Formation of the Bicycle Coalition

Four of the largest riding organisations in Australia have come together to form the Bicycle Coalition:

• Bicycle NSW
• Bicycle Queensland
• Bicycle South Australia
• Bicycle Victoria

The Coalition will significantly enhance the ability of each group to achieve its purpose through a combined membership of over 60 000 in contact with a quarter of a million bike riders across Australia.

It will establish agreement about bike riding issues; present common positions to government, community and business; develop shared intellectual property and develop shared ventures and initiatives.

• National social marketing programs for National Ride to Work and National Ride2School.
• The Light Up! campaign reduce the proportion of bike riders who ride at night without lights.
• Getting more bicycle facilities built.
• Improve the frequency, accuracy and comparability of bicycle trip data.
• Shared internet services for riders including a Bike shop finder to help riders find independent bicycle dealers and help independent bike dealers serve riders
• National Ride leader accreditation program.
• Establish joint positions on Commonwealth and State legislation and policy: Commonwealth fiscal policy; Bicycle parking and other bicycle friendly planning guidelines; Road trauma reduction; Preventative health measures

Suggestions for issues the Coalition could address are invited!

Innovative Bicycle Product - the 'Tandem Rack'

It's claimed this pseudo-tandem rig is easy to use and works for both children and adults, but it looks pretty scary to me...

A telescoping tube fitted to a cantilever style bike rack attaches to a trailing bike. If either rider gets distracted, falls or the rear bike starts to pass, the linking bar automatically disconnects.

[Innovative Bicycle Products - Tandem Racks]

Darebin Bridge campaign by Bicycle Victoria - ACTION REQUIRED!

Boroondara Council is stalling on approval for this critical bridge connecting between the Darebin Creek Trail (and La Trobe Uni) and the Main Yarra Trail over the Yarra River at Kew. It will complete a magnificent network of paths across Melbourne that includes the Darebin Creek trail, Metropolitan Ring Road Trail, Main Yarra trail, Outer Circle or Anniversary Trail, Koonung Creek Trail and Capital City Trail.

PLEASE help passing this on to others and by firing off some emails along the lines suggested by Bicycle Victoria.
darebinbridge.com.au

Fyxomatosis site - track bikes and photography

Lots of gratuitous pictures of track bikes* mainly for Julian.

This site is by Andy White who's a Melbourne bike courier and obviously loves track bikes and photography. Fyxomatosis is an infectious (and possible fatal) track bike disease that causes the sufferer to ride and take photos simultaneously.

*Track bikes are lean and mean with no gears or brakes, and for some reason are coming into vogue. I noticed them quite a bit in NY (that's my picture of one). Andy doesn't believe riding a track bike is any more dangerous than a standard bike - because "the rider is aware of their limitations, they avoid danderous situations" ... h'mm [Melbourne Weekly Magazine June 6-12, 2007]