Community cycling organisation Bike Bendigo has been recognised on a national platform for its work in creating a bicycle-friendly environment, becoming a finalist in the National Cycling Luminaries Awards.
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The awards, run by national advocacy organisation We Ride Australia, aim to celebrate people, programs and groups that are trying to make Australia “a better place to ride a bicycle”.
Bike Bendigo is one of three finalists for the Bike Culture Award, alongside women’s bicycle ride Gear Up Girl and Sunshine Coast Council.
“We’re pleased to be in that sort of company,” Rob Kretschmer said.
President Jac Torres-Gomez added it was not only about winning the award, but attaining this recognition for the work the group had done.
Ms Torres-Gomez said the group’s work was built around four interconnecting areas: infrastructure, culture, community and capacity.
For example, she said, some would say ‘build it and they will come’, but they could not get people to use a space designed for cycling unless they understood the importance of the activity.
Mr Kretschmer added that the group built a link between cycling and people’s willingness to participate in it by working through those four channels.
To make any effective change, he said, the issue needed to be approached from all angles.
The National Cycling Luminaries Awards will be announced at the Australian Bicycle Summit on Wednesday, June 20.
We Ride Australia notes Bike Bendigo is “is growing and celebrating everyday cycling culture through many events and programs”, having held more than 170 events last year.
Read more: Bike Palooza rolls into city
Among their initiatives in 2017 was Bike Palooza, a month-long festival of events celebrating cycling.
Bike Bendigo was also a finalist for the People’s Choice Award in this year’s Be.Bendigo Business Excellence Awards.