This year’s Tasmanian Community Achievement Awards saw Bicycle Network Tasmania’s social rides program recognised for getting Tasmanians more physically active.
In front of 400 guests at the Hotel Grand Chancellor on Friday 1 December, volunteer ride leader Matt Drake accepted from the Hon. Will Hodgman, Premier of Tasmania, a semi-finalist certificate for Bicycle Network Tasmania in the Get Moving Tasmania category.
The Tasmanian Community Achievement Awards are designed to encourage, acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions individuals, communities, and businesses are making throughout Tasmania.
Bicycle Network Tasmania, created the Social Rides Program in 2015. Thirty trained volunteer ride leaders, provide safe, enjoyable and friendly support, while encouraging people to improve their health.
Convenor of Bicycle Network Tasmania’s State Committee, Di Elliffe, was delighted to have the rides program recognised.
“Matt was one of the first leaders we trained. He’s a bit of a stalwart of scheme,” she says.
Matt is an enthusiastic leader on rides as varied as the Intercity Cycleway, the Pipeline Track and the North South Track.
“We value our regular leaders,” says Di.
The social rides program provides an important service to help both new and returning cyclists gain confidence.
“We often have people who come along with a new bike or are getting back into riding,” says Di. “People who are new to Hobart come along to find others to ride with. People have met friends that way and become regular riders. One has become a ride leader leader.”
Rides are graded for difficulty or terrain and for pace, providing a quick guide to how suitable they are to join in.
There are a mixture of regular and ad hoc rides that will meet many needs. Rides will be advertised via the Bicycle Network Tasmania website, Facebook, Twitter and email.
Bicycle Network Tasmania accredits Social Ride Leaders, and requires anyone interested in leading rides on behalf of Bicycle Network Tasmania to be accredited.
If you would like to be one of our Ride Leaders, please volunteer here and we'll let you know when the next Ride Leader Skills Development Workshop is scheduled.