bike.

Our ultimate goal is to make riding a cultural norm so we have healthy people in a healthy society.

Benefits to the individual

We communicate a vision of a society where more people ride more often because ‘Life is better on a bike’.

There are significant benefits for everyone who takes up bike riding – especially improved physical health, better mental health and a greater sense of well being, fulfilment and happiness. Riders consistently report that they are motivated to ride by the health benefits as well as a sense of connectedness  and belonging, new friends and closer neighbours.

Riders also enjoy the savings and convenience of using a bike for transport.

Benefits to society

The community benefits when more people ride bikes.

The more people ride for transport the more time is saved, the lower the costs of transport infrastructure and the less congestion on our roads and in public transport. These benefits are matched by a reduction in transport related pollution including greenhouse gases.

Bike riding for pleasure creates jobs in tourism and recreation. Bike riding for transport improves productivity and reduces time off work for illness.

Above all the community benefits from a reduction in disease and pain as well as the financial costs of poor health.

What we do

Our aim is to make significant measurable change at a societal scale - in perceptions, behaviour and bicycle infrastructure. We use societal measures such as the census to see if bike riding is growing. We have developed other measures such as Super Tuesday and Hands Up! to monitor progress and evaluate our activities.

We look for initiatives that will provide a high return on our effort. As a result we emphasise, increase and improve bicycle infrastructure and run large scale behaviour change programs such as Ride to Work and Ride2School. We will go anywhere to make these things happen.

How we work

We try to be well networked everywhere to attract a wide range of support and contributions to leverage and multiply our effort. We work to change perceptions through marketing, promotion and communication. We look to attract contributions of all types as well as develop great talent in our volunteer and paid staff.

We aim to speak up for riders and provide a point of reference on bike riding. We provide expert services to individuals, organisations and government agencies as well as to other bike groups.

Using our evidence-based expertise we provide advice on policy, on projects, offer practical suggestions and provide media comment.

What we value

We value all our supporters including our members, volunteers and staff.

We value our contribution to more people cycling more often as well as the contribution of others.

We value our independence, our clarity and focus, our optimism and enthusiasm; our discipline, courage and persistence.

Our organisation

We want our organisation to be an inspirational leader and a role model in the world of bike riding.

We work to be inclusive and open; responsible, accountable and astute.

We try to be bold, strong and innovative and always to do our best.