Bicycle Network: Roadies

Victorian cycling strategy and budget breakthrough

11 December 2012.  The State Government has launched a ten year cycling strategy for Victoria, reviving its sliding fortunes among Victoria's politically influential cycling community.

The strategy was launched together with the announcement of the go-ahead for the construction of the Darebin Bridge, which will link up a series of key Melbourne bike trails. The $18M project has been funded by Planning Minister Matthew Guy.

Minister Mulder has committed another $30M to bike projects this financial year.

Read more about the strategy here.

What zero dollars looks like

23 August 2012. The decision to cut the VicRoads Cycling program to zero dollars is going to impact on all riders.

For years Victorian governments of both political persuasions steadily and incrementally increased the funding th

at paid for bike facilities. The result has been the continuous growth in cycling of all kinds

which has made this state the envy of riders everywhere.

Bike riding became part of our culture.

These gains are now under threat and we want to know your opinion and thoughts on how a zero dollar bike budget affects you and key ways money could be spent to improve your riding.

The Government’s decision, made as we pr

epared to watch a Victorian’s title defense and the inaugural debut of an Australian Team in the world’s biggest bike race—The Tour de France, came as a shock.

Perceptions count: the Government’s decision tells the wider community that cyclists and cycling are no longer considered important. As riders, we certainly get the message—we are low priority and the tangible, visible bike lanes, paths and amenities will take a hit.

This may mean that new and existing cycling campaigns and initiatives such as “Sunday Circuits”,Cyclist Training Loop Warning Signs, Clearways and Purpose-Built Criterium Courses, will find it hard or harder to receive funding.

There is no doubt that their decision affects all cyclist. To take action you can add your voice to almost 50,000 of our other members to help us improve riding conditions and/or contact your local member directly because petitions don't work.