Canberra Cyclist-December2024

CANBERRA CYCLIST DECEMBER 2024

CYCLING WITHOUT AGE Gifting the joy of cycling to less mobile Canberrans.

THE STORY OF TRIXIE THE TRIKE

ADVOCACY EFFORTS

A step back in time through Pedal Power archives.

From Election Forum to Protest Ride and more.

LEARN TO RIDE COURSES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN Not confident on a bike but keen to learn?

Want to set up your little ones for a lifetime of fun and healthy exercise?

Our learn to ride courses are run by qualified instructors and suitable for beginners.

BOOK NOW

Children on bikes Adult on a bike

CONTENTS

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CONTENTS pg.4

pg.16

BUSY AND INSPIRING

THIRTY-SIX KILOMETRES IN LAOS

A report of the first few months in the role for new Executive Director Cecily Michaels.

A tale of a fascinating cycling adventure.

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pg.18

A FAST AND FURIOUS FEW MONTHS

CYCLING WITHOUT AGE IS BACK!

A report from our President, David Whitney.

An update from the recent pilot training aimed at bringing this important program back.

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pg.19

HITTING THE GROUND... ROLLING

SAVE THE DATES

Recent activities and an introduction from our new Community Engagement Lead, Will Fletcher.

Two important dates for your calendar

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pg.8

RECENT ADVOCACY EFFORTS

AN ANGEL IN OUR MIDST A heartfelt thank you to an anonymous donor.

Advocacy update.

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pg.22

IT’S A WRAP FOR 2024 COURSES

HOW MANY BIKES?

A look at how our courses performed in 2024.

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Visual proof of how more bikes and less cars affect traffic and commuting times.

A BROKER, THE RED BOOK, A BIG BREAKFAST AND A TRIKE

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Uncovering more of the fascinating history of Pedal Power.

AN EXHILARATING CHARITY RIDE A recount of participating in the MS Gong ride.

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pg.26

CELEBRATING DIWALI ON BIKES

MIND OVER MATTER?

A fun event at the Bike Library.

A different birthday party for a group of friends.

Editor: Ilaria Catizone

Executive Director: Cecily Michaels

Board President: David Whitney

pedalpower.org.au Pedal Power ACT is based on Ngunnawal Land and acknowledges that this land was never ceded.

We welcome diversity in our organisation.

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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BUSY AND INSPIRING

by Cecily Michaels, Executive Director

Village, funding new workshops and essential bike parts to keep more bikes on the road.

However, further support is still needed to fully sustain the program; please donate here if you can.

Beyond advocacy, it’s been a pleasure to join our social events and experience firsthand the warmth and camaraderie of our cycling community. These connections energise me and remind me how lucky we are to enjoy a shared passion for cycling in such a vibrant city.

Cecily Michaels

My first three months with Pedal Power have been busy and inspiring. I've had the pleasure of meeting many of you and connecting with the wider cycling community. Working with our advocacy teams across electorates has highlighted the issues that matter most locally. It’s also deepened my appreciation for our collective impact—and demonstrated why membership with Pedal Power matters.

During this time, I’ve focused on building relationships with key stakeholders, including the Director-General and leaders at Transport Canberra and City Services, to reinforce our advocacy for a safer, more connected city. I’ve also connected with our longstanding partners and community stakeholders, strengthening our shared commitment to make Canberra an even better place to cycle.

Our recent Protest Ride along Northbourne Avenue drew nearly 100 riders, all calling for a separated bike-only path along this key route. The turnout and community spirit were fantastic, and we’re ready to keep the momentum going for this essential change.

We’re also celebrating the success of our Bike Library program with a grant from Gungahlin

Looking ahead, we’re gearing up for Pedal Power’s 50th anniversary in 2025, with several exciting events planned. Join us for our Celebrating Volunteering in the ACT through Cycling ride on 1 March as part of Cyclonats, the Fancy Women’s Ride on International Women’s Day (8 March), and Family Cycling Day on 4 May —all starting in Haig Park.

We’re thrilled to welcome Will Fletcher as our new Community Engagement Lead. Will’s collaborative spirit and enthusiasm for cycling will strengthen our small but effective team, and I’m excited to work alongside him, Alina, and Ilaria. As the festive season approaches, I extend heartfelt thanks to my colleagues for their dedication and hard work, making Pedal Power impactful and a great place to work.

Finally, to our Board, volunteers, and members —thank you for your ongoing support. Wishing you a joyful festive season and an inspiring New Year. Let’s keep pedalling forward together into an exciting 2025!

FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT

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A FAST AND FURIOUS FEW MONTHS

by David Whitney, Board President

David Whitney

What a fast and furious few weeks we’ve been enjoying with Pedal Power across Canberra.

Cecily has certainly been a presence in and around all matters cycling and I’d be surprised if there were any of you who haven’t met her yet.

Will Fletcher our new(ish) Community Engagement Lead has also been very active and brings his own vigour adding new strengths to the team at Pedal Power.

October saw the ACT Election and congratulations to all elected MLAs for the next four years.

Pedal Power successfully hosted a pre-election forum and now the work begins, advocating with government, the cross bench and opposition to improve cycling safety, infrastructure and activity across Canberra.

We will take a new approach seeking funding to maintain vitally important Pedal Power programs given we no longer receive any ACT Government Recreation and Sport funding. A new model for Pedal Power programs and projects is required and Cecily and the Board are in full swing to meet with Ministers and the cross bench to advocate our cause.

We undertook the second Protest Ride for separated bike-only paths on Northbourne Avenue to keep the issue of safe infrastructure at the forefront of the government’s agenda. The initiative was a successful and important component of our ongoing advocacy.

Our second fundraising film screening “Anytime” was certainly not for the faint hearted, however

it fitted in neatly with our motto for cycling ‘any bike, anywhere, any time’.

Now that the magpies have (almost) stopped swooping and are busy rearing their young, it’s a great time to get out on your bike and enjoy all that Canberra and the region have to offer.

Ride safely, wear bright and reflective clothing and remember every bicycle on the road is one less car with less contribution to global warming, with a more positive physical and emotional experience for the rider.

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FROM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LEAD

HITTING THE GROUND… ROLLING?

by Will Fletcher, Community Engagement Lead

A bit about me I arrived in Canberra as a fresh-faced university student in 2016. I quickly adopted the noble bicycle as my preferred mode of transportation – being able to quickly convey oneself between Bruce Hall and the (now defunct) ANU Bar was crucial. Even better was being able to sleep until the last possible minute, knowing that I could comfortably rip across campus in five minutes or less to attend one of those deadly and dispiriting 8:30am lectures.

Will Fletcher

I am writing this as I am about to end my first month at Pedal Power.

It has been a whirlwind start! Just three days after I started, we had one of our biggest events of the year – the Northbourne Avenue Protest Ride. Thank you to those who attended and to those who volunteered to be a marshal and shepherd the group up and down Northbourne Avenue, including some tricky turns.

I was also able to attend one of our social nights at the Southern Cross Club in Woden and was amazed by the well-told story of Kevin’s tour from Rome to Paris on a recumbent tricycle.

Some ‘point-of-view’ footage that showed him weaving through inner city traffic was in equal parts exhilarating and concerning.

Only a few days ago we had another one of our movie nights showing ‘Anytime’ – a nonnarrative immersive film about freeride mountain biking. We had a great turnout, one highlight for me was the audience wincing in unison as we witnessed gnarly crashes.

Over the past nine years I have cycled thousands of kilometers up, down and across Canberra. For a long while I did not look (or see any need to look) beyond the lovely paths of the ‘lentil belt’ -- comprising those comfortable leafy suburbs of the Inner North – as it was all about getting to uni, the pub, and between the student share-houses dotted about the place.

These days my cycling consists of loading up my bikes with panniers and doing the grocery shopping and market runs, zipping about Mt Majura and Mt Ainslie on the dirt tracks and, when feeling fit and motivated, enjoying an overnight bikepacking mission with friends.

What I hope to achieve I come to Pedal Power after a stint in the public service and I’m looking forward to meeting as many of our members as possible, ensuring that we represent you as we should, and celebrating all the amazing things that cycling (and cyclists!) bring to our fair city.

The type of riding and riders that once dominated that popular conception of ‘cycling’ has changed significantly since the emergence of Pedal Power as an advocacy organisation.

I recognise the limitations of anecdotal evidence, but it seems I see more and more cargo bikes every week.

FROM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LEAD

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Similarly, e-bikes have exploded (ha!) in popularity – particularly amongst those scofflaw delivery riders. These days it seems a rarity to see a road bike with tyres less than 35mm and the suspension technology on the market today would blow the socks off the mountain bike trailblazers of Marin County.

We are planning a slate of events for next year and one thing that we would greatly appreciate is some volunteer assistance. Can you spot a trip hazard at 40 paces? Perhaps you possess the uncanny ability to set up folding marquees single handedly? Jokes aside, it’d be fantastic to have some help as we prepare for a busy 2025.

All this to say that as cycling and cyclists change, so should Pedal Power!

The opportunities for involvement go beyond setting up a stall or leading a group ride – we encourage you to submit your ideas and suggest ways in which you think you can help. Please drop me a line at membership@pedalpower.org.au if you want to talk!

Coming up On 17 December we will have our Pedal Power Christmas Party at Lennox Gardens. This will be a good opportunity to meet like-minded people and enjoy the peaceful lakeside setting.

The year 2025 will mark Pedal Power’s 50th anniversary. It is an important milestone but one that I can’t claim to have made any significant contribution to (my time here representing a mere 0.17% of our history). If you have been involved with Pedal Power over the years and have fond memories to share, we’d love to hear from you.

I’ll leave you with a picture of one of my recent bike trips. A sign warning us of ‘naturally occurring asbestos being disturbed by works ahead’! An unnerving sight. My riding companion and I encountered it on an (attempted) 1000km tour of the New England high country.

Having taken a detour earlier in the day, I led us along this road thinking that we could spend a night in Barraba and push on to Inverell the next day. As tourists, we erred on the side of caution and doubled back, riding 40km more than expected – which is a lot on a loaded bike and after a long day in the saddle – through the rain to Bundarra. Thankfully, the pub was still open, so we consumed pizza and libations (responsibly) before enjoying a blissfully warm shower at the caravan park.

A knee injury sustained on this day that worsened the next, forced an early end to the tour.

An unfortunate end but many lessons were learned.

Will Fletcher on a cycling trip.

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THANK YOU

TTHANK YOU! HANK Y OU AN ANGEL IN OUR MIDST

by David Whitney, Board President

Pedal Power has recently upgraded the computers and IT network for our office communications and administration system. This now means all staff and visiting volunteers have new equipment and much faster internet speeds to undertake the important work of the Pedal Power Office.

We have a new service provider who has advised us on and upgraded our data protection system with multifactor authorisations ensuring our data, and of course membership information is now much more securely controlled and protected.

The purchase of this new equipment has been provided through a very generous and anonymous donation by one of our Pedal Power Members who certainly is an Angel Investor for Pedal Power.

This short message is a heartfelt thank you from me as President, the Board and Cecily and her team in the office for this very generous donation.

Please remember that Pedal Power welcomes any donations, whether anonymously or otherwise from individuals who want to support our important work.

Should you wish to donate to a specific project or simply make a donation to the ongoing activities of Pedal Power, please contact Cecily or me, via the Office.

Donations can be completed through the Australian Sports Foundation and are eligible for tax deduction such as the current project to raise funds for the Bicycle Library.

COURSES

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IT’S A WRAP FOR 2024 COURSES Another year of courses is coming to a close. And what a busy year it has been!

As always, Big Skills for Small Bikes (BSSB), our learn-to-ride course for children, was the most popular with over 80 young cyclists attending during the year.

BSSB runs during school holidays teaching parents of children aged 3 to 8 years old how to support their little ones in learning to ride.

Under the expert guidance of our trainers, these parent-child teams progress fast in their learning with most children leaving the short course able to ride independently.

Charlie attended in October with his mum Cristy.

“The trainer was amazing and got Charlie’s confidence back and he was riding in no time”, commented Cristy.

Adults who wanted to learn to ride and improve their cycling confidence, also had a chance to do so at our New Horizons and Cycle Well courses.

Cycle Well is our beginner course and 30 participants attended it in 2024. New Horizons is a slightly more advanced course, for people who can ride, but need to boost their confidence.

New Horizons got off to a good start in February with a small but solid group of five participants attending. Sadly we were unable to secure sufficient numbers for later courses, so we are currently assessing how to proceed for 2025.

Alongside our learn to ride courses, we ran several Bike Maintenance courses at three different levels. These proved very popular, with over 60 participants overall.

And of course, a huge thank you goes to our committed and knowledgeable trainers who make our courses possible.

But we always need more trainers as some of our current ones have been running courses for years with few breaks.

If you’d like to join our team and earn a small compensation for your time, we also run Train the Trainer sessions. These courses are the first step towards becoming a trainer, followed by assisting an experienced trainer in running a course.

In 2024, 15 people completed our free Train the Trainer course and are now working towards gaining full trainer accreditation.

If you would like to find out more about any of our courses or see when we release the 2025 dates, please check out this page.

Charlie

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HISTORY

A BROKER, THE RED BOOK, A BIG BREAKFAST AND A TRIKE

by Louise Watson

When Pedal Power’s first Steering Committee met on 12 December 1974 and agreed to form an organisation “to promote the safe and convenient use of bicycles in the A.C.T.”, the dozen or so people present were brimming with enthusiasm. Their protest rides in October and December had been a great success, attracting hundreds of riders. . . what else could they do? Bill Crowle, the driving force behind the protest rides who would soon be Vice-President of the new organisation, suggested Bike Insurance.

Cycling was booming in the 1970s, particularly after the 1974 Oil Crisis drove up the price of petrol. Member Chris Bellamy says the invention of the 10speed bike may also have been a factor.

“Ten-speed bikes started appearing in the early ‘70s”, Chris says, “and even though they were expensive, they were everywhere”.

“Cycling to work was more common in Canberra during the ‘70s and ‘80s than today”, Chris says, “because the place was smaller, in both size and population so there was less traffic on the road. Also, most offices were centrally located”.

‘The Red Book’

When Chris moved to Canberra in 1975, he rode to work from Giralang, even in winter (wearing ski gear). “If I’d had to work in Tuggeranong, it would have been out of the question”.

On weekdays, Chris recalls, the former Department of Finance building in Parkes, opposite the National Library, was surrounded by bikes, “locked up anywhere.”

Bike theft was a real problem, and Canberra Police had to establish a dedicated bicycle squad to try “stem the tide”, according to Jonathan Green in The Canberra Times on 15 April 1980.

Pedal Power decided its members should be compensated for the cost of bike theft.

By the time the Steering Committee met again at the next meeting in January 1975, Bill Crowle

HISTORY

was in negotiation with an insurance broker.

Two months later, Pedal Power’s Bicycle Insurance Scheme was launched in March 1975, offering members the option to insure their bikes against theft or damage, “for a value of up to $150 or market value, whichever was the lesser”, according to member and Pedal Power historian Bryan Kalms.

The Scheme was an instant success. Membership applications soared, reaching 350 by the end of 1975, then climbing to 850 . As acting Treasurer for a few months in 1978, Chris Bellamy recalls visiting the bank almost every day, his pockets bulging with cash, to deposit thousands of dollars in membership fees and insurance premiums.

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But the Scheme ultimately proved unviable by the late ‘70s because “bike theft was chronic,” Chris says. After the Bicycle Insurance Scheme was abandoned, Pedal Power’s membership numbers dropped to around 200. When insurance was reintroduced in the mid ‘90s, it only covered personal injury and not bikes.

Pedal Power’s next big idea in the early ‘80s was to produce a guide to bike rides around Canberra.

With a grant from Caltex, members worked furiously from the Gorman House office on research, photography, maps, typing and assembly to produce ‘The Red Book’ the first-ever guide to cycling in Canberra and its region.

The Bike Insurance book and some paperworks

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HISTORY

Bike week articles

Forty Bicycle Rides around Canberra and Southern N.S.W. was published in May 1983. All types of rides are inside its bright red cover, from short jaunts around the lake, to multi-day tours in the Snowy Mountains. Never thought about riding your bike to the South Coast? Try: ‘Moruya via Araluen and Captain’s Flat.’ (Ride No. 37). The ride descriptions are accompanied by detailed hand-drawn maps and excellent photographs, illustrating points of interest as well as members’ cyclewear in the pre-lycra era... when helmets were rare and shoes seem to have been optional!

The Red Book’s initial print run of 2000 sold out within a week, so another 6000 were printed,

making it the biggest selling book in Canberra during May 1983.

“The phone never stopped ringing that month,” then President Chris Bellamy recalls, noting it was only the second book on bike touring ever written in Australia (the first one was in Geelong).

Another big idea – a Champagne Breakfast for Cyclists on Northbourne Avenue in peak hour – happened two years later during Canberra’s inaugural Bike Week. With Weet-bix and Canberra Milk as sponsors, hundreds of cyclists crammed onto the Northbourne Avenue median strip at the intersection of London Circuit between 7.00am and 9.00am on

HISTORY

Thursday 28 February 1985, accompanied by local radio stations live broadcasting the event.

Pedal Power’s Big Breakfast was so successful that it became a feature of Bike Week for the next decade. In 1987, the champagne was replaced by fruit juice (supplied by Coca Cola Bottlers) and the menu was expanded to include a sausage sizzle. By 1995, Pedal Power was asking the wider community for help with hosting the event, as membership levels remained stubbornly low and its small pool of volunteers was stretched to the limit.

The next big idea- to support a membership drive in the 1990s- was to adopt a ‘mobile advertising stand’ in the form of a big unwieldy tricycle.

From 1996, Trixie the Trike, its tray emblazoned with Pedal Power’s logo and

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loaded with promotional material would often be spotted in Civic on Saturday mornings and during weekday lunchtimes, as well as at special events.

The Trike had originally been built for a cyclist who intended to ride it to Darwin (!) and planned to sleep on its tray (to avoid snakes, apparently). But he abandoned the idea after an initial ride, when it “behaved like a typical trike,” according to member Rod Katz. “On a slope, the trike tried desperately to head downhill” and when turning, the rider had to lean in the opposite direction to the corner.

So Trixie the Trike was adopted by Pedal Power and housed in its office in the Griffin Centre, then regularly piloted into place by a few determined members such as Don Thomas, who were undaunted by the challenge of riding it.

In 2001, the Trike was retired and put on display at the Canberra Bicycle Museum in Dickson.

When the museum closed in 2008, the ANU Food Cooperative adopted the trike, where, according to Bryan Kalms, “on sunny days, you can find Trixie resting proudly in front of the store.” and where Will Fletcher, Pedal Power’s newest staff member, spotted it recently.

Sources:

Trixie

Bryan Kalms (2016) Firm of Focus. Forty years of Pedal Power ACT. E-book Chris Bellamy (2024). Interview The Canberra Times newspaper, various years, from Trove.

Pedal Power (1983) Forty Bicycle Rides around Canberra and Southern N.S.W. Canberra Publishing and Printing Co.

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BIKE LIBRARY

CELEBRATING DIWALI ON BIKES On 2 November 2024, the Taylor community gathered at the Bike Library to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.

The event was part of our regular Fix and Ride initiative, running at the Bike Library on the first Saturday of each month.

During Fix and Ride, as well as during the Bike Library regular opening hours, community members access the large collection of refurbished bikes available.

Our knowledgeable volunteers can assist them in selecting the best bike for their needs, which can be borrowed for up to six months, free of charge.

On this occasion, people had the opportunity to decorate some bikes and enjoy a family ride to the nearby Jacka playground.

Pedal Power ED Cecily Michaels (purple sari), with Bike Library volunteers and event participants.

Cycling to the Jacka Playground

DONATE TO THE BIKE LIBRARY Funding for the Bike Library runs out at the end of 2024. We have been able to secure a grant to partially fund this valuable initiative into the new year, but we still need more.

You can donate to our fundraiser here. Every little bit counts.

The Bike Library’s work closely aligns with Pedal Power’s aim to get more people on bikes,

more often. The Bike Library provides free bikes for community members who may have just moved to the area, children who are likely to outgrow bikes quickly and anyone who would like a safe, refurbished bike, which they can easily swap as their needs evolve. The Bike Library also saves many bikes from landfill, providing a valuable environmental service.

And best of all, it creates community!

The Bike Library is located at Margaret Hendry School in Taylor. It is open every Tuesday, 11.00am-2.00pm and the first Saturday of each month, 10.00am-12.00pm.

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TRAVEL

THIRTY-SIX KILOMETRES IN LAOS A travel diary

by Ian Wallis

It was in April 2023, just before I left to ride from Canberra to Singapore, that my friend Winston Lancaster from Birmingham, Alabama, asked if I'd accompany him on his first cycle tour, after he retired in 2024.

After four kilometres we stared down towards the city. After nine kilometres we got to a remarkable fruit stand that was far more than a fruit stand, best described by a picture (next page).

I agreed, suggested late 2024 and also told him that he needed to start riding regularly. We agreed a daily distance, while Winston suggested Laos even though, I was to learn, he had not been to Asia!

Unfortunately, Winston's doing it tough while I'm finding it easy due to riding much shorter distances than normal.

Fast track several months and here we are in Laos having cycled from Hanoi a few days ago. Indeed, we crossed the border as results were pointing to a Trump victory. Winston wanted no mention of it.

The northern parts of Vietnam and Laos are incredibly hilly and extremely tough cycling. It's relentless up and down and, in Laos, the roads are rough. Plus of course, it's hot and humid.

Yesterday we left Sam Neua and were immediately climbing.

We're traveling through remarkable landscapes, our eyes pouncing everywhere. We're dismayed at the paucity of wildlife but delighted by the people, the agriculture and the sheer difference of everything. The ingenuity always astounds.

Yesterday, after 33 km, I reached a village and enquired about a homestay. Three kilometres down the road I came to a tourist spot, devoid of tourists - Saleuy Waterfalls. We were aiming to cycle 50 km but, with Winston a long way back, I settled for 36 km. We had climbed 1000m or the equivalent of four Black Mountains on loaded bikes!

Ian (left) and Winston crossing the border into Laos

TRAVEL

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We decided last night to call a rest day and so I was up early wandering with phone and camera.

Finally, the stomach called breakfast. The menu translated to utter nonsense so we negotiated rice, vegetables and eggs. We ate, pondering the contents of a bottle - plant parts, wasps and various other insects. Was it medicinal?

While the bottle was interesting, disturbing things were about to occur. A woman wandered in and deposited the contents of a bag on a table. There were green doves, snipe, squirrels and, probably, tree shrews, all recently dead. Winston and I, both biologists, were appalled. Once more, I'm on a political ride.

Follow Ian and Winston’s adventures here.

A fruit stand

Extra... protein at the fruit stand

The mysterious jar

Local life

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PROGRAMS

CYCLING WITHOUT AGE IS BACK!

by Jeff Ibbotson

Pedal Power ACT is rebooting the Cycling Without Age program. We’ve been recruiting pilots – the riders who take older less mobile Canberrans for a ride in our trishaws. Fran, Wayde, Georgianna, Roehl, Chris, Justin and Bill have just spent a couple of their Saturday hours learning about the program and how to operate the trishaws before taking them for a spin. Thanks for volunteering folks.

Our trainee pilots took turns riding the trishaws and getting used to the pedal assisting electrons that help the trishaw, laden with a pilot and two passengers, up hills. Controlling the momentum that weight builds up downhill was also a new experience. When riding up front as passengers they experienced the joy of ‘feel[ing] the wind in your hair’ (Cycling Without Age’s slogan). Our circumnavigation of Lake Ginninderra went well with a few thrills and no spills. We included a few laps of the Learn to Ride Centre for good measure.

The Cycling Without Age program started in Denmark and now operates in 42 countries.

It emphasises slow cycling for passengers to sense the environment, tell stories and build relationships.

Pedal Power pioneered the program in Australia, running regular rides at Lake Ginninderra- until Covid, that is. But now it’s back.

The trishaws are based at IRT Kangara Waters, ideally located beside the Lake Ginninderra.

Pedal Power riders regularly patronise Cafe Birrigai which is part of the Kangara Waters complex.

As we restart the program our pilots will be taking residents of Kangara Waters Aged Care Centre for rides on the Lake Ginninderra path on weekdays. Once the program is bedded down at Kangara Waters Pedal Power may well consider opportunities for other Canberrans to once again feel the wind in their hair.

Pilots taking turns riding the trishaws and being passengers

UPCOMING EVENTS

SAVE THE DATES 17 DECEMBER

25 MARCH

Our Christmas party will be held on Tuesday, 17 December at Lennox Gardens, 5:30pm – 7:30pm.

There will be marquees for shade and there are public toilets and a carpark nearby.

Pedal Power’s next Annual General Meeting will be on Tusday 25 March, 6:30pm at the Griffin Centre.

At the meeting, the new Board will be elected. If you’d like to nominate someone for the board, you can do so now. If you are or know a female lawyer who would like to join the board, we are particularly interested to hear from you!

This is a paid advertisment

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ADVOCACY

RECENT ADVOCACY EFFORTS

by Cecily Michaels

Pedal Power has been working hard to advocate for a safer, more connected cycling network in Canberra.

On 11 October 2024, we organised a Protest Ride along Northbourne Avenue to highlight the urgent need for separated bike lanes. Nearly 100 riders joined, carrying signs like ‘Paint is No Protection’ and ‘Not Separated, Not Safe’ to stress the importance of protected cycling infrastructure.

Although the event was successful, a post featuring a symbolic red bike- marking where a member was critically injured- generated around 400 mostly negative comments on social media.

This reaction underscores persistent misconceptions about cycling infrastructure and its benefits. We’re addressing this by refining our social media strategy to better inform and engage with the public, aiming to foster constructive conversations.

To reshape the narrative around cycling, we're adopting an approach that emphasises the benefits for all road users- not just cyclists. By focusing on how improved cycling infrastructure contributes to safer, more efficient roads, our goal is to communicate that it is beneficial for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. This inclusive messaging has been central to recent media engagements around the Protest Ride.

Cyclists preparing for the Protest Ride with slogans on their backs

Our Election Forum Panel

As part of this strategy, we’ll address common misconceptions up-front. Roads, for instance, are funded through general tax revenue that everyone contributes to, including those who don’t drive or cycle. While some advocate for bike registration, the reality is that it would be costly for the government to administer and likely wouldn’t recoup those costs. We’ll also emphasise that motorists should feel just as disappointed by the government’s inconsistencies in infrastructure commitments.

Our recent Election Forum gave us the opportunity to engage with the ACT’s political players on their cycling priorities.

We’re ready to collaborate and to champion policies that build a connected network of safe paths, making cycling accessible for everyone in Canberra.

As Pedal Power members, you play a vital role in this mission. Talk about our work with family and friends, and encourage others to join us. Share positive messages on social media to help shift perspectives, inspire new riders, and build momentum. Together, we can keep driving real change for Canberra’s cycling community, supported by policy, infrastructure, and a shared commitment to a safer, more sustainable future.

With the election now concluded, a minority Labor government and Liberal opposition are in place, with a strengthened crossbench of four Greens members and two Independents. This more diverse Assembly represents a fresh opportunity to work with a wider range of voices committed to Canberra’s future.

For Pedal Power, this outcome makes our advocacy even more important. We’ll continue to work with all elected representatives to achieve our vision of safer, more livable cities with expanded, protected cycling infrastructure.

Pedal Power staff and members getting ready for the Protest Ride.

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ADVOCACY

HOW MANY BIKES? As the Protest Ride was taking place, we took the opportunity to collect some visuals highlighting how more people on bikes can affect traffic and commuting time.

It is quite striking to see how many bikes can make it through the green lights compared to how many cars cross the intersection in that same time.

Safe and convenient fully segregated bike-only paths would invariably encourage some drivers to start commuting by bike. This would allow for more people to get across the lights faster, speeding up the commute of cyclists and drivers alike.

Protest Ride cyclists crossing the Dickson intersection alongside cars on Northbourne Avenue

Ruslan leaving home with his bike box packed on the trailer

AN EXHILARATING CHARITY RIDE

by Ruslan Akhmediev

Deciding to join the MS Gong ride from Sydney to Wollongong on 3 November 2024 felt exciting even though I knew there’d be some logistical challenges to overcome. First of all, getting there.

As we are a one-car family, I usually leave the vehicle with my wife and kids, relying instead on one of my four trusty bikes for local transport.

This time, however, the trip to Sydney relied on taking the bus, and my bike and trailer were coming too.

I set off slightly behind schedule, dragging my bike box attached to the trailer.

Arriving at the bus station with just 40 minutes to spare, I frantically unloaded the bike box and packed my bike and trailer into it. The clock was ticking, and just as the luggage compartments were closing, I sprinted to the bus with my oversized bike box.

Luck was on my side as the driver graciously reopened a compartment to stow my gear. With a sigh of relief, I settled in for the 3-hour journey, my headphones providing a soundtrack of music and podcasts.

The bus ride ended at Sydney Airport where I set up my bike and trailer outside, enjoying the stress-free time. I followed directions through the car park and toward the hotel on a bike path.

After checking into my hotel, I arranged to leave my bike trailer there until the next afternoon.

The bike box

The next morning, the alarm buzzed at 5.00am.

Feeling energised, I picked up my bib and headed to the start line. The atmosphere at the rolling start was lively, with the host shouting "Go, go, go!" every few minutes, to signal to the riders at the front to take off. The music was playing and it didn’t take long before I found myself moving off from the starting line.

The road felt safe as cars had been excluded and we cycled in a large, friendly group. The diversity of bikes was astonishing; someone even rode a unicycle! The camaraderie was palpable as we chatted along the way.

As we left the city, the highway stretched out before us, and soon, we entered the rainforest.

The car-free road, with its sharp turns and steep hills, was framed by towering trees.

The starting line

Enjoying the ride

RIDES

Flying down the hills at 55 km/h, I cautiously applied the brakes, while some daredevils whizzed past at seemingly 80 km/h.

Occasionally, I’d hear music from fellow riders, and one song had me exclaiming “Yeah!” in joy, met with a spirited “Music like this on a ride is the best!” in return.

Reaching the hilltop, the sight of the ocean was breath-taking. The coastal ride that followed was both stunning and gruelling. I kept an eye on my bike computer, counting down the kilometres, but it felt like it was taking forever.

Fatigue set in, and my left knee protested, but the vision of crossing the finish line kept me going. As the end drew near, photographers lining the route were a great motivator to look my best, despite the exhaustion.

When I saw the finish line, my knee suddenly felt much better, and my competitive side kicked in. I gave it everything I had, pushing my bike as hard as I could as I crossed the line.

The music was blasting, and a volunteer handed me a medal, urging everyone to keep moving

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after crossing the line.

I found a place to stop and took a moment to soak it all in. It was an amazing experience.

After a short rest, I rode the two kilometres to the train station to catch the special event train back to Sydney. I joined a line of people with bikes waiting to board.

One of the volunteers kept shouting, "Bikes on seats, bikes on seats!" as I entered the car. I saw other riders putting their bikes on the seats, so I followed suit.

Despite the tight squeeze, I managed to settle my bike and prepared for the journey, back to Sydney, then Canberra.

The MS Gong Ride is a charity event raising money for resources to make a difference to people living with multiple sclerosis. You can learn more and donate here.

Bikes on seats

The intrepid riders at the start of their adventure

MIND OVER MATTER?

by Maurice Hermann

Many readers of this article will be familiar with the story of the ‘Little Engine that Could’, in which a small steam train keeps on saying “I think I can” when struggling up a steep hill.

One of the crucial pre-ride decisions was what type of bike to use. Four riders were on mountain bikes and three were on road/gravel bikes.

Well, a variation of this story was lived out on a Wednesday in November when a group of Pedal Power members set off on a ride to celebrate the birthday of one of the participants. The ‘birthday girl’ turned 80-something on the day of the ride and invited others to join her for what she calls her annual six peaks birthday ride.

Having previously done the six peaks on both road and mountain bikes, I chose to use my mountain bike. This gives me more low gear choices going up hills and provides more stability when coming down. On the other hand, a road bike is lighter, and the narrower tyres make for much easier riding when transiting between hills.

Seven keen riders set off from Campbell around 9.00am to tackle the peaks around Canberra– Mt Pleasant, Mt Ainslie, Black Mountain, Dairy Farmer’s Hill, Mt Stromlo and Red Hill. This is a ride of about 72km and some 1400m of climbing.

At the end of the day, four riders had ridden all six peaks and another had ridden five (after one of the starters pulled out due to mechanical problems and another had to leave the group early to collect kids from school).

The ride was a tale of what can be done and not giving into doubts. In the lead-up to the ride the organiser had been agonising over whether she should use her e-bike this year, even though she had done this ride annually on her birthday for many years with just her legs and willpower driving her. When I suggested that she could start on her non-e-bike and just pull out

RIDES

if things got too tough, I got the response that if she started something then she would finish it – and this is what she did.

Another starter told us at the beginning of the ride that he expected to finish only two, maybe three, of the hills, but he was still with the finishers at the top of Red Hill. I should also mention that two of the finishers had had heart surgery in the last few years and all those who rode all six peaks were over 70. Any one of us could have easily made an excuse not to push our bodies, but our sense of achievement was even greater because we didn’t give in to doubts.

Of course, when tackling such a ride, it is easy to concentrate on the climbing. But, again, this would be giving into negative thinking. Whilst mountain climbers may climb to ‘get to the top’, most bike riders climb so that they can get the sheer exhilaration of coming back down as fast as they dare.

The last peak of the ride is Red Hill and whilst it isn’t the highest or longest climb of the day, it does have a couple of short, sharp pinches which tests the willpower of any rider.

Conquering the last peak, Red Hill

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But as the birthday rider often says, it really is a matter of mind over matter.

Is there a point to this story? Maybe. It doesn’t matter if you are thinking about tackling something like the six peaks of Canberra, or just getting back into riding and think that maybe a few kilometres around Lake Burley Griffin could be too much, just remember the ‘Little Engine that Could’ and get out and start riding.

Five riders reached the top of Mt Stromlo

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Special thanks to Ruslan Akhmediev, Maurice Hermann, Jeff Ibbotson, Ian Wallis and Louise Watson for their article contributions.