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BFA News
FBT concessions sought for bicycles
Monday, May 4, 2009
BFA Member organisation Pedal Power ACT has delivered a submission to the Henry taxation review which seeks to remove the FTB concession for car useage, introduce an FBT concession for bicycle and public trasnoport use and deliver a corporate tax break for companies which provide cycle friendly workplace facilities. More...
Back to top New Standards for Bicycle Helmets and Bicycles – BFA provides input
Friday, April 3, 2009
Standards Australia committees have recently been reviewing two cycle related Standards, AS/NZ 2063 Bicycle Helmets and AS/NZ 1927 Bicycles. The revised helmet Standard has now been finalised and published. Changes to this Standard, which deals specifically with the testing of bicycle helmets, includes the use of International Standard testing head forms, the testing for internal protrusions (pins, screws etc), a peak deflection test and the modification of two other test procedures. The revised Standard is expected to have little impact on the existing range of high quality bicycle helmets sold in Australia.
The AS/NZ 1927 Standard is currently under review and the revised draft will be soon made available for public comment. Proposed revisions to this Standard will remove mention of power assisted bicycles - a new International Standard is due out soon and it is likely Australia will follow with a separate power assisted bicycle standard soon after. Other proposed changes include the inclusion of top bar mounted child's seats and some minor changes to bike assembly and manual requirements.
The BFA represents the interests of bicycle users on both committees.
BFA appear before Senate Committee on Public Transport
Monday, March 23, 2009
Jeff Ibbotson (President) and Peter Strang (Executive Director) appeared on 19 March 2009 before the Senate Committee Inquiry into Public Transport to talk about integrating cycling with public transport. The submission can be found on the Senate website as Submission No 125. More...
BFA President reports to the 2008 AGM
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
President’s Report for 2007/2008
The BFA contributed significant resources leading up to the 2007 federal election. We had the principal role in preparing the HEAT (Healthy and Active Transport) proposal for cycling infrastructure funding, and promoting it to federal politicians, staffers and partners. We worked closely with the Cycling Promotion Fund and Cycling Australia on this. Since the federal election there has been less focus on political lobbying at the national level and more on externally funded projects aimed at securing a better, safer, more enjoyable environment for cycling.
Advocacy
Despite the reduction in resources, in carrying out our role as a voice at the national level for member groups and people who ride bike in their everyday lives, we have continued our advocacy activities, and concentrated on a few core matters, including:
· continued cooperation with the Cycling Promotion Fund on updating HEAT
· active participation in the Australian Bicycle Council (ABC), the national body that coordinates the Australian National Cycling Strategy, such as:
· preparing and presenting a discussion paper to the ABC on 'A role for the bicycle in the coming oil shocks'
· contributing to several other ABC projects, including the examination of the financial impediments to cycling such as fringe benefits tax
· lodging a submission to the Garnaut Climate Change Review on needed cycling facilities, including end-of-trip facilities, inter-modality, planning, and taxation (FBT)
· making a submission to the Australia 2020 Summit addressing the 'Sustainability' and 'Health' streams, pointing out how encouraging cycling can help reduce CO2 emissions, and contribute to improved community health
· sponsoring and presenting awards at the Cycling Promotion Fund’s Bicycling Achievement Awards for Cairns BUG’s Lenore Evans and former BFA President Charlie Farren
· representing the interests of cyclists on three Standards Australia committees, including the committee reviewing the Australian Helmet Standard
· liaison with the National Road Safety Strategy Panel on the National Road Safety Action Plan
· liaison with officials from federal agencies: Health & Ageing; Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; and Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts to influence their policies and programs
At the international level the President of the BFA attended the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF) AGM and gave a presentation to a pre-AGM seminar.
The BFA became a foundation member of the Global Alliance for EcoMobility, an international cross-sectoral partnership for the integrated promotion of walking, cycling and wheeling to reduce car-dependency. It has a broad membership base, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISoCaRP), International Association of Public Transport (UITP), European Cyclists Federation, League of American Bicyclists and leading international sustainable transport companies such as Shimano, Giant and Trek.
Projects
The projects we have undertaken are aimed at providing tangible improvements in the cycling environment and at making it easier and better for all Australians to ride a bike.
AustCycle
Together with the Amy Gillett Foundation and Cycling Australia, the BFA launched AustCycle, a program to provide access to high quality cycling training delivered by accredited trainers across Australia. AustCycle Providers (cycling schools) are licensed to deliver cycling training in their local community under the AustCycle banner, using AustCycle Teachers.
The BFA helped secure financial support for the program and acknowledges the generous contributions from the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, and the Thyne Reid Foundation that are making this project a reality. See www.austcycle.com.au.
bikes4work
Last year we produced a toolkit - How to set up a successful bike fleet. Now the BFA offers an advisory service to assist organisations set up workplace bike fleets. We have helped one organisation in Canberra and are following up other potential clients. We are grateful to Australian Ethical Investment for funding the bikes4work website – see www.bikes4work.com.au.
Healthy Active Australia Bikeability Toolkit seminars
The Department of Health and Ageing, awarded the BFA a grant of $53,483 (plus GST) under the Healthy Active Australia Community and School Grants Program to review the Bikeability Toolkit that the BFA developed for the Australian Greenhouse Office and to train presenters to deliver seminars to BUG members. These seminars will cover the use of the Bikeability Toolkit and other topics that BUGs have identified as important to them.
Fact Sheets
Work has continued with the Cycling Promotion Fund on developing more evidence based Fact and Issue Sheets on the benefits of cycling. This year Fact Sheets on A bike can save you money; Cycling is good for communities; and Cycling and Safety were added to the series. This project has been made possible by the financial support of the ACT Government under the ACT Health Promotion Grants Program, Australian Ethical Investment and the Cycling Promotion Fund. The Sheets are available for download from www.bfa.asn.au/resources or in hard copy in limited numbers from BFA Member Groups or the Cycling Promotion Fund.
2010 Conference
The BFA has been developing a proposal that will take to an international level the success of the national Connecting Cycling Conferences that the BFA has presented in recent years to highlight the benefits of cycling and to improve technical expertise in integrating cycling into urban planning and transport infrastructure.
UITP (Australia New Zealand), the regional section of the International Association of Public Transport, (UITP), joined forces with the BFA, Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau and Events NSW to seek funding to develop a conference in Sydney in 2010.
Strong supporting letters from the Global Alliance for EcoMobility, UITP and the European Cyclists Federation have helped secure seed funding for the conference.
The aim of the conference is to develop expertise and supporting networks throughout the Asia-Pacific region to help meet the approaching global transportation - energy crisis.
Seed funding of $50,000 plus GST has been approved by Events NSW to the BFA and UITP_ANZ to develop the conference and promote it.
Membership and organisational direction
The largest members of the BFA, Bicycle NSW and Bicycle Queensland did not renew their membership of the BFA this year. This, combined with the considerable expenditure on the 2007 federal election has not only significantly reduced the BFA’s financial resources, but also requires the BFA to look closely at its future role and activities.
We are very grateful to our supporters, which include Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Cycling Promotion Fund, GoGet Carshare, Bicycle Queensland and Sustainable Transport Consultants, for their donations and in kind support.
The new website presents a significantly enhanced public face for the BFA.
BFA e-news keeps key people within our member groups and supporters informed of BFA activities. The Committee continues to have regular teleconferences.
Thanks for 2008
Without the sustained professional assistance and a significant personal contribution from Peter Strang, our Executive Director, there would have been very little to report upon. Thank you Peter. Thank you also BFA Committee for your advice and support. I am especially grateful for the work of outgoing Treasurer John Nightingale and for Secretary Sam Powrie’s efforts in compiling and dispatching e-news. Warren Salomon continues to make a well considered and well regarded contribution to the Australian Bicycle Council. Paul Ratcliffe, our web master, did sterling work on helping to bring our much improved website to a computer near you.
Looking to 2009
Our major challenge for 2009 will be to define the role and activities of the BFA in a changing cycling, health, environmental and economic environment; and one where the BFA’s resources will generally confine the work of the Executive Director to externally funded projects such as the Bikeability Toolkit seminars. If our application to establish an environmental fund to receive tax deducible donations is successful there is potential to further broaden our revenue base.
Jeff Ibbotson
BFA President
November 2008
Pedal Power ACT wins $5000 grant for more advocacy
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
In its application for this grant from AustralianEthical Investment, Pedal Power ACT wrote that 'Cycling has many benefits. Over 50% of Australian adults are overweight and therefore at greater risk of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Cycling is physical exercise that can be incorporated into a daily routine – going to the shops, work, etc. Cycling improves physical and mental health, while reducing traffic congestion, car parking demand, oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.'
'Our campaign will focus on building, signposting and maintaining Canberra’s cycle network.We will use funds to employ a professional advocate to work with our volunteers and to cover printing costs. Funds will be well used. With over 7 years of experience, we are focussed and persistent and will build on the knowledge gained from our past successes'
This is the 3rd year running Pedal Power has received such a grant and funds will be used for advocacy work. Australian Ethical Investment is a Canberra based ethical funds manager. They have also sponsored the Big Canberra Bike Ride over the past two years. Each year they donate a proportion of their profits to the community.
For more infomation go to Pedal Power ACT and Australian Ethical Investment
New Cycling Fact and Issue sheets
Sunday, September 14, 2008
The BFA has released three new Cycling Fact sheets to supplement the six Cycling Issue sheets and two Fact sheets which were published in 2007. The purpose of these Sheets is to provide professionally packaged information about the benefits of cycling, designed to be used by cycling advocacy organisations. The new Cycling Fact Sheets include:
- A bike can save you money
- Cycling is good for communities
- Cycling and safety
BFA submission to the NSW RTA on power assisted bikes
Thursday, May 1, 2008
The BFA launches bikes4work
Saturday, April 26, 2008
See also media comment from the ABC and Canberra Times
BFA submission to the Australia 2020 Summit
Friday, April 25, 2008
BFA paper on 'A role for the bicycle in the coming oil shocks'
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
BFA submission to the Garnault Review
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Registration for Bikes
Friday, February 1, 2008
Federal Shadow Sports Minister Pat Farmer has recommended registration for bikes. More..
The BFA has joined the Global Alliance for EcoMobility.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
The BFA has been awarded a grant
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
The BFA has been awarded a grant of $53,483 by the Department of Health and Ageing. More...
National Cycling Training Scheme
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
The BFA with the Amy Gillett Foundationand Cycling Australia have developed a business plan for a National Cycling Training Scheme with the support of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Artsand the IMB Community Foundation.
Cycling Issue and Fact Sheets
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Cycling Issue and Fact Sheets now available. More...
Cycling Resource Centre
Saturday, December 1, 2007
The Australian Bicycle Council's Cycling Resource Centre is now online. The BFA and Cycling Promotion Fund were involved in the development of the site.
Bikeability Toolkit Seminars report
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Bikeability Toolkit Seminars held in 2006. Project Report with recommendations here (PDF 1.8Mb).
Federal Budget Submission
Monday, October 1, 2007
Cycling sector Federal budget submission. 2007 Election campaign report here...The Greens have adopted the cycling sector's HEAT policy. Download here...
Roads to Recovery
Monday, October 1, 2007
Lobby your local council to spend some of its Roads to Recovery funding on cycling facilities. Join the BFA/Cycling Promotion Fund/Cycling Promotion Alliance campaign. More...
