Bicycle Network: VoteBike

2012 Victorian Local Government Elections

We collect statements from candidates running for local council about their commitment to cycling. You can view these statements here or join the conversation with candidates on our Facebook events page. 

See the menu on the left for more information for voters and candidates.

Council candidates rush to reach bike community

3 October 2012. The electioneering for the 2012 council vote has barely started but already more than 25 per cent of candidates in 30 critically important municipalities have submitted their bike policy statements to the Bicycle Network VoteBike websites.

Candidates have realised Victoria’s rapidly spiralling population of bike riders will play a decisive role in this year’s council elections.

With elections completed on 27 October those running know every vote will count, and a commitment to bike facilities can make all the difference when the vote is cast. You can see what your local candidates have said here.

That's just over one in four prospective councilors but it's not enough. Now is your chance to get involved.

Contact your local candidates ( available here or if you are in the City of Melbourne, here) and ask them to make a submission to VoteBike 2012

You can also comment on their statements and give your feedback to the candidates on our VoteBike Facebook.

Remember, many of these candidates will be your local Councilor for the next four years, so now is your chance to put bike issues front and centre in their minds.

Bikes looming as major issue in council polls

18 September 2012. Victoria’s booming population of bike riders could play a decisive role in this year’s council elections.

More than 1.1 million Victorian’s ride a bike each week and they form a formidable voting block with a strong inclination to back candidates who support better facilities for riders.

To marshall support for pro-bike candidates, Bicycle Network Victoria has launched VoteBike—an online system that allows a candidate in the forthcoming local government elections to present their credentials directly to riders.

Candidates have already began registering on the VoteBike site. Many more are expected to get on board after nominations close next Tuesday, September 25.

Votebike gives all candidates direct access to the eyeballs of nearly 50, 000 Bicycle Network Victoria members, and to all other bike riders in the State. Candidate’s bike policies will be able to scrutinised and assessed against the priorities promoted by Bicycle Network.

“Riders are eager to assess potential councillors for their attitude and policy solutions for Victoria's rapidly accelerating population of bike riders,” according to Bicycle Victoria CEO, Harry Barber.

“Improved local bike facilities is one of the top issues with voters this year.”

“We have no party affiliation but we do want our members to know who is going vote for bike riding measures if they become a councillor.

"The next four years will determine whether local government can push hard on bike riding in order to tackle congestion, meet their health policies and do something practical about climate change," he added.

VoteBike enables candidates to fill in a web form that places their information in front of riders residing in that electoral area. Riders can then review the candidate’s statements and contact candidates if they wish.

Mr Barber said candidates were being encouraged to submit their statements on the site as quickly as possible.

The candidate form can be found on the Bicycle Victoria homepage and at votebike.com.au

Victorian Local Council elections 2012

24 July 2012. The 2012 Victorian Local Council elections are being held on Saturday 27 October. Bicycle Network Victoria is once again running the VoteBike function for our members to engage with candidates on cycling policy issues.

Bicycle Network Victoria has identified key projects in key municipalities that require the support of local council officials. Election candidates can make a statement about their commitment to these projects and cycling in their municipality. Those statements will be made available on the VoteBike Facebook events page.

To make your vote in the 2012 Local Council Elections count for bikes, visit our Facebook events page to see what candidates are saying about cycling in your local area.

 Previously on VoteBike . . .

 Pollies shy on bike commitments

17 November 2010. Only about 25 per cent of candidates standing in the Victorian State election have posted their commitments to the bike riding community on the VoteBike website, with The Greens dominating the responses.

A total of 37 Greens candidates have acted to make specific public commitments to improve conditions for bike riders, more than half of those who have participated.

Twelve ALP candidates and five Liberal candidates took the time to lodge bike policies. Two nationals also participated.

VoteBike is an online system which enables candidates to connect to Bicycle Network Victoria members and publicize their bike-related policies.

Most of the candidates who acted on the offer clearly took the time to investigate the local needs of the riders in their electorate.

There are also candidates who have a strong commitment to bikes, but who did note take up the opportunity to state their case through VoteBike.

Victorian voters getting ready for November

6 October 2010. VoteBike is now open for the 2010 Victorian State Election. Voters and candidates will see a list of priority projects in their electorate. These projects are all high value projects that will get a lot of people riding for transport and recreation. Some are low cost and easy to do, others will require strong political support. Candidates will be asked to comment on these projects and present their party's policy on bike riding.

When you log on as a voter you will see all current candidates for your electorate. We encourage you to contact those that haven't made a comment.

Time for candidates to commit

5 August 2010. Candidates for this year's Federal election have began to flesh out their bike policies and upload them to the VoteBike website. Make sure your local pollies are in the race.

So far candidates for the Greens have shown the most interest in formulating and broadcasting policies on bike issues.

The major parties are lagging.

Contact the candidates running in your electorate and impress on them the importance of have a strong commitment to bike transportation. Tell them that putting their policies on the VoteBike site will enable members and friends of Bicycle Network Victoria to make informed judgements on the best candidates.

Riders to muscle pollies

22 July 2010. Bike riders will have more influence than ever before in this year's Federal election, thanks to hi-tech innovation by Bicycle Network Victoria.

For the forthcoming Federal and Victorian elections the VoteBike system, trialled in the 2008 local government elections, has been fully developed so that riders can monitor and evaluate policy on bikes, electorate by electorate and candidate by candidate.

Members and Friends, can easily find out what, if any, policies their local candidates have to respond to the bike boom.

By logging in Blink, the server automatically locates the correct electorate, and displays the candidates running and their policies (if the candidates have published policies).

Furthermore the web site indicates the priority bike projects for that specific electorate, Federal or State. Riders can click on the links and read the webpage about the projects.

Each one is a project that has been identified as a worthwhile investment that will get More People Riding More Often in your area

Riders are urged to participate in the process contacting local candidates or political parties to ensure that all candidates get a bike policy entered on the VoteBike site.

For this Federal election the focus will be on Victoria. Nearly all Victorian Federal candidate have been contacted and asked to submit their policy statements.

Candidates for the State election in November will be contacted later.