Cycle Queensland
Bicycle Queensland
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Plus: Latest bikeway changes, detours, bike rides & events, workshops
100km of Brisbane Valley Rail trail opens Saturday
27 July 2010
The Esk Multicultural Festival on Saturday 31 July will double as a celebration of a significant milestone for the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail: the completion of 100km of trail.
70km of trail will be open for use by bikers, hikers and riders from Wanora to Toogoolawah, in addition to the 30km stretch already open from Moore to Blackbutt. Two thirds of what will be one of the longest rail trails in Australia is now complete.
The 70km of trail from Wanora to Toogoolawah includes recently completed sections between townships in the Brisbane Valley. The trail from Wanora to Fernvale (7.6km), Lowood to Coominya (12km) Coominya to Esk (23.5 km) and Esk to Toogoolawah (19km) are all now open for cyclists. BQ advises that a mountain bike with two-inch tyres would be suitable for these trails.
Wayne Wendt MP, Member for Ipswich West and Chair of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Steering Committee, will officially open the new sections and the 100km of trail at this weekend’s festival from 10am.
Help clean up Brisbane's bikeways with your iPhone
22 July 2010
Brisbane City Council's Fix-o-gram service is an excellent way to report maintenance issues on Brisbane's bikeway network. You can access it on the web here. But now there's an even more convenient way for cyclists who are equipped with iPhone to call in a fault. It's an app called FixVegas and it couldn't be simpler: snap off a photo of the problem, the app reports its location, and you add a note describing the problem & hit send. From QUT's Urban Informatics program.
And just to remind you, that's now two great uses for your iPhone, because as reported in Queensland Cyclist, you can also use RiderLog to record your cycling and upload the data anonymously to help build a better bicycle network.
Cycle Queensland ... still some volunteer roles open
15 July 2010
See the News & Updates page of the Cycle Queensland site for the latest on volunteering at this year's Yeppoon to Bundaberg ride.
Ted Smout Bridge bikeway is open!
14 July 2010
Transport Minister Rachel Nolan opened the bikeway on the Ted Smout Bridge this morning, which links Redcliffe to Brighton. BQ reps rode the bridge and enjoyed the great views across Bramble Bay to the east, and Hays Inlet and the mouth of the Pine River. In operation, cyclists will have far fewer issues in dealing with fishermen, as the bridge's height above the water is less amenable for fishing than the old Hornibrook bridge. Get out there and have a look for yourself ... it's a great facility.
If you are wanting to check out the new Ted Smout Bridge here are links to Bikeway Maps for both sides of the bridge: Sandgate/Bald Hills and Redcliffe.
Check out Biking Brisbane
13 July 2010
Gavin Bannerman is undertaking a project called Biking Brisbane, which aims to capture a perspective of the city from a cyclist's perspective. He is taking photos of cyclists, bikes, tracks, roads and all sorts of things relevant to cycling in Brisbane. One recent set features the newly opened Go Between Bridge.
Endeavour Foundation reaps benefit from BDO Brisbane Coot-tha Challenge
8 July 2010
The BDO Brisbane Coot-tha Challenge is the headline event of Bike Week. And in 2010, the benefiting charity was the Endeavour Foundation. Our photo above shows BDO partner Bernard Curran (left) and BQ president Bill Loveday (centre) presenting a cheque for $26,871 to Endeavour Foundation CEO David Barbagallo (right) yesterday.
Logan launches into cycle challenge
29 June 2010
Logan City Council reps at the launch: (from left) Councillors Pam Parker, Lisa Bradley and Russell Lutton, with the Heart Foundation's mascot.
The launch of the Wilson HTM Logan to the Gold Coast Cycle Challenge - 60km kicked off bright and early this morning at Logan celebrating the official opening of the event's entry period. Local cyclists rode in for breakfast on the way to work and cheered on Logan City Council Deputy Mayor Cr Russell Lutton, Department of Transport and Main Roads deputy Director-General Mark Cridland, Wilson HTM representative David McCrory, Rachael Moni from the Heart Foundation and Dr Peter Anderson from Diabetes Australia - Queensland, all of whom competed in the Studio Rise cycling and running challenge.
Special thanks also goes to Logan Mayor Cr Pam Parker who officially launched the Wilson HTM Logan to the Gold Coast Cycle Challenge - 60km event along with Phil Reeves MP, the Minister for Child Safety and Sport.
For those who want join in on the hearty fun or for the thrill of a challenge (you don't have to be an elite athlete to participate) click here to enter the Wilson HTM Logan to the Gold Coast Cycle Challenge on 10.10.2010.
Brisbane's new contraflow bike lane
29 June 2010
Brisbane's eastside commuters now have a bike contraflow lane on the major eastern link to the city and Valley. This comes after a very disappointing police blitz on cyclists who, having travelled on the designated bike route, had been caught and in some cases fined for riding up a street that was without warning changed to one-way with no clear alternate or new route for bikes.
The problem has been solved by an excellent new contra-flow lane, to allow bicycles two-way flow on the narrow Thorne St laneway in front of Shaftston College, Kangaroo Point.
It is a bitter-sweet development for those cyclists who did cop a fine, but sanity has now prevailed and a facility has been provided that could be used in many other places in Queensland to improve the level of service for cyclists.
ABOVE: Bicycle Victoria CEO Harry Barber (right), in Queensland to inspect some larger cycling developments, joined Bicycle Queensland's Ben Wilson in inspecting the new work recently and both gave it a big thumbs up.
Bundaberg's big ride a great success
22 June 2010
BQ's congratulations to the Mad Cycologists in Bundaberg, who have the largest annual regional one-day bike ride in Queensland. On Sunday, 580 cyclists made the trip from Bundaberg to Burnett Heads in perfect conditions in the sixth year of the City to Coast ride.
Ride co-ordinator Roy Fraser said everybody had a wonderful time, the riders enjoyed the morning and it was a good safe ride to Burnett Heads. See the coverage in the Bundaberg News-Mail.
Queensland winners in Bicycling Achievement awards
16 June 2010
Queensland Minister for Transport, Ms Rachel Nolan has received the Award for Contribution towards Cycling by a Politician in the 2009 Australian Bicycling Achievement Awards.
"2009 has been a landmark year for cycling, with this year’s commitments to fund bicycle infrastructure blowing away previous investments by all three levels of government," said Stephen Hodge, spokesperson for the Cycling Promotion Fund, which organises the Awards.
Ms Nolan received her award at a breakfast in Canberra. Making cycling one of her department’s top five priorities, projects included the $68m Kurilpa cycle and pedestrian bridge, the world’s largest Travelsmart behaviour change project to 324,000 households and the largest cycling centre yet in Australia, the $9m Royal Brisbane Hospital Cycle Centre, with space for 750 users.
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council received the Local Government Award for Special Initiative to Encourage and Promote Cycling. SCRC has invested $6 million in bicycle paths and on-road facilities and committed $20 million for the next five years.
Warren Salomon, long-time friend of Bicyle Queensland and the original event director for Cycle Queensland, BQ's nine-day holiday on wheels, won the Cycling Promotion Award of the Year (Professional).
Check out the full list of award winners.
State Govt, BCC invest in cycling
9 June 2010
Bicycle Qld is pleased to see both the State Government and Brisbane City Council budgets are crowing about big investments in cycling. The State Transport minister Rachel Nolan has claimed $61 million for cycling in Queensland (see page 4 of TMR's Budget highlights PDF), and Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman's BCC's $17 million for cycling in Brisbane.
These are impressive amounts. BQ congratulates both levels of government for this commitment. However, there remains much to do over coming years to consolidate this expenditure into a better connected and seamless bikeway network, both on and off road.
But for now - a big tick for both houses.
Get fitted on your bicycle, for free!
8 June 2010
If you have signed up for Cycle Queensland 2010, and also if its your first CQ event. See the CQ Updates page for more information.
Gold Coast launch for Qld's biggest bike ride
2 June 2010
Sara Carrigan (left), with Smart Travel team members Gavin Massingham and Laura Tasharofi at the launch this morning.
The rain held off for a beautiful morning for the ride to work breakfast at Southport this morning to launch the 2010 Wilson HTM Brisbane to the Gold Coast Cycle Challenge. Bicycle Queensland thanks all those who attended including principal sponsors Wilson HTM, charity partners Diabetes Australia - Queensland and Heart Foundation along with Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke (below right) and Andrew Cramp, Transport and Main Roads, representing the Minister.
Congratulations to the Heart Foundation Team who won the 'Studio Rise' corporate spin challenge this morning. The CEO challenge was won by Cameron Prout, CEO of Heart Foundation. Special mention goes to Mayor Ron Clarke for participating in the challenge and taking on the likes of Olympic cycling gold medal winner Sara Carrigan (below).
Keep an eye out for additional Ride to Work Day breakfast launch events in Brisbane and Logan later this month.
Cycle Queensland - 4-12 September 2010
1 June 2010
Are you amongst the hundreds that have already signed up for this year's Cycle Queensland, nine days, fully catered cycling adventure from Yeppoon to Bundaberg? Well, get to it as the event team have been planning for the best event yet.
Did you know that Australians have over 123 million days of stockpiled annual leave! Come on take a break and what a better way to do it than on Cycle Queensland's own rolling party. For some it's a challenge, for others it's an adventure, but for many it's simple - 9 days, 570km, 1500 friends.
Enter online to go into the draw to win one of 5 $200 vouchers from Ground Effect the no nonsense cycle clothing.
The next Cycle Queensland info night is ...
- West End, South Brisbane - Tuesday 8 June. Phone 3844 114 or email bqinfo@bq.org.au for details.
Memorial ride in Atherton for Lindsay Cook
27 May 2010
Tableland Cycle Sports will hold the Lindsay Cook Memorial Ride ('The Chook Run') on Sunday 6 June, starting at 9am. The ride begin at Atherton swimming pool and ride to Rocky Creek and then return to the Evans Park cycling track for a BBQ brunch at 10.30am. All cyclists welcome. David Prete from Tableland Cycle Sports says: "Come along and help dedicate this ride to the memory of Lindsay. At the same time we aim to increase the community's awareness of cyclists and their safety on our local roads."
Lindsay Cook was the cyclist killed in an early morning accident on the Kennedy Highway at Tolga on 29 April. The vehicle which hit him did not stop. Tableland Cycle Sports has organised this ride after discussions with Lindsay's family. All donations collected will go to the Amy Gillett Foundation.
Bridges & bikeway upgrades
17 May 2010
The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) jointly funds many pieces of cycling infrastructure around the State, partnering with local councils. The bikeway on the duplicated Gateway Bridge (pictured above) is a DTMR project, which will be open for cyclists at the end of June.
The Jindalee bridge (pictured below), and the Bicentennial Bikeway upgrade, are jointly funded by DTMR and Brisbane City Council.
All three of these projects, and the upcoming Go-Between Bridge, are providing wins for cycling, and Bicycle Queensland congratulates DTMR and BCC for building them, and we encourage them to continue building out the network which will make south-east Queensland an even better place to ride a bike.
Bicentennial diversion
15 May 2010
Users of the Bicentennial Bikeway will have noticed the works underway for stage 2 of its upgrade, adjacent to the Wesley Hospital section from the Land St Tunnel to Lang Parade. The works are due for completion in August, delivering a 3.5 metre bikeway and a separate two metre pedestrian path. BQ is pleased that council has organised an excellent diversion meaning bikes will maintain direct two-way travel on a temporary boardwalk. Pedestrians are asked to use the adjacent footpath on Coronation Drive. BQ hopes cyclists will slow down on approaching the diversion through the worksite and enjoy watching the upgrade works progress.Bicycle maintenance course every month
29 March 2010
SkillsTech Australia runs an evening course on the first Tuesday of each month, 6.30 - 9pm at the Bracken Ridge campus, 157 Norris Rd. Bring along your own bicycle, and learn how to remove and refit wheels, remove, refit and repair bicycle tyres, true bicycle wheels, clean the drive train on youir bicycle, and adjust gears and brakes. Phone 1800 654 447 to enrol.
Bike Buddies
17 November 2009
Bicycle Queensland has combined forces with TravelSmart (Queensland Transport & Main Roads) for our Bike Buddies program. And there's a Bike Buddy ready to show new cyclists the safest way to ride to Brisbane's CBD.
Bicycle Queensland's manager Ben Wilson said: "This project is tailored to assist any person in Brisbane make the switch to cycling. It will get more people out of cars, and free up space on public transport and could reduce congestion."
BQ's Bike Buddies project runs every month and even has bicycle chaperones who accompany new riders who can't make the regular monthly rides.
"As well as helping new riders find the best route to work, we're offering riders advice on dealing with traffic, getting in and through the CBD and can even assist with bike parking and showers at workplaces," Ben said.
"Bicycle Qld also offers a 'we come to you' service which will take any hassle out of new cycle commuters first rides," Ben Wilson said.